Shloka 47

ब्रह्मनारायणस्तवः — शिवस्य प्रभवत्व-प्रतिपादनम्

Devanagari script

नमो वै पद्मवर्णाय मृत्युघ्नाय च मृत्यवे नमो गौराय श्यामाय कद्रवे लोहिताय च

Transliteration

namo vai padmavarṇāya mṛtyughnāya ca mṛtyave namo gaurāya śyāmāya kadrave lohitāya ca

Translation

नमो वै पद्मवर्णाय मृत्युघ्नाय च मृत्यवे। नमो गौराय श्यामाय कद्रवे लोहिताय च॥

Word by Word

• namo: salutations

• vai: indeed/verily

• padma-varṇāya: to the lotus-hued/lotus-colored One

• mṛtyu-ghnāya: to the slayer of death

• ca: and

• mṛtyave: to Death (as the cosmic power of dissolution)

• gaurāya: to the fair/bright One

• śyāmāya: to the dark/blue-black One

• kadrave: to the tawny-brown One

• lohitāya: to the red-hued One

• ca: and

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating a hymn of praise within the Linga Purana’s Shaiva stuti tradition)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It teaches that the Linga signifies Pati (Shiva) who transcends all limiting attributes, yet compassionately appears through many forms and colors; chanting such names in archana/japa purifies the pashu (soul) and loosens pasha (bondage).

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

Shiva is shown as the Lord of paradox: Mrityunjaya (conqueror of death) and also Mrityu (the cosmic dissolver). This points to Shiva-tattva as the supreme regulator of both grace (anugraha) and withdrawal (saṃhāra) for liberation.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Nama-japa and stuti (praise through divine epithets), used in Linga-puja and Pashupata-oriented contemplation, where the yogin learns to perceive the one Pati behind all dualities (bright/dark, red/tawny).