Shloka 106

Devanagari script

नमस्तस्मै महेशाय भक्तध्येयाय शम्भवे । पुराणपुरुषायाद्धा शंकराय परात्मने

Transliteration

namastasmai maheśāya bhaktadhyeyāya śambhave | purāṇapuruṣāyāddhā śaṃkarāya parātmane

Translation

Salutations to that Mahādeva, Mahēśa—Śambhu, the One to be contemplated by devotees; to the primeval Puruṣa, ever pure and stainless; to Śaṅkara, the Paramātman, the Supreme Self, the innermost Reality of all.

Word by Word

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: सम्बन्ध (Salutation formula)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; indeclinable-like usage in salutation

• तस्मै: to him
• तस्मै: सम्प्रदान (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन

• महेशाय: to Maheśa
• महेशाय: सम्प्रदान (Recipient/apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th), एकवचन

• भक्तध्येयाय: to the one meditated on by devotees
• भक्तध्येयाय: सम्प्रदान (Recipient qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भक्त+ध्येय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: भक्तानां ध्येयः; पुल्लिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th), एकवचन

• शम्भवे: to Śambhu
• शम्भवे: सम्प्रदान (Recipient/apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शम्भु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th), एकवचन

• पुराणपुरुषाय: to the primeval Person
• पुराणपुरुषाय: सम्प्रदान (Recipient/apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुराण+पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; पुल्लिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th), एकवचन

• अद्धा: truly/clearly
• अद्धा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अद्धा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb) = clearly/truly

• शंकराय: to Śaṅkara
• शंकराय: सम्प्रदान (Recipient/apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th), एकवचन

• परात्मने: to the Supreme Self
• परात्मने: सम्प्रदान (Recipient/apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर+आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; पुल्लिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th), एकवचन (आत्मन्-शब्दः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: नमस्तस्मै महेशाय भक्तध्येयाय शम्भवे । पुराणपुरुषायाद्धा शंकराय परात्मने

Type: stotra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

This verse is a devotional salutation that unites bhakti and tattva: Shiva is praised as the meditational focus for devotees (saguna upasana) and simultaneously as the Paramatman, the highest Reality that grants liberation.

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

By calling Shiva “bhakta-dhyeya,” it endorses concrete contemplation and worship—classically expressed through Linga-upasana—while affirming that the worshiped Lord is the same Supreme Self beyond all limitations.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice dhyana and japa by fixing the mind on Śambhu/Śaṅkara as the pure inner Self; this pairs naturally with Panchakshara japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and Linga-darshana during daily puja or Mahashivratri worship.