Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 26

प्रणवविभागः—वेदस्वरूपत्वं लिङ्गे च प्रतिष्ठा

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

Devanagari script

सर्वमंत्रतनोर्देवाच्छक्तित्रयसमन्वितात् । पञ्चवक्त्राद्दशभुजात्साक्षात्सकलनिष्कलात्

Transliteration

sarvamaṃtratanordevācchaktitrayasamanvitāt | pañcavaktrāddaśabhujātsākṣātsakalaniṣkalāt

Translation

Von eben diesem Herrn—der die leibhaftige Essenz aller Mantras ist, vereint mit der dreifachen Kraft—offenbart sich die Wirklichkeit mit fünf Gesichtern und zehn Armen; Er ist unmittelbar zugleich Sakala (mit Merkmalen) und Niṣkala (ohne Merkmale).

Word by Word

• सर्वमन्त्रतनुः: (He who is) the embodiment of all mantras
• सर्वमन्त्रतनुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + मन्त्र + तनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (सर्वेषां मन्त्राणां तनुः)

• देवात्: from the god
• देवात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/अपादान), एकवचन

• शक्तित्रयसमन्वितात्: from (him) endowed with the three powers
• शक्तित्रयसमन्वितात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शक्ति + त्रय + समन्वित (कृदन्त; सम्+अन्वि/इ √इ (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/अपादान), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (शक्तीनां त्रयस्य समन्वितः)

• पञ्चवक्त्रात्: from the five-faced (one)
• पञ्चवक्त्रात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च + वक्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/अपादान), एकवचन; समासः—द्विगुः (पञ्च वक्त्राणि यस्य/यत्र)

• दशभुजात्: from the ten-armed (one)
• दशभुजात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दश + भुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/अपादान), एकवचन; समासः—द्विगुः (दश भुजाः यस्य)

• साक्षात्: directly, manifestly
• साक्षात्: Visheshana (विशेषण/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साक्षात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/निपात (indeclinable adverb/particle)

• सकलनिष्कलात्: from (him) who is both with parts and partless
• सकलनिष्कलात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सकल + निष्कल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/अपादान), एकवचन; समासः—इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (सकलश्च निष्कलश्च)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: creative

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It identifies Shiva as the very source and living essence of all mantras, simultaneously the transcendent Niṣkala (beyond qualities) and the immanent Sakala (worshipful with form), showing how liberation arises through grace when the formless is approached via the formed.

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

By affirming Sakala–Niṣkala unity, it supports Linga worship as a bridge: the Linga signifies the Niṣkala Absolute while also serving as a Sakala focus for devotion, mantra, and ritual, culminating in realization of Shiva beyond attributes.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Mantra-japa (especially the Panchākṣarī, ‘Om Namaḥ Śivāya’) with contemplation of Shiva’s five-faced form and the three śaktis (icchā–jñāna–kriyā), letting Saguna meditation mature into awareness of the Niṣkala Reality.