Shloka 49

Śiva-nāma-sahasraka-kathana

The Recital/Teaching of the Thousand Names of Śiva

Devanagari script

विमोचनस्सुरगणो विद्येशो बिंदुसंश्रयः । वातरूपोऽमलोन्मायी विकर्ता गहनो गुहः

Transliteration

vimocanassuragaṇo vidyeśo biṃdusaṃśrayaḥ | vātarūpo'malonmāyī vikartā gahano guhaḥ

Translation

He is Vimocana, the Liberator; the very host of the gods and their Lord; Vidyeśa, Master of spiritual knowledge; the One established in the subtle bindu, the seed-point of manifestation. He is of the nature of wind—ungraspable and all-pervading; the stainless One who transcends delusion; the Transformer who reshapes all; the Unfathomable; and the Indweller hidden within the cave of the heart.

Word by Word

• विमोचनः: the Liberator
• विमोचनः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विमोचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• सुरगणः: the host of gods
• सुरगणः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर + गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (सुराणां गणः)

• विद्येशः: Lord of knowledge
• विद्येशः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्या + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (विद्यायाः ईशः)

• बिन्दुसंश्रयः: one who rests in/depends on the bindu
• बिन्दुसंश्रयः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बिन्दु + संश्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (बिन्दोः संश्रयः)

• वातरूपः: wind-formed; having the form of wind
• वातरूपः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वात + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (वात इव रूपं यस्य / वात-रूपः)

• अमलः: stainless; pure
• अमलः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• उन्मायी: one who manifests/raises māyā (enchanter)
• उन्मायी: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उन्मायी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• विकर्ता: the maker/transformer
• विकर्ता: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वि + कृ (धातु) → विकर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्तृ-प्रत्यय (agent noun)

• गहनः: deep; inscrutable
• गहनः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गहन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण

• गुहः: the hidden one; cave/dweller in secrecy
• गुहः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: The verse is inward and yogic: liberation (vimocana), lordship of knowledge (vidyeśa), and indwelling secrecy (guha) point to inner realization rather than a site-specific māhātmya.

Significance: Recasts tīrtha as the ‘heart-cave’ (guhā): the highest pilgrimage is to the indwelling Śiva who grants release through knowledge and grace.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

The verse strings together Shiva’s liberating names to teach that he is both transcendent (stainless, beyond māyā, unfathomable) and immanent (hidden within the heart). In Shaiva Siddhanta terms, Pati (Shiva) alone grants vimocana—release from pāśa (bondage) through his grace.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

These epithets function as nāma-japa and dhyāna for Saguna worship: the devotee contemplates Shiva as the subtle bindu-support and inner indweller while approaching the Jyotirlinga/Linga as the visible focus of the invisible, all-pervading Lord.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva in the heart-cave (guha) and on the bindu as the subtle seat of awareness, while performing japa of the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and offering bilva leaves or vibhūti with the intent of purification and liberation.