Shloka 40

भस्म–रुद्राक्ष–शिवनाममाहात्म्य

The Greatness of Bhasma, Rudrākṣa, and the Name of Śiva

Devanagari script

विलोक्य वेदानखिलाञ्छिवनामजपः परम् । संसारतारणोपाय इति पूर्वैर्विनिश्चितः

Transliteration

vilokya vedānakhilāñchivanāmajapaḥ param | saṃsāratāraṇopāya iti pūrvairviniścitaḥ

Translation

เมื่อพิจารณาพระเวททั้งสิ้นโดยถ้วนถี่ ฤๅษีโบราณได้วินิจฉัยว่า ชปะแห่งพระนามศิวะเป็นปฏิบัติอันสูงสุด และเป็นอุบายเพื่อข้ามพ้นสังสารวัฏ

Word by Word

• विलोक्य: having examined
• विलोक्य: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-लोक् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया

• वेदान्: the Vedas
• वेदान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• अखिलान्: all/entire
• अखिलान्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अखिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (वेदान्)

• शिवनामजपः: chanting of Shiva’s name
• शिवनामजपः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव-नाम-जप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (शिवस्य नाम्नः जपः)

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषणम् (शिवनामजपः ... परम्)

• संसारतारणोपायः: means to cross saṃsāra
• संसारतारणोपायः: Samānādhikaraṇa/Predicate (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संसार-तारण-उपाय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (संसारस्य तारणस्य उपायः)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/उद्धरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/वाक्यसमाप्ति-सूचक अव्यय (quotative particle)

• पूर्वैः: by the ancients
• पूर्वैः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्तृ-करणार्थे (by the ancients)

• विनिश्चितः: has been determined/ascertained
• विनिश्चितः: Kriyā/Predicate (क्रिया/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-नि-चित् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; (अस्ति) इति लुप्तम्

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Frames nāma-japa as the Veda-sāra (essence of Vedic inquiry) and the most accessible ferry across saṃsāra—an egalitarian soteriology centered on grace.

Mantra Metadata

Type: panchakshara

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vedas

FAQs

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

It declares, on the authority of the Vedas as understood by the ancient seers, that Shiva’s Name is the highest upaya (saving means) for crossing saṃsāra—emphasizing bhakti-centered liberation aligned with Shaiva Siddhanta.

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

Shiva-nama-japa supports Saguna worship by giving the devotee a constant, accessible form of Shiva to hold in mind and speech; it naturally complements Linga-puja as the inner worship (manasa-seva) that sustains outer ritual.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Regular japa of Shiva’s Name—especially the Panchakshara mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—as a daily discipline, ideally done with steady breath, devotion, and remembrance of Shiva as Pati (Lord) who removes pasha (bondage).