Shloka 32

शब्दब्रह्मतनुवर्णनम् — Description of the Form of Śabda-Brahman

Devanagari script

अकारस्तस्य मूर्द्धा हि ललाटो दीर्घ उच्यते । इकारो दक्षिणं नेत्रमीकारो वामलोचनम्

Transliteration

akārastasya mūrddhā hi lalāṭo dīrgha ucyate | ikāro dakṣiṇaṃ netramīkāro vāmalocanam

Translation

“The syllable ‘A’ is indeed His head; the broad forehead is said to be its extended form. The syllable ‘I’ is His right eye, and the syllable ‘Ī’ is His left eye.”

Word by Word

• अकारः: the letter ‘a’
• अकारः: कर्तृ (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• तस्य: of it/of him
• तस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• मूर्धा: head/crown
• मूर्धा: सम्बन्ध/विशेष्य (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्धन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: सम्बन्ध (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चयार्थक/हेतौ (particle)

• ललाटः: forehead
• ललाटः: कर्तृ (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ललाट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• दीर्घः: long
• दीर्घः: सम्बन्ध/विशेषण (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीर्घ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; विशेषण

• उच्यते: is said/called
• उच्यते: क्रिया (Verb/आख्यात)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive)

• इकारः: the letter ‘i’
• इकारः: कर्तृ (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• दक्षिणम्: right
• दक्षिणम्: कर्म (Karma/कर्मपद)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; विशेषण

• नेत्रम्: eye
• नेत्रम्: कर्म (Karma/कर्मपद)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नेत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन

• ईकारः: the letter ‘ī’
• ईकारः: कर्तृ (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• वामलोचनम्: left eye
• वामलोचनम्: कर्म (Karma/कर्मपद)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाम + लोचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (वामं लोचनम्)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Rudrasaṃhitā account to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches mantra-dhyāna: the very sounds (akṣaras) are not merely symbols but reveal Shiva’s saguna presence, guiding the devotee to contemplate the Lord as consciousness embodied in sacred phonemes.

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

Like Linga worship that uses a visible support for the mind, this verse provides a sonic-and-visual support: the letters are contemplated as Shiva’s limbs, making japa and meditation a direct approach to Saguna Shiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice mantra-japa with visualization (dhyāna): while repeating the sacred syllables, inwardly place ‘A’ at Shiva’s head/forehead and contemplate ‘I/Ī’ as His two eyes—steadying attention and deepening devotion.