Shloka 9

ब्राह्मणीमरणवर्णनम् (Account of the Brahmin Woman’s Death) — within Nandikeśvara-māhātmya

Devanagari script

शूलेश्वर इति ख्यातस्तथा कुंभेश्वरः स्मृतः । कुबेरेश्वरनामापि तथा सोमेश्वरः स्मृतः

Transliteration

śūleśvara iti khyātastathā kuṃbheśvaraḥ smṛtaḥ | kubereśvaranāmāpi tathā someśvaraḥ smṛtaḥ

Translation

He is renowned as Śūleśvara, and is also remembered as Kumbheśvara. He is likewise known by the name Kubereśvara, and is also remembered as Someśvara.

Word by Word

• शूल-ईश्वरः: Śūleśvara
• शूल-ईश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता/नाम)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूल (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: ‘शूलस्य ईश्वरः’

• इति: thus/so called
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/उद्धरणचिह्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरण/नामनिर्देशार्थक (quotative particle)

• ख्यातः: was known
• ख्यातः: Karta (कर्ता/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ख्या (धातु) → ख्यात (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक/समुच्चयार्थक (adverb: likewise)

• कुंभ-ईश्वरः: Kuṃbheśvara
• कुंभ-ईश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता/नाम)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुंभ (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: ‘कुंभस्य ईश्वरः’

• स्मृतः: is remembered/called
• स्मृतः: Karta (कर्ता/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) → स्मृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP)

• कुबेर-ईश्वर-नाम: (he) whose name is Kubereśvara
• कुबेर-ईश्वर-नाम: Karta (कर्ता/सम्बन्धि-नामपद)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुबेर (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक) + नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: ‘कुबेरस्य ईश्वरः’ इति, तस्य नाम

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अपि-कार (particle: also)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक/समुच्चयार्थक (likewise)

• सोम-ईश्वरः: Someśvara
• सोम-ईश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता/नाम)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सोम (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: ‘सोमस्य ईश्वरः’

• स्मृतः: is remembered/called
• स्मृतः: Karta (कर्ता/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) → स्मृत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Somanātha

Sthala Purana: The epithet Someśvara (‘Lord of Soma’) directly evokes the Somnātha paradigm—Śiva as the Moon’s Lord and restorer. In this verse, however, it appears as one among several local liṅga-nāmas (Śūleśvara, Kumbheśvara, Kubereśvara, Someśvara), so the linkage is thematic rather than a definitive identification of the Jyotirliṅga site.

Significance: As Someśvara: relief from mental affliction and cooling of ‘tāpa’ (symbolically lunar grace); as Śūleśvara: protection; as Kubereśvara: prosperity; as Kumbheśvara: auspicious fullness (pūrṇatā) and tīrtha-kalaśa symbolism.

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Kubera
• Soma (Chandra)

FAQs

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

The verse emphasizes Shiva’s one reality expressed through many sacred names and shrine-forms, teaching that devotion to the Linga—approached through different tirtha-identities—still reaches the same Pati (Supreme Lord) who grants grace and liberation.

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

These are Saguna designations of Shiva as the Linga-Lord in particular holy contexts; the devotee worships the visible Linga with name, form, and place, while understanding that the same Shiva transcends all names as the inner Self and supreme Lord.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform Linga-puja with the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), offering water and bilva leaves while meditating on Shiva as the one Lord praised by many names; on Mahashivratri, keep vigil and repeat the mantra with steady bhakti.