The Fruit of Reciting the Shiva-sahasranama

Verse 1 (shiva.kotirudra.36.1)

सूत उवाच । श्रुत्वा विष्णुकृतं दिव्यं परनामविभूषितम् । सहस्रनाम स्वस्तोत्रं प्रसन्नोऽभून्महेश्वरः ॥ 36.1 ॥

sūta uvāca śrutvā viṣṇukṛtaṁ divyaṁ paranāmavibhūṣitam sahasranāma svastotraṁ prasanno'bhūnmaheśvaraḥ

Suta said: Hearing that divine hymn composed by Vishnu, adorned with supreme names — that thousand-name hymn of his own praise — Maheshvara became pleased.

Verse 2 (shiva.kotirudra.36.2)

परीक्षार्थं हरेरीशः कमलेषु महेश्वरः । गोपयामास कमलं तदैकं भुवनेश्वरः ॥ 36.2 ॥

parīkṣārthaṁ harerīśaḥ kamaleṣu maheśvaraḥ gopayāmāsa kamalaṁ tadaikaṁ bhuvaneśvaraḥ

To test Hari, Maheshvara, lord of the world, secretly concealed one lotus among those flowers.

Verse 3 (shiva.kotirudra.36.3)

पङ्कजेषु तदा तेषु सहस्रेषु बभूव च । न्यूनमेकं तदा विष्णुर्विह्वलः शिवपूजने ॥ 36.3 ॥

paṅkajeṣu tadā teṣu sahasreṣu babhūva ca nyūnamekaṁ tadā viṣṇurvihvalaḥ śivapūjane

Then, among those thousand lotuses, one was found missing; Vishnu, absorbed in his worship of Shiva, grew troubled.

Verse 4 (shiva.kotirudra.36.4)

हृदा विचारितं तेन कुतो वै कमलं गतम् । यातं यातु सुखेनैव मन्नेत्रं कमलं न किम् ॥ 36.4 ॥

hṛdā vicāritaṁ tena kuto vai kamalaṁ gatam yātaṁ yātu sukhenaiva mannetraṁ kamalaṁ na kim

In his heart he reasoned: "Where has the lotus gone? Let it go, wherever it will — is not my own eye itself a lotus?"

Verse 5 (shiva.kotirudra.36.5)

ज्ञात्वेति नेत्रमुद्धृत्य सर्वसत्त्वावलम्बनात् । पूजयामास भावेन स्तवयामास तेन च ॥ 36.5 ॥

jñātveti netramuddhṛtya sarvasattvāvalambanāt pūjayāmāsa bhāvena stavayāmāsa tena ca

Knowing this, he — the very support of all beings — plucked out his eye, and worshipped with devotion, offering it in place of the lotus.

Verse 6 (shiva.kotirudra.36.6)

ततस्तुतमथो दृष्ट्वा तथाभूतं हरो हरिम् । मा मेति व्याहरन्नेव प्रादुरासीज्जगद्गुरुः ॥ 36.6 ॥

tatastutamatho dṛṣṭvā tathābhūtaṁ haro harim mā meti vyāharanneva prādurāsījjagadguruḥ

Then Hara, seeing Hari worshipping thus, cried "Do not!" and appeared there at once, that very teacher of the world.

Verse 7 (shiva.kotirudra.36.7)

तस्मादवतताराशु मण्डलात्पार्थिवस्य च । प्रतिष्ठितस्य हरिणा स्वलिङ्गस्य महेश्वरः ॥ 36.7 ॥

tasmādavatatārāśu maṇḍalātpārthivasya ca pratiṣṭhitasya hariṇā svaliṅgasya maheśvaraḥ

Maheshvara swiftly manifested from the very disc of the clay linga that Hari had established.

Verse 8 (shiva.kotirudra.36.8)

यथोक्तरूपिणं शम्भुं तेजोराशिसमुत्थितम् । नमस्कृत्य पुरः स्थित्वा स तुष्टाव विशेषतः ॥ 36.8 ॥

yathoktarūpiṇaṁ śambhuṁ tejorāśisamutthitam namaskṛtya puraḥ sthitvā sa tuṣṭāva viśeṣataḥ

Bowing to Shambhu, who had thus arisen in that described form, a very mass of radiance, and standing before him, Vishnu praised him with special devotion.

