Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 15

शब्दब्रह्मतनुवर्णनम् — Description of the Form of Śabda-Brahman

Devanagari script

एकाक्षरेण तद्वाक्यमृतं परमकारणम् । सत्यमानन्दममृतं परं ब्रह्म परात्परम्

Transliteration

ekākṣareṇa tadvākyamṛtaṃ paramakāraṇam | satyamānandamamṛtaṃ paraṃ brahma parātparam

Translation

Cette Parole, exprimée par une seule syllabe, est le Verbe immortel et la Cause suprême. Elle est Vérité, Béatitude et Immortalité — le Brahman Suprême, au‑delà même du plus élevé.

Word by Word

• एकाक्षरेण: by the one syllable
• एकाक्षरेण: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एकाक्षर (प्रातिपदिक; एक + अक्षर)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण) विभक्ति, एकवचन; Instrumental singular (3rd)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; Demonstrative pronoun used adjectivally

• वाक्य: statement/utterance
• वाक्य: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular (1st)

• अमृतम्: immortal/nectar-like
• अमृतम्: Viśeṣya-predicative (विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; Predicate adjective

• परमकारणम्: the supreme cause
• परमकारणम्: Viśeṣya-predicative (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परमकारण (प्रातिपदिक; परम + कारण)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular (1st)

• सत्यम्: true
• सत्यम्: Viśeṣya-predicative (विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; Predicate adjective

• आनन्दम्: bliss
• आनन्दम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आनन्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular (2nd) used as appositional/predicative accusative in listing

• अमृतम्: immortal
• अमृतम्: Viśeṣya-predicative (विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; Predicate adjective

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Viśeṣya-predicative (विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; Predicate adjective

• ब्रह्म: Brahman
• ब्रह्म: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular (1st)

• परात्परम्: higher than the highest
• परात्परम्: Viśeṣya-predicative (विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परात्पर (प्रातिपदिक; परात् + पर)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; Predicate adjective

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmī (narrating to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: ॐ (एकाक्षर)

Type: gayatri

Shakti Dimension

Role: creative

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Cosmogonic causality implied: praṇava as supreme cause prior to manifest creation

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It identifies the one-syllable sacred sound (praṇava, “Om”) as the immortal revelation of the Supreme—Shiva as the highest Cause and as Truth-Bliss-Deathlessness, leading the soul toward liberation.

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

The verse points to Nirguṇa Shiva (as Parabrahman) known through Om, while Linga worship provides a Saguna support for concentrating the mind; both converge when the devotee realizes Shiva as the supreme, deathless Reality.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Japa and contemplation of the praṇava (Om)—often paired with Panchākṣarī japa (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”)—as a focused meditation on Shiva as the supreme cause and inner bliss.