Shloka 40
शब्दब्रह्मतनुवर्णनम् — Description of the Form of Śabda-Brahman
एवं शब्दमयं रूपमगुणस्य गुणात्मनः । दृष्ट्वा तमुमया सार्द्धं कृतार्थोऽभून्मया हरिः
evaṃ śabdamayaṃ rūpamaguṇasya guṇātmanaḥ | dṛṣṭvā tamumayā sārddhaṃ kṛtārtho'bhūnmayā hariḥ
Thus, beholding that form made of sacred sound—of the Lord who is beyond attributes yet also the very essence of all attributes—together with Umā, I, Hari (Viṣṇu), became fulfilled and my purpose was accomplished.
Vishnu (Hari), as narrated within Sṛṣṭikhaṇḍa discourse and relayed by Sūta to the sages
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Umāpati
Mantra: evaṃ śabdamayaṃ rūpamaguṇasya guṇātmanaḥ | dṛṣṭvā tamumayā sārddhaṃ kṛtārtho'bhūnmayā hariḥ
Shakti Form: Umā
Role: liberating
FAQs
It teaches that Shiva is simultaneously nirguṇa (transcendent) and saguṇa (immanently manifest), and that true fulfillment arises through darśana and inner recognition of Shiva together with Shakti (Umā), the inseparable power of revelation and grace.
Calling Shiva “śabdamaya” points to mantra as a living form of the Divine; in Linga worship, the formless-transcendent is approached through a manifest support (liṅga) and through sound (japa), revealing the nirguṇa Lord through saguṇa means.
Mantra-japa and dhyāna on Shiva as mantra-form—especially Panchākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”)—with devotion to Shiva-Umā as one reality; this supports focused contemplation leading toward grace and liberation.