Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 40
प्रणवविभागः—वेदस्वरूपत्वं लिङ्गे च प्रतिष्ठा
The Division of Oṃ, Its Vedic Forms, and Its Placement in the Liṅga
तदतीतं च नैर्गुण्यादध्वनोस्य विशोधकम् । द्वयोः प्रमापको नादो नदांतश्च मदात्मकः
tadatītaṃ ca nairguṇyādadhvanosya viśodhakam | dvayoḥ pramāpako nādo nadāṃtaśca madātmakaḥ
उस समस्त पथ से परे वह निर्गुण-स्वरूप है और इस प्रपञ्च-मार्ग को शुद्ध करने वाला है। नाद दोनों (व्यक्त और अव्यक्त) का मापक-नियामक है; और नादान्त ‘अहं’—अन्तःस्व-चैतन्य—स्वरूप है।
Suta Goswami (narrating the Vāyavīya teaching to the sages at Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Īśāna
Type: stotra
Role: teaching
FAQs
It presents Nāda (inner sound) as a purifying principle that guides the seeker beyond the manifest “path” toward nirguṇa realization, where the culmination of sound dissolves into direct self-awareness aligned with Shiva-consciousness.
Saguna worship (including Linga-upāsanā) refines the mind and senses; this verse points to the inner progression where devotion matures into subtle contemplation of Nāda, finally transcending all forms into nirguṇa Shiva.
A meditative practice of inner listening (nāda-anusandhāna)—quieting speech and attention to trace sound back to its source—supported by Shaiva disciplines like mantra-japa and purity observances.