Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 45

शब्दब्रह्मतनुवर्णनम् — Description of the Form of Śabda-Brahman

Devanagari script

आभिचारिकमत्यर्थं प्रायस्त्रिंशच्छुभाक्षरम् । यजुर्वेदसमायुक्तं पञ्चविंशच्छुभाक्षरम्

Transliteration

ābhicārikamatyarthaṃ prāyastriṃśacchubhākṣaram | yajurvedasamāyuktaṃ pañcaviṃśacchubhākṣaram

Translation

ولطقوس الآبهِتشاريكا (ābhicārika) الهادفة إلى التسكين القوي أو دفع التأثيرات المعادية، يكون المانترا غالبًا من ثلاثين مقطعًا مباركًا. وإذا اقترن بصيغ اليَجُرڤيدا صار من خمسةٍ وعشرين مقطعًا مباركًا.

Word by Word

• ābhicārikam: pertaining to abhichāra (sorcery/hostile rite)
• ābhicārikam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier of mantra)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ābhicārika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), Dvitīyā (Accusative, 2nd), Ekavacana (Singular)

• ati-artham: excessively
• ati-artham: Prakāra-adhikaraṇa (प्रकाराधिकरण/Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ati (अव्यय/उपसर्गार्थ) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva used adverbially; sense: 'excessively/very much'

• prāyaḥ: generally
• prāyaḥ: Prakāra-adhikaraṇa (प्रकाराधिकरण/Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: prāyaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (adverb), sense: 'generally/mostly'

• triṃśat-śubha-akṣaram: having thirty auspicious syllables
• triṃśat-śubha-akṣaram: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier of mantra)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: triṃśat (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + śubha (प्रातिपदिक) + akṣara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), Dvitīyā (Accusative, 2nd), Ekavacana (Singular); Dvigu: triṃśad-akṣaraiḥ (30 syllables) with qualifier śubha

• yajur-veda-samāyuktam: connected with the Yajurveda
• yajur-veda-samāyuktam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier of mantra)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yajus (प्रातिपदिक) + veda (प्रातिपदिक) + samāyukta (कृदन्त; sam-ā-√yuj धातु)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), Dvitīyā (Accusative, 2nd), Ekavacana (Singular); Tatpuruṣa: yajurvedena samāyuktam (associated with Yajurveda)

• pañca-viṃśat-śubha-akṣaram: having twenty-five auspicious syllables
• pañca-viṃśat-śubha-akṣaram: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier of mantra)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pañca (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + viṃśati (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + śubha (प्रातिपदिक) + akṣara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), Dvitīyā (Accusative, 2nd), Ekavacana (Singular); Dvigu: pañcaviṃśad-akṣaraiḥ (25 syllables) with qualifier śubha

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s mantra-vidhi to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Mantra Metadata

Type: rudram

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Durgā

Role: protective

Ritual Elements

Offering: dhupa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Yajurveda

FAQs

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

It highlights mantra-niyama (discipline): Shiva’s worship is not random but aligned with measured, auspicious sound (akṣara), so the practitioner’s intention is supported by a precise, sattvic mantra structure.

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

In Saguna Shiva worship—often centered on the Linga—mantra is the primary link between devotee and Lord; this verse explains that particular ritual aims (like śānti/protection) traditionally employ specific syllable-measures, sometimes combined with Yajurvedic recitations.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests using properly measured Shiva-mantras for protective/śānti purposes, and where prescribed, pairing them with Yajurvedic formulas—performed as japa or homa under scriptural guidance rather than improvisation.