Verse 9 (shiva.kotirudra.36.9)

तदा प्राह महादेवः प्रसन्नः प्रहसन्निव । सम्प्रेक्ष्य कृपया विष्णुं कृताञ्जलिपुटं स्थितम् ॥ 36.9 ॥

tadā prāha mahādevaḥ prasannaḥ prahasanniva samprekṣya kṛpayā viṣṇuṁ kṛtāñjalipuṭaṁ sthitam

Then Mahadeva, pleased and gently smiling, looked with compassion upon Vishnu, who stood there with joined palms, and spoke.

Verse 10 (shiva.kotirudra.36.10)

शङ्कर उवाच । ज्ञातं मयेदं सकलं तव चित्तेप्सितं हरे । देवकार्यं विशेषेण देवकार्यरतात्मनः ॥ 36.10 ॥

śaṅkara uvāca jñātaṁ mayedaṁ sakalaṁ tava cittepsitaṁ hare devakāryaṁ viśeṣeṇa devakāryaratātmanaḥ

Shankara said: "O Hari, I know all this, the wish of your heart — especially the task of the gods, for your soul is ever devoted to that cause."

Verse 11 (shiva.kotirudra.36.11)

देवकार्यस्य सिद्ध्यर्थं दैत्यनाशाय चाश्रमम् । सुदर्शनाख्यं चक्रं च ददामि तव शोभनम् ॥ 36.11 ॥

devakāryasya siddhyarthaṁ daityanāśāya cāśramam sudarśanākhyaṁ cakraṁ ca dadāmi tava śobhanam

"For the accomplishment of the gods' task and for the destruction of the demons, I give you this beautiful discus named Sudarshana."

Verse 12 (shiva.kotirudra.36.12)

यद्रूपं भवता दृष्टं सर्वलोकसुखावहम् । हिताय तव देवेश धृतं भावय तद्ध्रुवम् ॥ 36.12 ॥

yadrūpaṁ bhavatā dṛṣṭaṁ sarvalokasukhāvaham hitāya tava deveśa dhṛtaṁ bhāvaya taddhruvam

"O lord of the gods, this form of mine which you have seen, bringer of happiness to all the worlds, is held for your own good — meditate on it always."

Verse 13 (shiva.kotirudra.36.13)

रणाजिरे स्मृतं तद्वै देवानां दुःखनाशनम् । इदं चक्रमिदं रूपमिदं नामसहस्रकम् ॥ 36.13 ॥

raṇājire smṛtaṁ tadvai devānāṁ duḥkhanāśanam idaṁ cakramidaṁ rūpamidaṁ nāmasahasrakam

"Remembered on the field of battle, it destroys the gods' sorrow — this discus, this form, and this thousand-name hymn."

Verse 14 (shiva.kotirudra.36.14)

ये शृण्वन्ति सदा भक्त्या सिद्धिः स्यादनपायिनी । कामानां सकलानां च प्रसादान्मम सुव्रत ॥ 36.14 ॥

ye śaṛṇvanti sadā bhaktyā siddhiḥ syādanapāyinī kāmānāṁ sakalānāṁ ca prasādānmama suvrata

"O one of noble vows, whoever always hears it with devotion attains unfailing success in every desire, through my grace."

Verse 15 (shiva.kotirudra.36.15)

सूत उवाच । एवमुक्त्वा ददौ चक्रं सूर्यायुतसमप्रभम् । सुदर्शनं स्वपादोत्थं सर्वशत्रुविनाशनम् ॥ 36.15 ॥

sūta uvāca evamuktvā dadau cakraṁ sūryāyutasamaprabham sudarśanaṁ svapādotthaṁ sarvaśatruvināśanam

Suta said: Having said this, he gave him the Sudarshana discus, radiant as ten thousand suns, risen from his own foot, destroyer of all enemies.

Verse 16 (shiva.kotirudra.36.16)

विष्णुश्चापि सुसंस्कृत्य जग्राहोदङ्मुखस्तदा । नमस्कृत्य महादेवं विष्णुर्वचनमब्रवीत् ॥ 36.16 ॥

viṣṇuścāpi susaṁskṛtya jagrāhodaṅmukhastadā namaskṛtya mahādevaṁ viṣṇurvacanamabravīt

Vishnu too, having duly consecrated it, received it facing north; and, bowing to Mahadeva, Vishnu spoke these words.

