Shloka 3
शब्दब्रह्मतनुवर्णनम् — Description of the Form of Śabda-Brahman
तदा समभवत्तत्र नादो वै शब्दलक्षणः । ओमोमिति सुरश्रेष्ठात्सुव्यक्तः प्लुतलक्षणः
tadā samabhavattatra nādo vai śabdalakṣaṇaḥ | omomiti suraśreṣṭhātsuvyaktaḥ plutalakṣaṇaḥ
Then, there arose there the nāda—sound in its essential nature. From the foremost of the gods, the syllable “Om, Om” became clearly manifest, resonant and prolonged in utterance.
Sūta Gosvāmin
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
FAQs
It presents nāda (primordial resonance) as the first clear sign of manifestation, with “Om” (praṇava) emerging as the seed-sound that leads the mind from gross creation toward Shiva as the supreme Pati, the source and support of all vibration.
In Shaiva practice, the Linga is worshipped with mantra; this verse grounds that worship by showing sound itself—especially praṇava—as a primary revelation. Chanting “Om” becomes a bridge from Saguna worship (form and rite) to the realization of Shiva’s subtler, transcendent nature.
Japa and dhyāna on the prolonged praṇava—steady chanting of “Om” (pluta, sustained) with attention to inner nāda—serves as a practical takeaway, and may be paired with Shiva-mantra recitation such as the Panchākṣarī in later worship contexts.