Shiva Purana — Kotirudra Samhita, Shloka 20

Śiva-nāma-sahasraka-kathana

The Recital/Teaching of the Thousand Names of Śiva

Devanagari script

विजितात्मा विधेयात्मा भूतवाहनसारथिः । सगणो गणकायश्च सुकीर्तिच्छिन्नसंशयः

Transliteration

vijitātmā vidheyātmā bhūtavāhanasārathiḥ | sagaṇo gaṇakāyaśca sukīrticchinnasaṃśayaḥ

Translation

祂自胜其心，调御圆满；是以众生之众为乘、为其驾驭的御者。祂为诸伽那（gaṇa）所环绕，亦即伽那共同体之化身；名声清净无瑕——能斩断一切疑惑者。

Word by Word

• विजित-आत्मा: self-controlled
• विजित-आत्मा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वि (उपसर्ग) + जित (√जि धातु, क्त-प्रत्ययान्त) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (whose self is conquered/controlled); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle)

• विधेय-आत्मा: of disciplined nature
• विधेय-आत्मा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधेय (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (whose self is obedient/tractable)

• भूत-वाहन-सारथिः: charioteer of the beings’ vehicle
• भूत-वाहन-सारथिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक) + वाहन (प्रातिपदिक) + सारथि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (determinative chain)

• स-गणः: with his gaṇas
• स-गणः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स (सह/सम्-भावे उपसर्गवत्, प्रातिपदिकांश) + गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (one who is with attendants/gaṇas)

• गण-कायः: having a body of gaṇas / gaṇa-host
• गण-कायः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक) + काय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• सु-कीर्ति: good fame
• सु-कीर्ति: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/प्रातिपदिकांश) + कीर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-समासाङ्ग (as compound member); कर्मधारयः (good fame)

• छिन्न-संशयः: one whose doubts are dispelled
• छिन्न-संशयः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: छिन्न (√छिद् धातु, क्त-प्रत्ययान्त) + संशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (whose doubt is cut off); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Ganas
• Bhutas

FAQs

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

The verse presents Shiva as the perfected Lord (Pati) who is utterly self-mastered and who, by his grace, removes the devotee’s doubts—pointing to steadiness of mind, disciplined living, and trustful devotion as the path to clarity and liberation.

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

It praises Saguna Shiva—Lord with attributes—surrounded by gaṇas and bhūtas, making him approachable through Linga worship, stotra, and pilgrimage; the devotee contemplates these divine qualities while worshipping the Linga as the sacred presence of Pati.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt self-discipline and doubt-cutting contemplation through japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with steady mind; support it with Shaiva markers like Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as aids to focused devotion.