Verse 17 (shiva.kotirudra.36.17)

विष्णुरुवाच । शृणु देव मया ध्येयं पठनीयं च किं प्रभो । दुःखानां नाशनार्थं हि वद त्वं लोकशङ्कर ॥ 36.17 ॥

viṣṇuruvāca śaṛṇu deva mayā dhyeyaṁ paṭhanīyaṁ ca kiṁ prabho duḥkhānāṁ nāśanārthaṁ hi vada tvaṁ lokaśaṅkara

Vishnu said: "Listen, O God — what should I meditate on, what should I recite, O Lord? Tell me, O Shankara of the world, for the destruction of every sorrow."

Verse 18 (shiva.kotirudra.36.18)

सूत उवाच । इति पृष्टस्तदा तेन सन्तुष्टस्तु शिवोऽब्रवीत् । प्रसन्नमानसो भूत्वा विष्णुं देवसहायकम् ॥ 36.18 ॥

sūta uvāca iti pṛṣṭastadā tena santuṣṭastu śivo'bravīt prasannamānaso bhūtvā viṣṇuṁ devasahāyakam

Suta said: Thus questioned, Shiva, well pleased and joyful of mind, spoke to Vishnu, the helper of the gods.

Verse 19 (shiva.kotirudra.36.19)

शिव उवाच । रूपं ध्येयं हरे मे हि सर्वानर्थप्रशान्तये । अनेकदुःखनाशार्थं पठ नामसहस्रकम् ॥ 36.19 ॥

śiva uvāca rūpaṁ dhyeyaṁ hare me hi sarvānarthapraśāntaye anekaduḥkhanāśārthaṁ paṭha nāmasahasrakam

Shiva said: "O Hari, meditate on this form of mine for the quelling of every misfortune, and recite this thousand-name hymn for the destruction of manifold sorrows."

Verse 20 (shiva.kotirudra.36.20)

धार्यं चक्रं सदा मे हि सर्वाभीष्टस्य सिद्धये । त्वया विष्णो प्रयत्नेन सर्वचक्रवरं त्विदम् ॥ 36.20 ॥

dhāryaṁ cakraṁ sadā me hi sarvābhīṣṭasya siddhaye tvayā viṣṇo prayatnena sarvacakravaraṁ tvidam

"O Vishnu, always bear this discus of mine with diligence, for the accomplishment of every desire — it is the very best of all discuses."

Verse 21 (shiva.kotirudra.36.21)

अन्ये च ये पठिष्यन्ति पाठयिष्यन्ति नित्यशः । तेषां दुःखं न स्वप्नेऽपि जायते नात्र संशयः ॥ 36.21 ॥

anye ca ye paṭhiṣyanti pāṭhayiṣyanti nityaśaḥ teṣāṁ duḥkhaṁ na svapne'pi jāyate nātra saṁśayaḥ

"And whoever else recites it, or has it recited, always — for them sorrow shall not arise even in dream; of this there is no doubt."

Verse 22 (shiva.kotirudra.36.22)

राज्ञां च सङ्कटे प्राप्ते शतावृत्तिं चरेद्यदा । साङ्गं च विधिसंयुक्तं कल्याणं लभते नरः ॥ 36.22 ॥

rājñāṁ ca saṅkaṭe prāpte śatāvṛttiṁ caredyadā sāṅgaṁ ca vidhisaṁyuktaṁ kalyāṇaṁ labhate naraḥ

"When kings fall into danger, if one recites it a hundred times with its ancillary rites and due procedure, that person attains well-being."

Verse 23 (shiva.kotirudra.36.23)

रोगनाशकरं ह्येतद्विद्यावित्तदमुत्तमम् । सर्वकामप्रदं पुण्यं शिवभक्तिप्रदं सदा ॥ 36.23 ॥

roganāśakaraṁ hyetadvidyāvittadamuttamam sarvakāmapradaṁ puṇyaṁ śivabhaktipradaṁ sadā

"This supreme hymn destroys disease, grants learning and wealth, fulfills every desire, confers merit, and ever bestows devotion to Shiva."

