Shiva Purana — Kotirudra Samhita, Shloka 6

Śiva-nāma-sahasraka-kathana

The Recital/Teaching of the Thousand Names of Śiva

Devanagari script

विश्वरूपो विरूपाक्षो वागीशः शुचिसत्तमः । सर्वप्रमाणसंवादी वृषाङ्को वृषवाहनः

Transliteration

viśvarūpo virūpākṣo vāgīśaḥ śucisattamaḥ | sarvapramāṇasaṃvādī vṛṣāṅko vṛṣavāhanaḥ

Translation

祂具宇宙之形，具奇妙遍观之眼；为圣言之主，诸净之中最净。祂与一切真实的量（pramāṇa）相应；以公牛为徽记，并以公牛为神圣坐骑。

Word by Word

• विश्वरूपः: of universal form
• विश्वरूपः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विश्व-रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समास: विश्वं रूपं यस्य/विश्वस्य रूपम् इव (कर्मधारय-प्रयोगः, विशेषणरूपेण)

• विरूपाक्षः: Virūpākṣa (odd/unique-eyed)
• विरूपाक्षः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वि-रूप-अक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समास: विरूपे अक्षिणी/अक्षि यस्य (बहुव्रीहि)

• वागीशः: lord of speech
• वागीशः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्-ईश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समास: वाचः ईशः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• शुचिसत्तमः: best among the pure
• शुचिसत्तमः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुचि-सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समास: शुचीनां सत्तमः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष); सत्तम = उत्कृष्टतम (superlative sense)

• सर्वप्रमाणसंवादी: in accord with all valid proofs/authorities
• सर्वप्रमाणसंवादी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व-प्रमाण-संवादिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समास: सर्वैः प्रमाणैः संवादी (तृतीया/सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष-प्रायः; अर्थतः ‘all authorities/means of knowledge agree with him’)

• वृषाङ्कः: bull-marked (having the bull emblem)
• वृषाङ्कः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृष-अङ्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समास: वृषस्य अङ्कः/अङ्कनं यस्य (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष; ‘bull-marked’)

• वृषवाहनः: whose vehicle is the bull
• वृषवाहनः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृष-वाहन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समास: वृषः वाहनं यस्य (बहुव्रीहि-भावार्थः; रूपतः तत्पुरुष-प्रायः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: General: contemplation of Śiva as vṛṣāṅka/vṛṣavāhana is traditionally linked with dharma-sthāpana (bull as dharma) and protection of devotees (paśu) under the Lord (pati).

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: विश्वरूपो विरूपाक्षो वागीशः शुचिसत्तमः । सर्वप्रमाणसंवादी वृषाङ्को वृषवाहनः

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Nandi

FAQs

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

The verse praises Shiva as both immanent (the universe-form) and transcendent (the all-seeing Lord), affirming Him as the supreme Pati who purifies the soul and is approachable through devotion and right understanding.

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

These names function as saguna attributes used in Linga worship—devotees contemplate Shiva’s universal presence (Viśvarūpa), His omniscience (Virūpākṣa), and His auspicious signs like Nandi and the bull-emblem, making the formless truth accessible through sacred form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva with mantra-japa (especially the Panchakshara, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) as Vāgīśa, and include reverence to Nandi (vṛṣavāhana) during Linga-pūjā; purity of conduct and mind (śuci) is emphasized as the inner offering.