Shiva Purana — Kotirudra Samhita, Shloka 11

Śiva-nāma-sahasraka-kathana

The Recital/Teaching of the Thousand Names of Śiva

Devanagari script

विशालाक्षो मृगव्याधः सुरेशः सूर्यतापनः । धर्मधाम क्षमाक्षेत्रं भगवान्भगनेत्रभित्

Transliteration

viśālākṣo mṛgavyādhaḥ sureśaḥ sūryatāpanaḥ | dharmadhāma kṣamākṣetraṃ bhagavānbhaganetrabhit

Translation

祂是广目之主；是猎者，降伏心之狂野；是诸天之王；其光辉胜过太阳。祂是法之居处，是忍辱的圣田；亦是薄伽梵，毁灭薄伽之眼者。

Word by Word

• विशालाक्षः: wide-eyed
• विशालाक्षः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विशाल + अक्षि/अक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि (विशाले अक्षिणी यस्य)

• मृगव्याधः: hunter of deer
• मृगव्याधः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृग + व्याध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (मृगाणां व्याधः)

• सुरेशः: lord of the gods
• सुरेशः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर + ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (सुराणाम् ईशः)

• सूर्यतापनः: sun-like heater/burner
• सूर्यतापनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूर्य + तापन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (सूर्यस्य तापनः/तापयिता—सूर्यसमः तापः यस्य)

• धर्मधाम: abode of dharma
• धर्मधाम: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म + धामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (धर्मस्य धाम)

• क्षमाक्षेत्रम्: field of forgiveness
• क्षमाक्षेत्रम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षमा + क्षेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (क्षमायाः क्षेत्रम्)

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; मतुप्-प्रत्ययान्त (भगयुक्तः)

• भगनेत्रभित्: splitter of Bhaga’s eye
• भगनेत्रभित्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भग + नेत्र + भिद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (भगस्य नेत्रं भिनत्ति इति)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Dakṣa-yajña dhvaṃsa (Bhaga’s eye destroyed; divine retribution and restoration of dharma)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Bhaga
• Devas
• Daksha

FAQs

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

The verse praises Shiva through powerful epithets that reveal him as the all-seeing Pati (Lord), the source and protector of Dharma, and the compassionate ground of kṣamā (forbearance). In Shaiva Siddhanta, such remembrance turns the mind away from bondage (pāśa) and toward Shiva’s grace (anugraha), which ripens the soul (paśu) for liberation.

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

These names are Saguna descriptions that help devotees concentrate on Shiva’s manifested greatness while worshipping the Linga. By meditating on Shiva as Dharmadhāma and the all-seeing Lord, the Linga becomes a living focus for devotion, purification, and the descent of grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice nāma-japa: chant these epithets (or the Panchakshara, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) while visualizing Shiva’s all-seeing eye and radiant presence. As an aid, apply Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and offer water to the Linga, cultivating kṣamā (forgiveness) as the inner vrata.