Shloka 118

Śiva-nāma-sahasraka-kathana

The Recital/Teaching of the Thousand Names of Śiva

Devanagari script

वाराहशृंगधृक् शृंगी बलवानेकनायकः । श्रुतिप्रकाशः श्रुतिमाने कबंधुरनेकधृक्

Transliteration

vārāhaśṛṃgadhṛk śṛṃgī balavānekanāyakaḥ | śrutiprakāśaḥ śrutimāne kabaṃdhuranekadhṛk

Translation

Ngài mang sừng heo rừng, Đấng có sừng; hùng lực vô song, vị Chúa Tể độc nhất. Ngài soi sáng các Veda, là chủ của Śruti (mặc khải thánh); Ngài huyền nhiệm như Đấng “không đầu”, và là Đấng mang nhiều hình tướng cùng nhiều sự nâng đỡ.

Word by Word

• वाराह-शृङ्ग-धृक्: bearer of a boar’s horn
• वाराह-शृङ्ग-धृक्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाराह (प्रातिपदिक) + शृङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + धृ (धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कृदन्त: धृ धातोः क्विप्-प्रत्ययान्त (धृक् = धारयिता), समास: वाराहस्य शृङ्गं (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष) + तद्धारकः

• शृङ्गी: horned
• शृङ्गी: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शृङ्गिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; शृङ्गिन्-शब्दः (मतुप्/इन्-प्रत्ययान्त), ‘having horns’

• बलवान्: strong
• बलवान्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बलवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बलवत्-शब्दः (मतुप्), ‘possessing strength’

• एक-नायकः: the sole leader
• एक-नायकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक) + नायक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: एकः नायकः

• श्रुति-प्रकाशः: illumination of the Vedas
• श्रुति-प्रकाशः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रुति (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रकाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: श्रुतेः प्रकाशः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• श्रुतिमान्: possessed of Vedic knowledge
• श्रुतिमान्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रुति (प्रातिपदिक) + मतुप् (प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; मतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त: श्रुतिमत्/श्रुतिमान् = ‘possessing śruti (Vedic knowledge)’

• कबन्धुरः: well-built / stout-bodied
• कबन्धुरः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कबन्धुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; गुणवाचक-विशेषण

• अनेक-धृक्: bearer of many (forms/attributes)
• अनेक-धृक्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनेक (प्रातिपदिक) + धृ (धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कृदन्त: धृ धातोः क्विप्-प्रत्ययान्त (धृक्); तत्पुरुष: अनेकं धारयति

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Liṅgodbhava

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Although not naming a Jyotirliṅga, the ‘eka-nāyaka’ and revelatory ‘śruti-prakāśa’ motifs align with liṅga-theology where Śiva both conceals his limit (tirodhāna) and reveals himself as the Vedic light—conceptually reminiscent of Liṅgodbhava narratives (endless pillar revealing Śiva’s supremacy).

Significance: Invites contemplation of Śiva as the revealer of śruti and the one beyond ordinary ‘head’ (conceptual grasp), pushing the pilgrim from external seeing to inner revelation.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse praises Shiva as the one Lord who nevertheless manifests in countless modes—revealing the Vedas (śruti) and supporting devotees through diverse forms, guiding the bound soul (paśu) toward liberation under the grace of Pati.

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

These names support Saguna upāsanā: devotees contemplate Shiva’s specific attributes and forms while recognizing His single sovereignty (ekanāyakaḥ). Such remembrance naturally culminates in Linga-worship, where the One is adored as the all-supporting reality.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Use this verse as a nāma-japa contemplation: recite the epithets with devotion, then meditate on Shiva as śrutiprakāśa (revealer of truth). Conclude with Panchakshara japa—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—optionally with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as Shaiva supports.