Shloka 8

प्रणवमहिमा — The Greatness of the Praṇava (Om) as Śiva

Devanagari script

तस्मादेकाक्षरं देवं मां च ब्रह्मर्षयो विदुः । वाच्यवाचकयोरैक्यं मन्यमाना विपश्चितः

Transliteration

tasmādekākṣaraṃ devaṃ māṃ ca brahmarṣayo viduḥ | vācyavācakayoraikyaṃ manyamānā vipaścitaḥ

Translation

Darum kennen Mich die Brahmarṣis als den einsilbigen Herrn. Die Weisen, die die Einheit von Bezeichnetem (Wirklichkeit) und Bezeichnendem (Laut) erkennen, schauen jene Einheit—von Name und Benanntem.

Word by Word

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तस्मात्-इति पञ्चमी-रूपेण हेत्वर्थे अव्ययीभाववत्; ‘therefore/from that (reason)’

• एक-अक्षरम्: single-syllabled
• एक-अक्षरम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक) + अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (एकं अक्षरं) qualifying देवम्

• देवम्: the deity
• देवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय; ‘and’

• ब्रह्म-ऋषयः: the Brahmarṣis
• ब्रह्म-ऋषयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (ब्रह्मणः ऋषयः / ब्रह्मविदः ऋषयः)

• विदुः: know
• विदुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; ‘know’

• वाच्य-वाचकयोः: of the denoted and the denoter
• वाच्य-वाचकयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाच्य (प्रातिपदिक) + वाचक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; द्वन्द्व-समासः

• ऐक्यम्: unity/identity
• ऐक्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऐक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular (object of participle/understood verb)

• मन्यमानाः: considering
• मन्यमानाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मन् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (शानच्-प्रत्यय, वर्तमानकाले), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; present middle participle ‘considering’ (agreeing with ब्रह्मऋषयः)

• विपश्चितः: the wise (ones)
• विपश्चितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विपश्चित् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Nominative plural (apposition to ब्रह्मऋषयः)

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: oṃ (ekākṣara)

Type: gayatri

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Shiva can be realized through the ‘one-syllable’ divine sound, and that the mantra (sound) and Shiva (the reality meant) are not separate for the wise—japa becomes direct contemplation of Pati.

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

Just as the Liṅga is a sacred indicator of the Supreme, the mantra is also a sacred indicator; the verse says the indicator and the indicated are experienced as one—so worship of the Liṅga and mantra-japa both lead the mind to Shiva without duality.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Mantra-japa with focused bhāvanā (contemplation) that the sound and Shiva are one—repeating the seed/one-syllable form with inner stillness, as a yogic practice leading toward liberation.