Śiva-nāma-sahasraka-kathana
The Recital/Teaching of the Thousand Names of Śiva
इष्टो विशिष्टः शिष्टेष्टः सुलभः सारशो धनः । तीर्थरूपस्तीर्थनामा तीर्थादृश्यस्तु तीर्थदः
iṣṭo viśiṣṭaḥ śiṣṭeṣṭaḥ sulabhaḥ sāraśo dhanaḥ | tīrtharūpastīrthanāmā tīrthādṛśyastu tīrthadaḥ
พระองค์ทรงเป็นที่รัก เป็นผู้เลิศยิ่ง เป็นที่ชื่นชอบของผู้ประเสริฐและเป็นที่บูชาของผู้มีวินัย. เข้าถึงได้โดยง่าย ทรงเป็นสาระและทรัพย์แท้. พระองค์เองคือรูปแห่งตถีรถะทั้งปวง เป็นที่รู้จักด้วยนามตถีรถะ; แม้ไม่ปรากฏแก่สายตาสามัญ แต่ทรงประทานผลแห่งตถีรถะทั้งสิ้น
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Sthala Purana: By calling Śiva ‘tīrtharūpa’ and ‘tīrthada’, the verse universalizes pilgrimage: all tīrthas are effective because the Lord is their inner reality and fruit-giver.
Significance: Frames pilgrimage as Śiva’s grace (anugraha): outer travel is secondary to recognizing the inner tīrtha—Śiva present as essence and merit-bestower.
Type: stotra
Role: nurturing
Offering: pushpa
The verse teaches that Shiva is not merely reached through external pilgrimage—He is the very essence behind all tīrthas. In Shaiva Siddhanta terms, Pati (Shiva) is the true refuge and the giver of grace; therefore, devotion to Him yields the real fruit that pilgrimage symbolizes: purification and liberation.
By calling Shiva “tīrtharūpa” (the form of all tīrthas) and “sulabha” (easily approachable), the verse supports Saguna worship—especially Jyotirlinga/Linga-darśana—where the Lord makes Himself accessible to devotees and grants the merit associated with sacred places.
Treat daily Shiva worship as an inner tīrtha: perform Linga-pūjā with the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and cultivate disciplined, virtuous conduct (śiṣṭa-bhāva). This is presented as the most direct, “sulabha” means to receive tīrtha-phala.