Shloka 65

Śiva-nāma-sahasraka-kathana

The Recital/Teaching of the Thousand Names of Śiva

Devanagari script

गायत्रीवल्लभः प्रांशुर्विश्वावासः प्रभाकरः । शिशुर्गिरिरतः सम्राट् सुषेणः सुरशत्रुहा

Transliteration

gāyatrīvallabhaḥ prāṃśurviśvāvāsaḥ prabhākaraḥ | śiśurgirirataḥ samrāṭ suṣeṇaḥ suraśatruhā

Translation

He is the Beloved of Gāyatrī, the Lofty and Exalted One, the Abode of the universe, and the Maker of radiance. Ever-young, delighting in the mountain (Kailāsa), He is the sovereign Emperor, the leader of noble hosts, and the slayer of the enemies of the gods.

Word by Word

• गायत्री-वल्लभः: beloved of Gāyatrī
• गायत्री-वल्लभः: Karta (कर्ता) (epithet)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गायत्री + वल्लभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: गायत्र्याः वल्लभः

• प्रांशुः: tall; lofty
• प्रांशुः: Karta (कर्ता) (epithet)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रांशु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• विश्व-आवासः: abode of the universe
• विश्व-आवासः: Karta (कर्ता) (epithet)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्व + आवास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: विश्वस्य आवासः

• प्रभाकरः: maker of light; sun
• प्रभाकरः: Karta (कर्ता) (epithet)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभाकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• शिशुः: child; infant
• शिशुः: Karta (कर्ता) (epithet)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिशु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• गिरि-रतः: delighting in mountains; mountain-loving
• गिरि-रतः: Karta (कर्ता) (epithet)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गिरि + रत (प्रातिपदिक; रम्-धातु से क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle used adjectivally): गिरौ रतः

• सम्राट्: sovereign; emperor
• सम्राट्: Karta (कर्ता) (epithet)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सम्राज् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; stem in -ज् with final -ट् in nom.sg.

• सुषेणः: Suṣeṇa; having a good army
• सुषेणः: Karta (कर्ता) (epithet)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुषेण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• सुर-शत्रु-हा: slayer of the enemies of the gods
• सुर-शत्रु-हा: Karta (कर्ता) (epithet)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर + शत्रु + ह (प्रातिपदिक; हन्-धातु से)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष: सुराणां शत्रून् हन्ति इति

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the śiva-nāma praise to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Mantra Metadata

Type: gayatri

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Gaurī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: dipa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

This verse functions as a nāma-stuti (praise through names), teaching that Śiva is both the immanent support of the cosmos (Viśvāvāsa) and the transcendent sovereign (Samrāṭ). In a Śaiva Siddhānta lens, it points to Pati (Śiva) as the supreme Lord who illumines consciousness (Prabhākara) and grants protection by removing hostile forces that obstruct dharma (Suraśatruhā).

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

These names describe Saguna Śiva—Śiva approachable through attributes and devotion—whom devotees worship in the Liṅga as the radiant, all-supporting Lord. Meditating on Śiva as the universe’s abode (Viśvāvāsa) while offering water, bilva, or mantra-japa to the Liṅga aligns the mind to His all-pervading presence even while using a concrete sacred form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is nāma-japa: recite these epithets as a garland of names, ideally alongside the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya.” During Mahāśivarātri or daily pūjā, combine it with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) application and steady contemplation on Śiva as inner light (Prabhākara).