Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 42

शिशुकस्य शिवशास्त्रप्राप्तिः (Śiśuka’s Attainment of Śaiva Teaching and Grace)

Devanagari script

सप्तकोटिमहामंत्राः सर्वे सप्रणवाः परे । तस्मिन्नेव विलीयंते पुनस्तस्माद्विनिर्गताः

Transliteration

saptakoṭimahāmaṃtrāḥ sarve sapraṇavāḥ pare | tasminneva vilīyaṃte punastasmādvinirgatāḥ

Translation

إن سبعةَ كرورٍ من المانترا العظمى—كلُّها ساميةٌ ومقترنةٌ بالبرَنَفَة «أوم»—تذوب في ذاته وحده؛ ثم من ذاته وحده تعود فتنبثق وتظهر.

Word by Word

• सप्त-कोटि-महा-मन्त्राः: the seven-crore great mantras
• सप्त-कोटि-महा-मन्त्राः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सप्त (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + कोटि (प्रातिपदिक) + महा (प्रातिपदिक) + मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; समासः—(सप्तकोटयः) महान्तः मन्त्राः / सप्तकोटिसंख्याकाः महान्तः मन्त्राः (समाहार-निर्देश)

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifier of मन्त्राः)

• स-प्रणवाः: with praṇava (oṃ)
• स-प्रणवाः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (उपसर्ग/सह-अर्थ) + प्रणव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः—प्रणवेन सह (with praṇava ‘oṃ’)

• परे: supreme
• परे: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (excellent/supreme)

• तस्मिन्: in that (mantra)
• तस्मिन्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (emphasis: just/indeed)

• विलीयन्ते: merge/dissolve
• विलीयन्ते: Kriya (क्रिया/Finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-ली (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/लट्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि/भावे—‘dissolve/merge’

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरावृत्त्यर्थक (again)

• तस्मात्: from that
• तस्मात्: Apadana (अपादान/Ablative source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• विनिर्गताः: having emerged
• विनिर्गताः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-निर्-गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘having emerged/come forth’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: प्रणव (Oṃ) implied: ‘सप्रणवाः’

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Cyclic emanation and reabsorption of mantra-śakti (a microcosmic analogue of sṛṣṭi–saṃhāra).

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Om (Praṇava)

FAQs

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

It teaches that all mantra-power ultimately belongs to Pati (Shiva): mantras arise from Him, function by His Śakti, and return into Him in yogic absorption—pointing to Shiva as the transcendent source and final refuge of all sacred sound.

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

In Saguna worship, the devotee uses Oṁ and Shiva-mantras as audible supports to approach the Linga; this verse grounds that practice by stating that the mantra’s efficacy is Shiva Himself—sound (mantra) leading the mind back to its source in the Lord.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Japa of Oṁ-prefaced Shiva mantras (especially the Panchākṣarī) with dhyāna: let the mantra arise clearly, then allow it to dissolve into inner stillness, recognizing Shiva as the source and end of the sound.