Shloka 51

Śiva-nāma-sahasraka-kathana

The Recital/Teaching of the Thousand Names of Śiva

Devanagari script

गुरुदो ललितोऽभेदो भावात्मात्मनि संस्थितः । वीरेश्वरो वीरभद्रो वीरासनविधिर्गुरुः

Transliteration

gurudo lalito'bhedo bhāvātmātmani saṃsthitaḥ | vīreśvaro vīrabhadro vīrāsanavidhirguruḥ

Translation

He is the giver of the Guru (the bestower of true guidance), the graceful and sportive Lord, non-different (from the highest Reality), and the very essence of sacred feeling, abiding within the Self. He is Vīreśvara, he is Vīrabhadra, and he is the Guru who teaches the discipline of the heroic posture (vīrāsana).

Word by Word

• गुरुदः: giver of the guru/teacher
• गुरुदः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक) + द (कृत्-प्रत्यय; दा-धातोः)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक (giver of guru/teacher)

• ललितः: graceful/beautiful
• ललितः: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ललित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अभेदः: non-difference/undivided
• अभेदः: कर्ता (Apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भावात्मा: whose essence is being/existence
• भावात्मा: कर्ता (Apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाव (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (भावस्य आत्मा / भाव-आत्मा)

• आत्मनि: in the Self
• आत्मनि: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• संस्थितः: situated/established
• संस्थितः: विशेषण (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम् + स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वीरेश्वरः: lord of heroes
• वीरेश्वरः: कर्ता (Apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (वीराणाम् ईश्वरः)

• वीरभद्रः: Vīrabhadra
• वीरभद्रः: कर्ता (Apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर (प्रातिपदिक) + भद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (वीरः स भद्रः)

• वीरासनविधिः: the rule/method of vīrāsana
• वीरासनविधिः: कर्ता (Apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर (प्रातिपदिक) + आसन (प्रातिपदिक) + विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (वीरासनस्य विधिः)

• गुरुः: guru/teacher
• गुरुः: कर्ता (Apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Virabhadra

FAQs

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

The verse identifies Śiva as both the inner Self and the compassionate Guru-principle: non-dual (abheda), established in the ātman, yet accessible through bhāva (devotional disposition). In Shaiva Siddhanta terms, Pati (Śiva) grants right knowledge and grace that loosens pāśa (bondage) for the paśu (soul).

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

By naming forms like Vīreśvara and Vīrabhadra, it supports Saguna worship—approaching Śiva through specific manifestations—while simultaneously affirming his abheda nature, i.e., the same Lord is ultimately the inner Reality beyond form, also worshipped through the Śiva-liṅga.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It points to meditative steadiness through vīrāsana (a stable yogic seat) under the guidance of the Guru, supporting japa and dhyāna—especially practices aligned with Śaiva devotion such as mantra-recitation (e.g., pañcākṣarī) and contemplative turning inward to the ātman.