Shiva Purana — Kailasa Samhita, Shloka 42

Śiva-Śakti Tattva, Varṇa-Rahasya, and Mahāvākya-Bhāvanā

Interpretive Discipline

Devanagari script

नामाष्टकेन सम्पूज्य ब्राह्मणैर्वेदपारगैः । जपेद्ब्रह्मविदाप्नोति भृगुर्वै वारुणिस्ततः

Transliteration

nāmāṣṭakena sampūjya brāhmaṇairvedapāragaiḥ | japedbrahmavidāpnoti bhṛgurvai vāruṇistataḥ

Translation

ਅੱਠ ਪਵਿੱਤਰ ਨਾਮਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਵਿਧੀਪੂਰਵਕ ਪੂਜਾ ਕਰਕੇ, ਵੇਦ-ਪਾਰੰਗਤ ਬ੍ਰਾਹਮਣਾਂ ਦੇ ਨਾਲ, ਫਿਰ ਜਪ ਕਰਨਾ ਚਾਹੀਦਾ ਹੈ; ਇਸ ਨਾਲ ਬ੍ਰਹਮਵਿਦਿਆ ਦੀ ਅਵਸਥਾ (ਬ੍ਰਹਮਵਿਦ ਪਦ) ਪ੍ਰਾਪਤ ਹੁੰਦੀ ਹੈ। ਤਦੋਂ ਬਾਅਦ ਵਾਰੁਣੀ ਭ੍ਰਿਗੂ ਨੇ ਵੀ ਨਿਸਚਿਤ ਹੀ ਉਹ ਪਦ ਪਾਇਆ।

Word by Word

• नामाष्टकेन: with the set of eight names
• नामाष्टकेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नामन् (प्रातिपदिक) + अष्टक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/Instrumental), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (नाम्नाम् अष्टकम्)

• सम्पूज्य: having duly worshipped
• सम्पूज्य: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + पूज् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund/Absolutive), अव्ययभाव; ‘having worshipped fully’

• ब्राह्मणैः: by Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणैः: Kartr̥ (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन

• वेदपारगैः: versed in the Vedas
• वेदपारगैः: Kartr̥ (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + पारग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वेदस्य पारगः) विशेषणम् ब्राह्मणैः

• जपेत्: should recite
• जपेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• ब्रह्मविद्: a knower of Brahman
• ब्रह्मविद्: Kartr̥ (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + विद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः (ब्रह्म वेत्ति इति)

• आप्नोति: attains
• आप्नोति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आप् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• भृगुः: Bhṛgu
• भृगुः: Kartr̥ (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भृगु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha/Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय; emphasis/indeed

• वारुणिः: Vāruṇi
• वारुणिः: Kartr̥ (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वारुणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ततः: thereupon/then
• ततः: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb), ‘thereupon/from that’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Emphasizes japa with the Name-octad and Veda-grounded worship as a means toward brahma-vidyā (Śiva-jñāna) and spiritual maturation.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: nāmāṣṭaka (eight Names) — specific names not quoted in the verse

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Bhṛgu
• Varuṇa

FAQs

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

It teaches that disciplined worship through Shiva’s sacred names and steady japa culminates in brahma-jñāna—realization of the Supreme—illustrated by the exemplar Bhṛgu Vāruṇi.

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

The verse emphasizes Saguna upāsanā—worship through Shiva’s names (often done alongside Linga-pūjā)—as a practical means that matures the seeker toward the highest knowledge of the Absolute.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform nāmāṣṭaka-based worship, honor Veda-versed Brahmins, and undertake regular mantra japa with concentration as the core meditative discipline.