Shloka 74

Śiva-nāma-sahasraka-kathana

The Recital/Teaching of the Thousand Names of Śiva

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मज्योतिर्वसुधामा महाज्योतिरनुत्तमः । मातामहो मातरिश्वा नभस्वान्नागहारधृक्

Transliteration

brahmajyotirvasudhāmā mahājyotiranuttamaḥ | mātāmaho mātariśvā nabhasvānnāgahāradhṛk

Translation

He is Brahma’s very Light, the radiant support of the earth, the supreme Great Light beyond compare. He is the Grandfather of beings; Mātariśvan, the life-breath moving within; Nabhasvān, the one who pervades the sky; and the bearer of the serpent-garland.

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मज्योतिः: the radiance of Brahman
• ब्रह्मज्योतिः: Karta (कर्ता/प्रथमा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् + ज्योतिस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (ब्रह्मणः ज्योतिः)

• वसुधामा: abode of the Vasus
• वसुधामा: Karta (कर्ता/प्रथमा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वसु + धामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वसूनां धामा)

• महाज्योतिः: great light
• महाज्योतिः: Karta (कर्ता/प्रथमा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महत् + ज्योतिस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (महच्च तत् ज्योतिः)

• अनुत्तमः: unsurpassed
• अनुत्तमः: Karta (कर्ता/प्रथमा)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनुत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (superlative sense: unsurpassed)

• मातामहः: maternal grandfather
• मातामहः: Karta (कर्ता/प्रथमा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातामह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• मातरिश्वा: Mātariśvan (Vāyu/Agni-bearer)
• मातरिश्वा: Karta (कर्ता/प्रथमा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातरिश्वन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; नकारान्त-शब्द (मातरिश्वन्) प्रथमा एकवचन रूपम्

• नभस्वान्: Nabhasvān (the windy one)
• नभस्वान्: Karta (कर्ता/प्रथमा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नभस्वत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; -वत् प्रत्ययान्त

• नागहारधृक्: bearer of a serpent-garland
• नागहारधृक्: Karta (कर्ता/प्रथमा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाग + हार + धृक्(धृ धातु-प्रत्ययान्त) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (नागानां हारः यस्य/यो धृक्)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Nīlakaṇṭha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Though ‘mahājyotis’ language resonates with jyotirliṅga theology, this verse is not anchored to a specific shrine; it universalizes Śiva as the unsurpassed Light and as the life-breath/wind principle pervading space.

Significance: General benefit: meditation on Śiva as brahma-jyotis and prāṇa (mātariśvan) supports inner steadiness and detachment from pāśa (bondage).

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It praises Shiva as the unsurpassed Mahājyoti—both transcendent (beyond form) and immanent (supporting the world)—guiding the devotee to see him as the ultimate source of illumination and liberation.

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

Calling Shiva the “Great Light” aligns with Jyotirliṅga theology: the Liṅga is a saguna focus through which devotees approach the nirguna truth—Shiva as pure, infinite radiance (brahmajyoti).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva as inner prāṇa (mātariśvā) and as the Jyoti within the heart while repeating the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya); in external worship, offer water and bilva to the Liṅga, contemplating his serpent-ornamented form (nāgahāradhṛk).