Verse 24 (shiva.kotirudra.36.24)

यदुद्दिश्य फलं श्रेष्ठं पठिष्यन्ति नरास्त्विह । लप्स्यन्ते नात्र सन्देहः फलं तत्सत्यमुत्तमम् ॥ 36.24 ॥

yaduddiśya phalaṁ śreṣṭhaṁ paṭhiṣyanti narāstviha lapsyante nātra sandehaḥ phalaṁ tatsatyamuttamam

"Whatever excellent fruit people recite it hoping to attain, they shall surely attain — of this there is no doubt; that fruit is true and supreme."

Verse 25 (shiva.kotirudra.36.25)

यश्च प्रातः समुत्थाय पूजां कृत्वा मदीयिकाम् । पठते मत्समक्षं वै नित्यं सिद्धिर्न दूरतः ॥ 36.25 ॥

yaśca prātaḥ samutthāya pūjāṁ kṛtvā madīyikām paṭhate matsamakṣaṁ vai nityaṁ siddhirna dūrataḥ

"And whoever rises at dawn, performs worship to me, and recites it daily in my presence — success is not far from him."

Verse 26 (shiva.kotirudra.36.26)

ऐहिकीं सिद्धिमाप्नोति निखिलां सर्वकामिकाम् । अन्ते सायुज्यमुक्तिं वै प्राप्नोत्यत्र न संशयः ॥ 36.26 ॥

aihikīṁ siddhimāpnoti nikhilāṁ sarvakāmikām ante sāyujyamuktiṁ vai prāpnotyatra na saṁśayaḥ

"He attains complete worldly success, fulfilling every desire, and at the end he surely attains the liberation of union with me — of this there is no doubt."

Verse 27 (shiva.kotirudra.36.27)

सूत उवाच । एवमुक्त्वा तदा विष्णुं शङ्करः प्रीतमानसः । उपस्पृश्य कराभ्यां तमुवाच गिरिशः पुनः ॥ 36.27 ॥

sūta uvāca evamuktvā tadā viṣṇuṁ śaṅkaraḥ prītamānasaḥ upaspṛśya karābhyāṁ tamuvāca giriśaḥ punaḥ

Suta said: Having said this to Vishnu, Shankara, his mind full of affection, touched him with both hands, and Girisha spoke again.

Verse 28 (shiva.kotirudra.36.28)

शिव उवाच । वरदोऽस्मि सुरश्रेष्ठ वरान्वृणु यथेप्सितान् । भक्त्या वशीकृतो नूनं स्तवेनानेन सुव्रत ॥ 36.28 ॥

śiva uvāca varado'smi suraśreṣṭha varānvṛṇu yathepsitān bhaktyā vaśīkṛto nūnaṁ stavenānena suvrata

Shiva said: "O best of gods, I am a giver of boons — ask for boons as you desire. O noble one, through this very hymn of devotion, you have surely won me over."

Verse 29 (shiva.kotirudra.36.29)

सूत उवाच । इत्युक्तो देवदेवेन देवदेवं प्रणम्य तम् । सुप्रसन्नतरो विष्णुः साञ्जलिर्वाक्यमब्रवीत् ॥ 36.29 ॥

sūta uvāca ityukto devadevena devadevaṁ praṇamya tam suprasannataro viṣṇuḥ sāñjalirvākyamabravīt

Suta said: Addressed thus by the god of gods, Vishnu, bowing to that god of gods, exceedingly pleased, spoke with joined palms.

Verse 30 (shiva.kotirudra.36.30)

विष्णुरुवाच । यथेदानीं कृपा नाथ क्रियते चान्यतः परा । कार्या चैव विशेषेण कृपालुत्वात्त्वया प्रभो ॥ 36.30 ॥

viṣṇuruvāca yathedānīṁ kṛpā nātha kriyate cānyataḥ parā kāryā caiva viśeṣeṇa kṛpālutvāttvayā prabho

Vishnu said: "O Lord, just as this supreme grace has now been shown, may it be shown again, especially, O Master, through your very compassionate nature."

