Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 43

शब्दब्रह्मतनुवर्णनम् — Description of the Form of Śabda-Brahman

Devanagari script

मेधाकारमभूद्भूयस्सर्वधर्मार्थसाधकम् । गायत्रीप्रभवं मंत्रं सहितं वश्यकारकम्

Transliteration

medhākāramabhūdbhūyassarvadharmārthasādhakam | gāyatrīprabhavaṃ maṃtraṃ sahitaṃ vaśyakārakam

Translation

Dann erhob sich abermals eine Weisheit verleihende Kraft; sie wurde zum Mittel, alle Dharma und rechtmäßigen Ziele zu vollbringen. Aus der Gāyatrī hervorgegangen, schenkt dieses Mantra—recht gemäß angewandt—Herrschaft über Geist und Sinne und macht das zu Leitende empfänglich.

Word by Word

• medhā-ākāram: the form of intelligence
• medhā-ākāram: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: medhā (प्रातिपदिक) + ākāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Dvitīyā (Accusative, 2nd), Ekavacana (Singular); Tatpuruṣa: medhāyāḥ ākāraḥ (form of intelligence)

• abhūt: became
• abhūt: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (भू धातु)
• Form: Laṅ-lakāra (Imperfect/Past), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person), Ekavacana (Singular); Parasmaipada

• bhūyaḥ: again/further
• bhūyaḥ: Kāla/Prakāra-adhikaraṇa (काल/प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bhūyaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (adverb), sense: 'again/further/more'

• sarva-dharma-artha-sādhakam: accomplishing all righteousness and prosperity
• sarva-dharma-artha-sādhakam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier of mantra)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक) + sādhaka (कृदन्त; √sādh धातु)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), Dvitīyā (Accusative, 2nd), Ekavacana (Singular); multi-member Tatpuruṣa qualifying 'mantra' (implied/next pāda): 'accomplishing all dharma and artha'

• gāyatrī-prabhavam: born from Gāyatrī
• gāyatrī-prabhavam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier of mantra)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gāyatrī (प्रातिपदिक) + prabhava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), Dvitīyā (Accusative, 2nd), Ekavacana (Singular); Tatpuruṣa: gāyatrīyāḥ prabhavaḥ (originating from Gāyatrī)

• mantram: mantra
• mantram: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga (Masculine), Dvitīyā (Accusative, 2nd), Ekavacana (Singular)

• sahitam: accompanied/combined
• sahitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier of mantra)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sahita (कृदन्त; √sah धातु)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), Dvitīyā (Accusative, 2nd), Ekavacana (Singular); Kta-participle used adjectivally

• vaśya-kārakam: causing subjugation/attraction
• vaśya-kārakam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier of mantra)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vaśya (प्रातिपदिक) + kāraka (कृदन्त; √kṛ धातु)
• Form: Napुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), Dvitīyā (Accusative, 2nd), Ekavacana (Singular); Tatpuruṣa: vaśyaṃ karoti iti (making (others) submissive)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Mantra Metadata

Type: gayatri

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Gaurī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Gayatri

FAQs

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

It presents mantra as a grace-bearing power that awakens medhā (spiritual intelligence) and supports the pursuit of dharma and higher aims, ultimately preparing the seeker for Shiva’s liberating knowledge.

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

In Saguna Shiva worship, mantra-japa is a primary limb of devotion: the mantra focuses the mind, makes the heart receptive, and supports disciplined ritual worship of Shiva (including Linga-upāsanā) with steadiness and purity.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Regular mantra-japa with proper observance (purity, concentration, and devotion) is implied—aimed at gaining medhā and self-mastery; it can be paired with Shaiva disciplines like bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) and focused worship when appropriate.