Shloka 56

Śiva-nāma-sahasraka-kathana

The Recital/Teaching of the Thousand Names of Śiva

Devanagari script

रुचिर्बहुरुचिर्वेद्यो वाचस्पतिरहस्पतिः । रविर्विरोचनः स्कंदः शास्ता वैवस्वतो यमः

Transliteration

rucirbahurucirvedyo vācaspatirahaspatiḥ | ravirvirocanaḥ skaṃdaḥ śāstā vaivasvato yamaḥ

Translation

ఆయనే రుచి (దీప్తి) స్వరూపుడు, అనేక ప్రకాశాలతో విరాజిల్లువాడు; వేదములచే మరియు అనుభవజ్ఞానముచే తెలిసికొనదగినవాడు. ఆయన వాక్పతి, అహస్పతి (దినాధిపతి). ఆయన రవి, విరోచనుడు, స్కందుడు; అలాగే శాస్తా—వివస్వానుని పుత్రుడైన యముడు, నియమాధిపతి।

Word by Word

• रुचिः: splendour; radiance
• रुचिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• बहुरुचिः: of great radiance; very splendid
• बहुरुचिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक) + रुचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (बह्वी रुचिः/बहु रुचिः)

• वेद्यः: knowable; to be known
• वेद्यः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √विद् (धातु) → वेद्य (कृदन्त; -यत्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/passive potential: ‘to be known’)

• वाचस्पतिः: lord of speech (Bṛhaspati)
• वाचस्पतिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाच् (प्रातिपदिक) + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वाचः पतिः)

• अहस्पतिः: lord of the day
• अहस्पतिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहस् (प्रातिपदिक) + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (अह्नः/अहसः पतिः)

• रविः: Sun
• रविः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रवि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• विरोचनः: Virocana; the shining one
• विरोचनः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विरोचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषनाम

• स्कंदः: Skanda
• स्कंदः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्कन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषनाम

• शास्ता: ruler; chastiser
• शास्ता: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: √शास् (धातु) → शास्तृ (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तृ-प्रत्ययान्त कर्तृवाचक (agent noun: ‘ruler/instructor’)

• वैवस्वतः: Vaivasvata (son of Vivasvān)
• वैवस्वतः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वैवस्वत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण/उपाधि (‘son of Vivasvān’)

• यमः: Yama
• यमः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषनाम

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Kālāntaka

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Mahākāleśvara

Sthala Purana: By identifying Śiva with Yama (vaivasvata) and the ruler of restraint, the verse resonates with Ujjayinī’s Mahākāla theme: Śiva as Time beyond death, who subdues death and grants fearlessness to devotees.

Significance: Darśana of Mahākāla is sought for protection from untimely death, removal of भय (fear), and steadiness in dharma; aligns with Śiva as the ultimate governor of niyati and karma.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: destructive

Ritual Elements

Offering: dipa

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Solar sovereignty implied (ravi/ahaspati) alongside Kāla/Yama symbolism—time’s governance over beings.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Skanda
• Yama

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that Shiva pervades all luminous powers (sun, brilliance), all sacred knowledge (the Vedya), and all moral order (Śāstā/Yama). From a Shaiva Siddhanta lens, these are functions of Pati (Shiva) who governs grace, knowledge, and discipline for the soul’s purification toward moksha.

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

These titles are Saguna indicators—Shiva is praised through accessible cosmic forms (Sun, ruler, Skanda, Yama). Linga-worship uses such names to contemplate the formless Supreme (Nirguna) through a sacred form (Saguna), focusing the mind from outer powers to the inner Lord.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Chant these epithets as nāma-japa—especially alongside the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya)—to cultivate inner radiance (ruci), clarity of speech (vācaspati), and self-restraint (yama) as a discipline supportive of Shiva-bhakti.