Shloka 97

Śiva-nāma-sahasraka-kathana

The Recital/Teaching of the Thousand Names of Śiva

Devanagari script

बाणाध्यक्षो बीजकर्ता कर्मकृद्धर्मसंभवः । दंभो लोभोऽथ वै शंभुस्सर्व भूतमहेश्वरः

Transliteration

bāṇādhyakṣo bījakartā karmakṛddharmasaṃbhavaḥ | daṃbho lobho'tha vai śaṃbhussarva bhūtamaheśvaraḥ

Translation

അവൻ ബാണങ്ങളുടെ അധ്യക്ഷൻ, ബീജത്തിന്റെ കർത്താവ്, കർമ്മത്തിന്റെ വിധാതാവ്, ധർമ്മത്തിന്റെ ഉദ്ഭവം. ജീവികൾ ‘ദംഭം’ ‘ലോഭം’ എന്നു വിളിക്കുന്നതും അവന്റെ അധീനത്തിൽ; അവൻ തന്നെയാണ് ശംഭു—സർവ്വഭൂതമഹേശ്വരൻ.

Word by Word

• बाण-अध्यक्षः: overseer of arrows
• बाण-अध्यक्षः: Karta (कर्ता; predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाण (प्रातिपदिक) + अध्यक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (बाणानाम् अध्यक्षः)

• बीज-कर्ता: maker of the seed
• बीज-कर्ता: Karta (कर्ता; predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बीज (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (बीजस्य कर्ता)

• कर्म-कृत्: doer of deeds
• कर्म-कृत्: Karta (कर्ता; predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + कृत् (प्रातिपदिक; from कृ धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (कर्म करोति इति)

• धर्म-सम्भवः: source/origin of dharma
• धर्म-सम्भवः: Karta (कर्ता; predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + सम्भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (धर्मात् सम्भवः / धर्मस्य सम्भवः)

• दंभः: pride, hypocrisy
• दंभः: Karta (कर्ता; predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दंभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• लोभः: greed
• लोभः: Karta (कर्ता; predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अथ: then / moreover
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle) = ‘then/now/and further’

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• शम्भुः: Śambhu (Śiva)
• शम्भुः: Karta (कर्ता; subject/predicate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शम्भु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सर्व-भूत-महेश्वरः: great lord of all beings
• सर्व-भूत-महेश्वरः: Karta (कर्ता; predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + भूत (प्रातिपदिक) + महा (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (सर्वेषां भूतानां महेश्वरः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s names/glories to the sages at Naimisharanya within Kotirudra Samhita)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Contemplation of Śiva as bīja-kartā and karma-phala-dātā supports pilgrimage/worship as a means to purify karma and align with dharma.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: creative

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It declares Śiva as Pati—the supreme Lord who governs karma and establishes dharma; even inner enemies like pride and greed are not ultimate powers but tendencies that function under His cosmic order, to be transcended through devotion and right knowledge.

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

As Saguna Śiva, He is praised through names describing His governance of the universe; Linga-worship centers the mind on that one Lord who stands beyond and yet regulates all forces—outer (weapons, events) and inner (desires, ego).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Śambhu while chanting the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), offering the ego (dambha) and craving (lobha) into the Linga with bhakti; maintain purity with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and steady japa to align actions (karma) with dharma.