Shloka 47

Śiva-nāma-sahasraka-kathana

The Recital/Teaching of the Thousand Names of Śiva

Devanagari script

इष्टो विशिष्टः शिष्टेष्टः सुलभः सारशो धनः । तीर्थरूपस्तीर्थनामा तीर्थादृश्यस्तु तीर्थदः

Transliteration

iṣṭo viśiṣṭaḥ śiṣṭeṣṭaḥ sulabhaḥ sāraśo dhanaḥ | tīrtharūpastīrthanāmā tīrthādṛśyastu tīrthadaḥ

Translation

അവൻ ഇഷ്ടൻ, വിശിഷ്ടൻ, ശിഷ്ടജനങ്ങൾക്ക് പ്രിയൻ, നിയതശീലികൾക്ക് ആരാധ്യൻ. സുലഭൻ, സാരസ്വരൂപൻ, സത്യധനം. അവൻ തന്നെ എല്ലാ തീർത്ഥങ്ങളുടെ രൂപം, തീർത്ഥനാമങ്ങളാൽ പ്രസിദ്ധൻ; സാധാരണ ദൃഷ്ടിക്ക് അദൃശ്യനായാലും തീർത്ഥഫലം നൽകുന്നവൻ.

Word by Word

• इष्टः: beloved
• इष्टः: विशेषण (Epithet)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; 'desired/beloved'

• विशिष्टः: distinguished
• विशिष्टः: विशेषण (Epithet)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विशिष्ट (प्रातिपदिक; √शिष्/√शेष् से निष्पन्न)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• शिष्टेष्टः: dear to the virtuous
• शिष्टेष्टः: विशेषण (Epithet)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिष्ट (प्रातिपदिक) + इष्ट (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: शिष्टानाम् इष्टः = dear to the virtuous

• सुलभः: easily attainable
• सुलभः: विशेषण (Epithet)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + लभ (धातु से प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः: सुष्ठु लभ्यः = easily obtainable

• सारशः: excellent/essential
• सारशः: विशेषण (Qualifier of धनः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सारश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (having essence/choice)

• धनः: wealth/treasure
• धनः: विशेषण/नाम (Epithet)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तीर्थरूपः: in the form of a tīrtha
• तीर्थरूपः: विशेषण/नाम (Epithet)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: तीर्थस्य रूपः = having the form of a sacred ford

• तीर्थनामा: bearing the name 'tīrtha'
• तीर्थनामा: विशेषण/नाम (Epithet)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिवत्-प्रयोगेऽपि सम्भवः, परन्तु सामान्यतः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: तीर्थं नाम यस्य = named 'tīrtha'

• तीर्थादृश्यः: unseen as/at a tīrtha
• तीर्थादृश्यः: विशेषण (Epithet)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + अदृश्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; पञ्चमी-तत्पुरुषः: तीर्थात् अदृश्यः = invisible from/at tīrtha (or not seen as a tīrtha)

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: निपात (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक निपात (particle: 'but/indeed')

• तीर्थदः: giver of sacred ford/pilgrimage merit
• तीर्थदः: विशेषण/नाम (Epithet)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + द (दा धातु से कृत्-प्रत्ययान्त प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः: तीर्थं ददाति इति = giver of tīrtha

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: By calling Śiva ‘tīrtharūpa’ and ‘tīrthada’, the verse universalizes pilgrimage: all tīrthas are effective because the Lord is their inner reality and fruit-giver.

Significance: Frames pilgrimage as Śiva’s grace (anugraha): outer travel is secondary to recognizing the inner tīrtha—Śiva present as essence and merit-bestower.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that Shiva is not merely reached through external pilgrimage—He is the very essence behind all tīrthas. In Shaiva Siddhanta terms, Pati (Shiva) is the true refuge and the giver of grace; therefore, devotion to Him yields the real fruit that pilgrimage symbolizes: purification and liberation.

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

By calling Shiva “tīrtharūpa” (the form of all tīrthas) and “sulabha” (easily approachable), the verse supports Saguna worship—especially Jyotirlinga/Linga-darśana—where the Lord makes Himself accessible to devotees and grants the merit associated with sacred places.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Treat daily Shiva worship as an inner tīrtha: perform Linga-pūjā with the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and cultivate disciplined, virtuous conduct (śiṣṭa-bhāva). This is presented as the most direct, “sulabha” means to receive tīrtha-phala.