Shloka 5

Śiva-nāma-sahasraka-kathana

The Recital/Teaching of the Thousand Names of Śiva

Devanagari script

ज्ञानगम्यो दृढप्रज्ञो देवदेवस्त्रिलोचनः । वामदेवो महादेवः पटुः परिवृढो दृढः

Transliteration

jñānagamyo dṛḍhaprajño devadevastrilocanaḥ | vāmadevo mahādevaḥ paṭuḥ parivṛḍho dṛḍhaḥ

Translation

He is attainable through true knowledge; steadfast in wisdom; the God of gods, the Three‑eyed Lord. He is Vāmadeva, Mahādeva—skilled, fully matured in power, and unwaveringly steadfast.

Word by Word

• ज्ञानगम्यः: knowable by knowledge
• ज्ञानगम्यः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञान-गम्य (प्रातिपदिक; गम्य = √गम् (धातु) से निष्पन्न)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समास: ज्ञानस्य गम्यः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• दृढप्रज्ञः: firm-minded, of steady wisdom
• दृढप्रज्ञः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दृढ-प्रज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समास: दृढा प्रज्ञा यस्य/दृढप्रज्ञः (कर्मधारय/बहुव्रीहि-प्रायः; यहाँ विशेषणरूपेण)

• देवदेवः: god of gods
• देवदेवः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव-देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समास: देवानां देवः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• त्रिलोचनः: three-eyed (one)
• त्रिलोचनः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि-लोचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समास: त्रीणि लोचनानि यस्य (बहुव्रीहि)

• वामदेवः: Vāmadeva
• वामदेवः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाम-देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समास: वामः देवः (कर्मधारय)

• महादेवः: Mahādeva, the great god
• महादेवः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा-देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समास: महान् देवः (कर्मधारय)

• पटुः: skilled, capable
• पटुः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पटु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• परिवृढः: fully grown, well-developed
• परिवृढः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परि-वृढ (प्रातिपदिक; वृढ = √वृध् (धातु) से निष्पन्न)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपसर्गयुक्त-प्रातिपदिक (परि-)

• दृढः: firm, steadfast
• दृढः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दृढ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Vāmadeva

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: ज्ञानगम्यो दृढप्रज्ञो देवदेवस्त्रिलोचनः । वामदेवो महादेवः पटुः परिवृढो दृढः

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse praises Shiva as “jñāna-gamya”—realized through liberating knowledge—highlighting the Shaiva Siddhanta emphasis that grace and right understanding lead the soul (paśu) to recognize Pati (Shiva) as the supreme Lord who is unwavering and complete.

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

These epithets describe Saguna Shiva—Trilocana, Mahadeva, Vamadeva—making the Lord approachable for meditation and Linga worship. The devotee contemplates Shiva’s auspicious form and qualities while progressing toward inner realization.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is nāma-smaraṇa and dhyāna: repeat “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” while meditating on Shiva as Trilochana and Vamadeva, cultivating dṛḍha-prajñā (steadfast insight) and dṛḍhatā (firmness) in sādhanā.