Verse 31 (shiva.kotirudra.36.31)

त्वयि भक्तिर्महादेव प्रसीद वरमुत्तमम् । नान्यमिच्छामि भक्तानामार्त्तयो नैव यत्प्रभो ॥ 36.31 ॥

tvayi bhaktirmahādeva prasīda varamuttamam nānyamicchāmi bhaktānāmārttayo naiva yatprabho

"O Mahadeva, be gracious and grant this supreme boon: devotion to you. I desire nothing else — may your devotees, O Lord, never know distress."

Verse 32 (shiva.kotirudra.36.32)

सूत उवाच । तच्छ्रुत्वा वचनं तस्य दयावान्सुतरां भवः । पस्पर्श च तदङ्गं वै प्राह शीतांशुशेखरः ॥ 36.32 ॥

sūta uvāca tacchrutvā vacanaṁ tasya dayāvānsutarāṁ bhavaḥ pasparśa ca tadaṅgaṁ vai prāha śītāṁśuśekharaḥ

Suta said: Hearing his words, Bhava, exceedingly compassionate, touched his body, and the moon-crested Lord spoke.

Verse 33 (shiva.kotirudra.36.33)

शिव उवाच । मयि भक्तिः सदा ते तु हरे स्यादनपायिनी । सदा वन्द्यश्च पूज्यश्च लोके भव सुरैरपि ॥ 36.33 ॥

śiva uvāca mayi bhaktiḥ sadā te tu hare syādanapāyinī sadā vandyaśca pūjyaśca loke bhava surairapi

Shiva said: "O Hari, may your devotion to me be ever unfailing; and may you be ever revered and worshipped in this world, even by the gods."

Verse 34 (shiva.kotirudra.36.34)

विश्वम्भरेति ते नाम सर्वपापहरं परम् । भविष्यति न सन्देहो मत्प्रसादात्सुरोत्तम ॥ 36.34 ॥

viśvambhareti te nāma sarvapāpaharaṁ param bhaviṣyati na sandeho matprasādātsurottama

"O best of gods, by my grace your name 'Vishvambhara' shall become supreme, the remover of every sin — of this there is no doubt."

Verse 35 (shiva.kotirudra.36.35)

सूत उवाच । इत्युक्त्वान्तर्दधे रुद्रः सर्वदेवेश्वरः प्रभुः । पश्यतस्तस्य विष्णोस्तु तत्रैव च मुनीश्वराः ॥ 36.35 ॥

sūta uvāca ityuktvāntardadhe rudraḥ sarvadeveśvaraḥ prabhuḥ paśyatastasya viṣṇostu tatraiva ca munīśvarāḥ

Suta said: Having said this, Rudra, the lord and master of all the gods, vanished right there, O great sages, even as Vishnu looked on.

Verse 36 (shiva.kotirudra.36.36)

जनार्दनोऽपि भगवान् वचनाच्छङ्करस्य च । प्राप्य चक्रं शुभं तद्वै जहर्षाति स्वचेतसि ॥ 36.36 ॥

janārdano'pi bhagavān vacanācchaṅkarasya ca prāpya cakraṁ śubhaṁ tadvai jaharṣāti svacetasi

The Lord Janardana too, by Shankara's word, having obtained that auspicious discus, rejoiced greatly in his own heart.

Verse 37 (shiva.kotirudra.36.37)

कृत्वा ध्यानं च तच्छम्भोः स्तोत्रमेतन्निरन्तरम् । पपाठाध्यापयामास भक्तेभ्यस्तदुपादिशत् ॥ 36.37 ॥

kṛtvā dhyānaṁ ca tacchambhoḥ stotrametannirantaram papāṭhādhyāpayāmāsa bhaktebhyastadupādiśat

Meditating on that form of Shambhu, he ceaselessly recited this hymn, taught it to others, and imparted it to his own devotees.

Verse 38 (shiva.kotirudra.36.38)

इति पृष्टं मयाख्यातं शृण्वतां पापहारकम् । अतः परं च किं श्रेष्ठाः प्रष्टुमिच्छथ वै पुनः ॥ 36.38 ॥

iti pṛṣṭaṁ mayākhyātaṁ śaṛṇvatāṁ pāpahārakam ataḥ paraṁ ca kiṁ śreṣṭhāḥ praṣṭumicchatha vai punaḥ

Thus have I recounted what was asked — a tale that removes the sin of those who hear it. O most excellent sages, what more do you now wish to ask?