Shloka 18
शब्दब्रह्मतनुवर्णनम् — Description of the Form of Śabda-Brahman
मकाराख्यस्तु यो नित्यमनुग्रहकरोऽभवत् । मकाराख्यो विभुर्बीजी ह्यकारो बीज उच्यते
makārākhyastu yo nityamanugrahakaro'bhavat | makārākhyo vibhurbījī hyakāro bīja ucyate
That eternal principle, known as “Ma,” became the ever-gracious bestower of divine favor. The all-pervading Lord, designated as “Ma,” is the seed-bearing source (bīja); and the syllable “A” is also declared to be a seed (bīja).
Suta Goswami (narrating the Rudrasaṃhitā teaching to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
FAQs
It highlights that creation and liberation are rooted in Shiva’s anugraha (grace), expressed through mantra-seeds (bīja) like ‘Ma’ and ‘A’, pointing to Shiva as the all-pervading source who awakens the soul through sacred sound.
In Saguna worship, Shiva is approached through tangible supports like the Liṅga and audible supports like mantra; this verse frames specific syllables as Shiva’s power in sound-form, making mantra-japa a direct mode of Liṅga-centered devotion and grace.
Mantra-japa focusing on bīja-syllables—especially within the Panchākṣarī stream (“Namaḥ Śivāya”)—performed with bhakti and purity, as a grace-invoking practice aligned with Shaiva Siddhanta.