Shloka 89

Śiva-nāma-sahasraka-kathana

The Recital/Teaching of the Thousand Names of Śiva

Devanagari script

सहस्रबाहुस्सर्वेशश्शरण्यस्सर्वलोकधृक् । पद्मासनः परं ज्योतिः पारम्पर्य्यफलप्रदः

Transliteration

sahasrabāhussarveśaśśaraṇyassarvalokadhṛk | padmāsanaḥ paraṃ jyotiḥ pāramparyyaphalapradaḥ

Translation

അവൻ സഹസ്രബാഹു സർവേശ്വരൻ, എല്ലാവർക്കും ശരണ്യൻ, സർവ്വലോകധാരകൻ. പദ്മാസനത്തിൽ വിരാജിക്കുന്ന അവൻ പരമജ്യോതി; പരമ്പരാഗത ഭക്തിയുടെ ഫലം നൽകുന്നവൻ.

Word by Word

• सहस्रबाहुः: having a thousand arms
• सहस्रबाहुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सहस्र + बाहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—सहस्रं बाहवः यस्य सः

• सर्वेशः: lord of all
• सर्वेशः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—सर्वेषाम् ईशः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः)

• शरण्यः: refuge-giving, worthy of refuge
• शरण्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शरण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सर्वलोकधृक्: supporter of all worlds
• सर्वलोकधृक्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + लोक + धृ (धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; धृक् = क्विप्-प्रत्ययान्त (agent noun) ‘bearer’; समासः—सर्वान् लोकान् धृक् (द्वितीया-तत्पुरुषः)

• पद्मासनः: lotus-seated
• पद्मासनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पद्म + आसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—पद्मम् आसनं यस्य सः / पद्मे आसनं यस्य सः

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणं ज्योतिः

• ज्योतिः: light, radiance
• ज्योतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्योतिस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पारम्पर्यफलप्रदः: giver of the fruit of tradition/lineage
• पारम्पर्यफलप्रदः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पारम्पर्य + फल + प्रद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—पारम्पर्यस्य फलम् (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः) + प्रदः (उपपद-तत्पुरुषः: फलप्रदः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: सहस्रबाहुस्सर्वेशश्शरण्यस्सर्वलोकधृक् । पद्मासनः परं ज्योतिः पारम्पर्य्यफलप्रदः

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 praises Shiva as Pati—the Supreme Lord and Refuge—who sustains all worlds and is realized as the “Supreme Light.” In Shaiva Siddhanta terms, surrender to Shiva and steady devotion lead the soul toward grace and liberation.

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

Calling Shiva the “Supreme Light” aligns with Jyotirlinga theology: the Linga is a saguna support through which devotees approach the transcendent radiance (paraṃ jyotiḥ). Worship performed with faith and right tradition ripens into spiritual fruit.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Take refuge in Shiva through disciplined, traditional practice (paramparā): daily Linga-pūjā with Panchakshara japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and meditation on Shiva as inner light (jyoti) while maintaining purity and devotion.