Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 16

शब्दब्रह्मतनुवर्णनम् — Description of the Form of Śabda-Brahman

Devanagari script

एकाक्षरादकाराख्याद्भगवान्बीजकोण्डजः । एकाक्षरादुकाराख्याद्धरिः परमकारणम्

Transliteration

ekākṣarādakārākhyādbhagavānbījakoṇḍajaḥ | ekākṣarādukārākhyāddhariḥ paramakāraṇam

Translation

De l’unique syllabe nommée « A » surgit le Bienheureux, Brahmā, né de la semence et de l’œuf cosmiques. De l’unique syllabe nommée « U » surgit Hari (Viṣṇu), le principe causal suprême de la préservation.

Word by Word

• एकाक्षरात्: from the one syllable
• एकाक्षरात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एकाक्षर (प्रातिपदिक; एक + अक्षर)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी विभक्ति, एकवचन; Ablative singular (5th)

• अकाराख्यात्: called ‘a-kāra’
• अकाराख्यात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अकाराख्य (प्रातिपदिक; अकार + आख्य)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी विभक्ति, एकवचन; Ablative singular; qualifying source

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• बीजकोण्डजः: the seed-born (Brahmā)
• बीजकोण्डजः: Viśeṣya-predicative (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बीजकोण्डज (प्रातिपदिक; बीज + कोण्डज)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• एकाक्षरात्: from the one syllable
• एकाक्षरात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एकाक्षर (प्रातिपदिक; एक + अक्षर)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी विभक्ति, एकवचन; Ablative singular (5th)

• उकाराख्यात्: called ‘u-kāra’
• उकाराख्यात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उकाराख्य (प्रातिपदिक; उकार + आख्य)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी विभक्ति, एकवचन; Ablative singular

• हरिः: Hari (Viṣṇu)
• हरिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular

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

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadyojāta

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: ॐ—अ (akāra), उ (ukāra)

Type: gayatri

Shakti Dimension

Role: creative

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Cosmogony: emergence of Brahmā (Hiraṇyagarbha/egg) and Viṣṇu from praṇava phonemes

Characters & Entities

• Brahma
• Vishnu

FAQs

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

It teaches that cosmic functions arise from primordial sound (the one syllable), indicating that creation and sustenance proceed from a higher, subtle source—ultimately grounded in Śiva as Pati, the transcendent Lord beyond the manifested powers.

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

By tracing Brahmā and Viṣṇu to the primal syllables, the Purāṇa points to a single supreme origin. In Śaiva practice, the Liṅga symbolizes that undivided source from which all forms and deities emerge and by which they are empowered.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Contemplation on Oṁ as the seed of manifestation—especially japa with awareness of the A-U-M structure—supports Śiva-upāsanā; it can be integrated with pañcākṣarī japa (oṁ namaḥ śivāya) as a focused practice for inner purification.