Shloka 21

उमास्वयंवरः / भवोद्वाहः, गणसमागमः, अविमुक्तक्षेत्रमाहात्म्यम्, तथा विनायक-उत्पत्तिसूचना

Devanagari script

संनामश् च शतेनैव कुमुदः कोटिभिस् तथा अमोघः कोकिलश्चैव कोटिकोट्या सुमन्त्रकः

Transliteration

saṃnāmaś ca śatenaiva kumudaḥ koṭibhis tathā amoghaḥ kokilaścaiva koṭikoṭyā sumantrakaḥ

Translation

അവൻ സന്നാമൻ—ശതശത സ്തുതികളാൽ സ്തുതിക്കപ്പെടുന്നവൻ; കുമുദൻ—കോടികോടി ഭക്തർ ആരാധിക്കുന്നവൻ. അവൻ അമോഘൻ—കൃപ ഒരിക്കലും വ്യർത്ഥമാകാത്തത്; കോകിലൻ—ശ്രുതി-പ്രകാശത്തിൽ മധുരസ്വരൻ. അവൻ സുമന്ത്രകൻ—ശുഭമന്ത്രങ്ങളാൽ അനന്ത കോടി പേർ ആഹ്വാനിക്കുന്നവൻ.

Word by Word

• संनाम (saṃnāma): the One of true/complete names, rightly praised

• च (ca): and

• शतेन (śatena): by a hundred (fold/praisers)

• एव (eva): indeed

• कुमुदः (kumudaḥ): Kumuda, lotus-like/joy-giving

• कोटिभिः (koṭibhiḥ): by crores/millions

• तथा (tathā): likewise

• अमोघः (amoghaḥ): unfailing, never-fruitless

• कोकिलः (kokilaḥ): cuckoo-like, sweet-voiced/pleasant-sounding

• च एव (ca eva): and indeed

• कोटिकोट्या (koṭi-koṭyā): by crores upon crores

• सुमन्त्रकः (sumantrakaḥ): the Lord of auspicious mantras, bestower of right mantra.

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva Sahasranama to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It frames Linga-worship as Nama-upasana: by repeating Shiva’s names—especially those indicating unfailing grace (Amogha) and mantra-lordship (Sumantraka)—the devotee approaches the Pati through sound (mantra) and devotion (bhakti).

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

Shiva is presented as Amogha—his śakti and anugraha (liberating grace) never become fruitless; he is also Sumantraka, the ground of mantra through which the bound pashu is led beyond pāśa (bondage) toward union with the Pati.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Nama-japa and mantra-sādhana are implied: reciting the Sahasranama as a disciplined practice supports Pashupata-oriented purification of mind and speech, making worship effective and spiritually transformative.