Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 40

प्रणवविभागः—वेदस्वरूपत्वं लिङ्गे च प्रतिष्ठा

The Division of Oṃ, Its Vedic Forms, and Its Placement in the Liṅga

Devanagari script

तदतीतं च नैर्गुण्यादध्वनोस्य विशोधकम् । द्वयोः प्रमापको नादो नदांतश्च मदात्मकः

Transliteration

tadatītaṃ ca nairguṇyādadhvanosya viśodhakam | dvayoḥ pramāpako nādo nadāṃtaśca madātmakaḥ

Translation

فإذا تَجاوَزَ تلك الطريق كلَّها كان على طبيعة النِّرغونا (بلا صفات) ويُطهِّر مسار التجلّي هذا. والنَّادا (Nāda) هو المِقياس والمنظِّم لكِلَيِهما (الظاهر وغير الظاهر)؛ وأمّا نَدَانتا (nadānta)، نهاية الصوت، فطبيعته «أنا» أي الوعي الباطني بالذات.

Word by Word

• तत्-अतीतम्: that which is beyond
• तत्-अतीतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + अतीत (कृदन्त, √इ (धातु) क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषण

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (and)

• नैर्गुण्यात्: from (the state of) being beyond guṇas
• नैर्गुण्यात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नैर्गुण्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5), एकवचन; अपादान (ablative)

• अध्वनः: of the path(s)
• अध्वनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अध्वन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन

• अस्य: of this
• अस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; त्रिलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन

• विशोधकम्: purifying/clarifying
• विशोधकम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि+√शुध्/√शोध् (धातु) → शोधक (कृदन्त, ण्वुल्)
• Form: कृदन्त (agent noun/adjective, ण्वुल्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषण

• द्वयोः: of the two
• द्वयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वि (संख्याप्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विवचन-प्रयोग; षष्ठी (6), द्विवचन (dual)

• प्रमापकः: the measurer/assessor
• प्रमापकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्र+√मा (धातु) → मापक (कृदन्त, ण्वुल्)
• Form: कृदन्त (agent noun, ण्वुल्); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• नादः: nāda (mystic sound)
• नादः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• नाद-अन्तः: the end/limit of nāda
• नाद-अन्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाद (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (and)

• मद्-आत्मकः: of my nature / consisting of me
• मद्-आत्मकः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मद् (अस्मद्-प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Vāyavīya teaching to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It presents Nāda (inner sound) as a purifying principle that guides the seeker beyond the manifest “path” toward nirguṇa realization, where the culmination of sound dissolves into direct self-awareness aligned with Shiva-consciousness.

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

Saguna worship (including Linga-upāsanā) refines the mind and senses; this verse points to the inner progression where devotion matures into subtle contemplation of Nāda, finally transcending all forms into nirguṇa Shiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A meditative practice of inner listening (nāda-anusandhāna)—quieting speech and attention to trace sound back to its source—supported by Shaiva disciplines like mantra-japa and purity observances.