Shloka 91

Śiva-nāma-sahasraka-kathana

The Recital/Teaching of the Thousand Names of Śiva

Devanagari script

देवासुरगुरुर्देवो देवासुरनमस्कृतः । देवासुरमहा मित्रो देवासुरमहेश्वरः

Transliteration

devāsuragururdevo devāsuranamaskṛtaḥ | devāsuramahā mitro devāsuramaheśvaraḥ

Translation

He is the divine Lord, the Guru of both Devas and Asuras—revered by Devas and Asuras alike. He is their great Friend, and the Supreme Lord, Maheśvara, over both Devas and Asuras.

Word by Word

• devāsuraguruḥ: teacher of gods and demons
• devāsuraguruḥ: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक) + asura (प्रातिपदिक) + guru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; द्वन्द्वपूर्वपद-षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (devāsurāṇāṃ guruḥ)

• devaḥ: god, the Deity
• devaḥ: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• devāsuranamaskṛtaḥ: saluted by gods and demons
• devāsuranamaskṛtaḥ: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक) + asura (प्रातिपदिक) + namaskṛta (कृदन्त; √kṛ (धातु) with namaḥ- उपपद)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle) ‘namaskṛta’; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (devāsuraiḥ namaskṛtaḥ = worshipped by gods and demons)

• devāsuramahāmitraḥ: great friend (even) of gods and demons
• devāsuramahāmitraḥ: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक) + asura (प्रातिपदिक) + mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + mitra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (devāsurāṇāṃ) mahāmitraḥ—षष्ठीसम्बन्धः; अन्तर्गतः कर्मधारयः (mahān mitraḥ)

• devāsuramaheśvaraḥ: great lord of gods and demons
• devāsuramaheśvaraḥ: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृसमानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक) + asura (प्रातिपदिक) + mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (devāsurāṇāṃ) maheśvaraḥ—षष्ठीसम्बन्धः; अन्तर्गतः कर्मधारयः (mahān īśvaraḥ)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: देवासुरगुरुर्देवो देवासुरनमस्कृतः । देवासुरमहा मित्रो देवासुरमहेश्वरः

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse proclaims Shiva as Pati (the Supreme Lord) beyond faction—Deva or Asura—showing that his grace, guidance, and lordship extend to all beings, making him the universal refuge for bhakti and liberation.

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

By praising Shiva with accessible titles—Guru, Friend, and Maheśvara—the text supports Saguna worship through the Linga: devotees approach the visible symbol to honor the same supreme reality who rules and blesses all worlds.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt a daily practice of Shiva-namaskāra with Panchakshara japa ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and Linga-archana, cultivating the attitude that Shiva is the impartial Guru and well-wisher of all.