Shloka 85

Śiva-nāma-sahasraka-kathana

The Recital/Teaching of the Thousand Names of Śiva

Devanagari script

चामुण्डो जनकश्चारुर्निश्शल्यो लोकशल्यधृक् । चतुर्वेदश्चतुर्भावश्चतुरश्चतुर प्रियः

Transliteration

cāmuṇḍo janakaścārurniśśalyo lokaśalyadhṛk | caturvedaścaturbhāvaścaturaścatura priyaḥ

Translation

祂是遮牟陀（Cāmuṇḍa）；是生主（Janaka）；是妙丽者（Cāru）；是无伤者（Niśśalya）；亦是“持世苦担者”（Loka-śalya-dhṛk），承担世间重负与苦恼。祂是四吠陀之体，是四种存在境界之体；祂是至巧至慧者（Catura）；并为四方所爱敬——处处蒙爱。

Word by Word

• चामुण्डः: Cāmuṇḍa (name/epithet)
• चामुण्डः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चामुण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम

• जनकः: progenitor, father
• जनकः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• चारुः: beautiful, pleasing
• चारुः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चारु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• निःशल्यः: free from pain/thorn
• निःशल्यः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निः + शल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नञ्/उपसर्ग-तत्पुरुषः (शल्यं नास्ति यस्य)

• लोकशल्यधृक्: bearer of the world’s thorn/pain (remover/holder)
• लोकशल्यधृक्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक + शल्य + धृ (धातु) → धृक् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः; ‘धृक्’ = धृ-धातोः क्विप्-प्रत्ययान्त (bearer)

• चतुर्वेदः: (one of) the four Vedas / connected with four Vedas
• चतुर्वेदः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर् + वेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (चत्वारः वेदाः यस्य/सम्बद्धः)

• चतुर्भावः: having four states/conditions
• चतुर्भावः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर् + भाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (चत्वारः भावाः)

• चतुरः: clever, skillful
• चतुरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• चतुरः: clever
• चतुरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (पुनरुक्ति)

• प्रियः: dear, beloved
• प्रियः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga localization; the epithet ‘Cāmuṇḍa’ evokes protective, cremation-ground/guardian resonances often associated with Bhairava-kṣetrapāla traditions at major Śiva temples.

Significance: Invokes Śiva as remover/bearer of the world’s ‘śalya’ (thorn-like afflictions), supporting protection and relief from duḥkha alongside Vedic authority (caturveda).

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Caṇḍikā

Role: destructive

Ritual Elements

Offering: dipa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

This verse functions as a litany of Shiva’s epithets, teaching that the one Pati (Lord) is simultaneously fierce protector and auspicious benefactor—free from limitation, yet bearing and healing the world’s afflictions—so remembrance of his names steadies the devotee toward grace and liberation.

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

The verse praises Saguna Shiva through names and qualities that devotees can contemplate while worshiping the Linga—recognizing the Linga as the accessible form in which the Veda-essence Lord receives devotion and removes the ‘thorns’ of suffering from worldly life.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is nāma-japa: reciting these Shiva epithets (ideally alongside the Panchakshara, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) during Linga-pūjā, with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as supports for steady remembrance and inner purification.