Shloka 18

शुक्रोत्पत्तिः तथा महेश्वरदर्शनम् (Śukra’s Emergence and the Vision of Maheśvara)

Devanagari script

अष्टोत्तरशतं ह्येतन्मूर्तीनां परमात्मनः । शिवस्य दानवो ध्यायन्मुक्तस्तस्मान्महाभयात्

Transliteration

aṣṭottaraśataṃ hyetanmūrtīnāṃ paramātmanaḥ | śivasya dānavo dhyāyanmuktastasmānmahābhayāt

Translation

Indeed, these are the one hundred and eight manifestations of the Supreme Self, Lord Śiva. Meditating upon them, even the asura was freed from that great terror.

Word by Word

• अष्टोत्तरशतम्: one hundred and eight
• अष्टोत्तरशतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्ट-उत्तर-शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2 विभक्ति), एकवचन; द्विगुसमासः (अष्ट अधिकं शतम्)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्यालङ्कार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2 विभक्ति), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• मूर्तीनाम्: of the forms
• मूर्तीनाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6 विभक्ति), बहुवचन

• परमात्मनः: of the Supreme Self
• परमात्मनः: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम-आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (आत्मन्-शब्दः), षष्ठी (6 विभक्ति), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषसमासः (परमः आत्मा)

• शिवस्य: of Śiva
• शिवस्य: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6 विभक्ति), एकवचन

• दानवः: the demon
• दानवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दानव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1 विभक्ति), एकवचन

• ध्यायन्: meditating
• ध्यायन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ध्यै (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कृदन्तः; शतृ-प्रत्यय (present active participle), प्रथमा, पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन

• मुक्तः: was freed
• मुक्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकाले कृदन्तः; क्त-प्रत्यय (past passive participle), प्रथमा, पुंलिङ्ग, एकवचन

• तस्मात्: from that
• तस्मात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, पञ्चमी (5 विभक्ति), एकवचन; अपादानार्थे

• महाभयात्: from great fear
• महाभयात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा-भय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5 विभक्ति), एकवचन; कर्मधारयसमासः (महद् भयम्)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a specific jyotirliṅga episode; the verse generalizes the salvific power of contemplating Śiva’s aṣṭottaraśata (108) mūrtis, a pan-Indian liturgical motif used at many liṅga-sthalas.

Significance: Hearing/reciting/meditating on Śiva’s forms is presented as fear-destroying and liberating—applicable to any Śiva-kṣetra.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that remembrance and meditation on Śiva’s 108 manifestations steadies the soul (paśu) in devotion to Pati (Śiva), dissolving bhaya (existential fear) and leading toward release (mukti) through Śiva’s grace.

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

The 108 mūrtis represent Saguna expressions of the one Paramātman Śiva; worship of the Liṅga and contemplation of these forms are complementary—one points to the formless reality (Nirguna) through accessible sacred forms (Saguna).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is Shiva-dhyāna: mentally contemplate Śiva’s forms while repeating a Śiva-mantra (such as the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) as a fear-dispelling, liberation-oriented practice.