Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 23

Śiva’s Freedom from Bondage and His Cosmic Support (शिवस्य अबन्धत्वं तथा सर्वाधिष्ठानत्वम्)

Devanagari script

प्रणवो वाचकस्तस्य शिवस्य परमात्मनः । शिवरुद्रादिशब्दानां प्रणवो हि परस्स्मृतः

Transliteration

praṇavo vācakastasya śivasya paramātmanaḥ | śivarudrādiśabdānāṃ praṇavo hi parassmṛtaḥ

Translation

Le Praṇava (Om) est l’appellation révélatrice de ce Soi suprême, Śiva. En vérité, parmi des mots tels que « Śiva », « Rudra » et les autres, le Praṇava est tenu pour le plus élevé.

Word by Word

• प्रणवः: Praṇava (Oṃ)
• प्रणवः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रणव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• वाचकः: the denoter/expressor
• वाचकः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाचक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; प्रणवः इत्यस्य समनाधिकरणम्

• तस्य: of him/of that
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (of that)

• शिवस्य: of Śiva
• शिवस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; तस्य इत्यस्य विशेष्य

• परमात्मनः: of the Supreme Self
• परमात्मनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परम-आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (परमः आत्मा)

• शिव-रुद्र-आदि-शब्दानाम्: of words such as ‘Śiva’, ‘Rudra’, etc.
• शिव-रुद्र-आदि-शब्दानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक) + शब्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (शिवरुद्रादयः शब्दाः येषाम्)

• प्रणवः: Praṇava (Oṃ)
• प्रणवः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रणव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चय/हेतौ निपात (indeed/for)

• परः: supreme
• परः: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; प्रणवः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• स्मृतः: is considered/remembered
• स्मृतः: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; धातुः—स्मृ (1P)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: praṇavo vācakastasya śivasya paramātmanaḥ | śivarudrādiśabdānāṃ praṇavo hi parassmṛtaḥ

Type: gayatri

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Rudra

FAQs

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

It teaches that Om (Praṇava) is the most exalted pointer to Śiva as Paramātman, surpassing even revered divine epithets like “Śiva” and “Rudra,” and is therefore central for contemplation and liberation-oriented worship.

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

In Linga and Saguna worship, names and forms are used as accessible supports; this verse places Om as the highest sonic support (śabda-upāsanā) that leads the devotee from name-and-form devotion toward realization of Śiva as the Supreme Self.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice Praṇava-japa (repetition of Om) and Praṇava-dhyāna (meditation on Om) as a primary mantra discipline, optionally joined with Shiva-nāma japa (e.g., “Śivāya namaḥ”) in daily worship and Mahāśivarātri observances.