Shloka 83

Śiva-nāma-sahasraka-kathana

The Recital/Teaching of the Thousand Names of Śiva

Devanagari script

मनोबुद्धिरहंकारः क्षेत्रज्ञः क्षेत्रपालकः । जमदग्निर्बलनिधिर्विगालो विश्वगालवः

Transliteration

manobuddhirahaṃkāraḥ kṣetrajñaḥ kṣetrapālakaḥ | jamadagnirbalanidhirvigālo viśvagālavaḥ

Translation

He is the very Mind, the Intellect, and the sense of “I”. He is the Knower of the field (kṣetrajña) and also the Guardian of the field (kṣetrapālaka), the Lord who governs the body and the world. He is Jamadagni; the treasure-house of strength; He is Vigāla and the all-pervading Viśvagālava.

Word by Word

• मनः: mind
• मनः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• बुद्धिः: intellect
• बुद्धिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अहंकारः: ego-sense
• अहंकारः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहंकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• क्षेत्रज्ञः: knower of the field (kṣetrajña)
• क्षेत्रज्ञः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षेत्र + ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (क्षेत्रस्य ज्ञः)

• क्षेत्रपालकः: protector/guardian of the field
• क्षेत्रपालकः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षेत्र + पालक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (क्षेत्रस्य पालकः)

• जमदग्निः: Jamadagni (name)
• जमदग्निः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जमदग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ऋषिनाम

• बलनिधिः: treasury/store of strength
• बलनिधिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल + निधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (बलस्य निधिः)

• विगालः: Vigāla (name/epithet)
• विगालः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विगाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम/विशेषणरूपेण

• विश्वगालवः: Viśvagālava (name/epithet)
• विश्वगालवः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्व + गालव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (विश्वस्य गालवः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s epithets to the sages at Naimisharanya, within Kotirudrasaṃhitā’s Jyotirlinga-oriented praise context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a site-specific verse; it doctrinally identifies Śiva as both the inner witness (kṣetrajña) and the sovereign protector (kṣetrapālaka), a teaching applicable to any kṣetra and liṅga.

Significance: Supports contemplative pilgrimage: recognizing the Lord as inner knower and ruler transforms external tīrtha into inner tīrtha (antar-tīrtha).

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Jamadagni

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that Shiva is both immanent and transcendent: present as mind, intellect, and ego (the inner instruments), yet also the supreme Lord who governs the ‘field’ of body and world. In Shaiva Siddhanta terms, Pati (Shiva) is distinct from pashu (soul) and pasha (bondage), yet pervades and regulates all as the inner ruler.

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

By listing Shiva’s names and functions, the text supports saguna-upasana: devotees worship the Linga as the concrete focus through which the all-pervading Lord is approached. The epithets train the mind to see the same Shiva both within (as inner awareness) and without (as cosmic protector), which is central to Linga devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Name-chanting (nāma-japa) and Panchakshara japa—‘Om Namaḥ Śivāya’—paired with contemplation that Shiva is the kṣetrapālaka (guardian of one’s body-mind field). On Mahāśivarātri, this can be done alongside Linga abhiṣeka and wearing Rudrākṣa/Tripuṇḍra as supports for steady remembrance.