Shloka 52

Śiva-nāma-sahasraka-kathana

The Recital/Teaching of the Thousand Names of Śiva

Devanagari script

वीरचूडामणिर्वेत्ता चिदानंदो नदीधरः । आज्ञाधारस्त्रिशूली च शिपिविष्टः शिवालयः

Transliteration

vīracūḍāmaṇirvettā cidānaṃdo nadīdharaḥ | ājñādhārastriśūlī ca śipiviṣṭaḥ śivālayaḥ

Translation

He is the Knower of the crest-jewel among heroes; He is Consciousness and Bliss itself; the Bearer of rivers. He is the Support of command (sovereign authority); the Wielder of the trident; the All-pervading One; and the very Abode of auspiciousness—Śiva.

Word by Word

• वीरचूडामणिः: crest-jewel of heroes
• वीरचूडामणिः: कर्ता (Apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर (प्रातिपदिक) + चूडामणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (वीराणां चूडामणिः)

• वेत्ता: knower
• वेत्ता: कर्ता (Apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद् (धातु) + तृ (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: कर्तरि कृदन्त (agent noun), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• चिदानन्दः: bliss of consciousness
• चिदानन्दः: कर्ता (Apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चित् (प्रातिपदिक) + आनन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (चित् एव आनन्दः)

• नदीधरः: river-bearer
• नदीधरः: कर्ता (Apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नदी (प्रातिपदिक) + धर (कृत्-प्रत्यय; धृ-धातोः)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (नदीं धरति)

• आज्ञाधारः: upholder of command
• आज्ञाधारः: कर्ता (Apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक) + धार (कृत्-प्रत्यय; धृ-धातोः)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (आज्ञां धारयति)

• त्रिशूली: trident-bearer
• त्रिशूली: कर्ता (Apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + शूलिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (त्रिशूलं यस्य सः)

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• शिपिविष्टः: Śipiviṣṭa (epithet)
• शिपिविष्टः: कर्ता (Apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिपिविष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; वैदिक-नाम (epithet)

• शिवालयः: abode of Śiva
• शिवालयः: कर्ता (Apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + आलय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (शिवस्य आलयः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

This verse presents Śiva as both Saguna (triśūlī, nadīdharaḥ) and Nirguna (cidānanda), teaching that devotion to His forms culminates in realizing Him as pure Consciousness-Bliss, the final refuge (śivālayaḥ) granting liberation.

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

By praising Śiva with epithets that include His cosmic functions and symbols (trident, bearing rivers), the verse supports Saguna worship—especially Linga worship—while indicating that the Linga ultimately points to His formless reality as cidānanda.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is nāma-japa and dhyāna: recite these Shiva-nāmas along with the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), visualizing Śiva as triśūlī and śivālayaḥ, and inwardly contemplating Him as cidānanda.