Śiva-nāma-sahasraka-kathana
The Recital/Teaching of the Thousand Names of Śiva
स्तव्यः स्तवप्रियः स्तोता व्यासमूर्तिर्निरंकुलः । निरवद्यमयोपायो विद्याराशिश्च सत्कृतः
stavyaḥ stavapriyaḥ stotā vyāsamūrtirniraṃkulaḥ | niravadyamayopāyo vidyārāśiśca satkṛtaḥ
Śiva layak dipuji; Dia berkenan pada puji-pujian suci; bahkan Dia sendiri ialah pemuji dan pelantun yang sejati. Dia adalah wujud Vyāsa, sentiasa tenang tanpa kekusutan. Dia ialah upāya yang tanpa cela untuk mencapai kebaikan; khazanah ilmu suci, dan dihormati sewajarnya oleh orang-orang berbudi.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Type: stotra
Role: teaching
Offering: pushpa
The verse presents Shiva as both the supreme object of devotion and the inner source of devotion itself—worthy of praise, pleased by sincere stuti, and the flawless upāya for liberation, combining grace (anugraha) with right knowledge.
By emphasizing Shiva as “stavapriya” and “stavyah,” it supports Saguna worship—approaching the Lord through hymns, names, and forms such as the Jyotirlinga—while also pointing to His transcendent stability (“niraṅkulaḥ”) beyond mental disturbance.
Regular recitation of Shiva-stotras and japa—especially with the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya)—is implied as a pure means; it can be paired with traditional Shaiva observances like bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and Rudrākṣa as supports for steadiness and devotion.