Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 24

शैवधर्मप्रशंसा तथा पञ्चविधसाधनविभागः / Praise of Śaiva Dharma and the Fivefold Classification of Practice

Devanagari script

नामाष्टकमिदं मुख्यं शिवस्य प्रतिपादकम् । आद्यन्तु पञ्चकं ज्ञेयं शान्त्यतीताद्यनुक्रमात्

Transliteration

nāmāṣṭakamidaṃ mukhyaṃ śivasya pratipādakam | ādyantu pañcakaṃ jñeyaṃ śāntyatītādyanukramāt

Translation

Cet ensemble principal de huit Noms, qui proclame en vérité le Seigneur Śiva, doit être compris selon son agencement quintuple du début et de la fin, suivant la suite qui commence par Śānti et s’étend jusqu’à Atīta.

Word by Word

• नामाष्टकम्: the set of eight names
• नामाष्टकम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नामन् (प्रातिपदिक) + अष्टक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2 विभक्ति), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (नाम्नाम् अष्टकम्)

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

• मुख्यम्: principal
• मुख्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मुख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2 विभक्ति), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• शिवस्य: of Śiva
• शिवस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6 विभक्ति), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (genitive)

• प्रतिपादकम्: expounding/indicating
• प्रतिपादकम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रति-√पद् (धातु) + अक (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2 विभक्ति), एकवचन; कृतान्त-विशेषण (agentive/causative sense: ‘that which sets forth’)

• आदि: the beginning
• आदि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2 विभक्ति), एकवचन; ‘beginning’ (समासपूर्वपदत्वे अपि)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात/पक्षान्तरे (contrastive particle)

• पञ्चकम्: the group of five
• पञ्चकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्चक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2 विभक्ति), एकवचन

• ज्ञेयम्: to be known
• ज्ञेयम्: Vidheyavisheshana (विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √ज्ञा (धातु) + यत् (कृत् प्रत्यय; भाव्य/कर्तव्य)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2 विभक्ति), एकवचन; कृतान्त (gerundive/कर्तव्यता: ‘to be known’)

• शान्ति-अतीत-आदि-अनुक्रमात्: from the sequence beginning with Śānti and Atīta
• शान्ति-अतीत-आदि-अनुक्रमात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शान्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + अतीत (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक) + अनुक्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5 विभक्ति), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (आदि-तत्पुरुषः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse establishes that Śiva’s “eight Names” are not merely poetic praise but a primary doctrinal pointer to Pati (the Supreme Lord). Knowing their ordered structure helps the devotee contemplate Śiva from peace (Śānti) up to transcendence (Atīta), moving the mind toward liberation.

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

In Śaiva practice, nāma-japa supports saguna-upāsanā: the devotee approaches Śiva through Name and form (often the Liṅga) while the Names also indicate His nirguṇa-transcendence (Atīta). Thus, the Liṅga becomes the steady focus, and the Names supply inner contemplation and meaning.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is nāma-japa: recite the nāmāṣṭaka in the prescribed sequence, ideally before the Liṅga, with vibhūti (Tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa if undertaken as a Śaiva vrata—especially suitable for Mahāśivarātri worship.