Shloka 8

Kṛṣṇādi-Śivabhaktoddhāraṇa & Śiva-māhātmya-varṇana

Deliverance of Krishna and other devotees; Description of Shiva’s Greatness

Devanagari script

जपो नमश्शिवायेति मंत्रराजमिमं हरे । सर्वकामप्रदं दिव्यं भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदायकम्

Transliteration

japo namaśśivāyeti maṃtrarājamimaṃ hare | sarvakāmapradaṃ divyaṃ bhuktimuktipradāyakam

Translation

O Hari, bigkasin at ulit-ulitin ang hari ng mga mantra: “Namaḥ Śivāya.” Ito’y banal at makalangit, nagbibigay ng katuparan ng lahat ng marapat na hangarin, at nagkakaloob ng kapakinabangan sa daigdig at ng pangwakas na kalayaan (moksha).

Word by Word

• जपः: the japa/recitation
• जपः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• नमः: obeisance
• नमः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध; मन्त्राङ्ग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: निपात/अव्यय; नमस्कारार्थक (salutatory particle)

• शिवाय: to Śiva
• शिवाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन

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

• मन्त्रराजम्: king of mantras
• मन्त्रराजम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र + राज (प्रातिपदिक); मन्त्र-राज (समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘मन्त्राणां राजा’

• इमम्: this
• इमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम; प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; मन्त्रराजम् विशेषयति

• हरे: O Hari
• हरे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• सर्वकामप्रदम्: granting all desires
• सर्वकामप्रदम्: Karma (कर्म; विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + काम + प्रद (प्रातिपदिक); सर्व-काम-प्रद (समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः—‘सर्वान् कामान् प्रददाति’

• दिव्यम्: divine
• दिव्यम्: Karma (कर्म; विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण

• भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदायकम्: bestowing enjoyment and liberation
• भुक्तिमुक्तिप्रदायकम्: Karma (कर्म; विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भुक्ति + मुक्ति + प्रदायक (प्रातिपदिक); भुक्ति-मुक्ति-प्रदायक (समास)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्वन्द्वपूर्वपद-तत्पुरुषः—‘भुक्तिं च मुक्तिं च प्रददाति’

Speaker

Lord Shiva (instructing Hari/Viṣṇu within the Umāsaṃhitā discourse)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadashiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a site-specific Jyotirliṅga episode; the verse functions as a pan-Śaiva upadeśa where Śiva instructs Viṣṇu in the mantra that grants both bhukti and mukti.

Significance: Frames pañcākṣarī-japa as a universal pilgrimage-in-itself (mantra-tīrtha): purification of mala and ripening toward Śiva’s grace (anugraha).

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: नमः शिवाय

Type: panchakshara

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vishnu (Hari)

FAQs

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

It proclaims the Pañcākṣarī “Namaḥ Śivāya” as the supreme mantra whose japa purifies the bound soul (paśu), loosens bondage (pāśa), and leads to the grace of Pati (Śiva), culminating in mukti.

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

The mantra directly invokes Śiva in a personal, worshipful mode (saguṇa upāsanā). In Purāṇic practice it is commonly paired with Liṅga-pūjā—offering water, bilva leaves, and devotion—so mantra and symbol together focus mind and devotion on Śiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Daily japa of “Namaḥ Śivāya,” ideally with a rudrākṣa mālā and steady meditation on Śiva; it may be integrated into Liṅga worship, especially on Mondays and Mahāśivarātri, for both worldly well-being and liberation-oriented devotion.