Shiva Purana — Vidyesvara Samhita, Shloka 135

Praṇava-Māhātmya and the Twofold Mantra (Sūkṣma–Sthūla) in Śaiva Sādhanā

Devanagari script

यावन्मंत्रं जपेद्देव्यास्तावत्सान्निध्यमस्ति हि । शिवं संपूजयेद्धीमान्स्वयं वै शब्दरूपभाक्

Transliteration

yāvanmaṃtraṃ japeddevyāstāvatsānnidhyamasti hi | śivaṃ saṃpūjayeddhīmānsvayaṃ vai śabdarūpabhāk

Translation

女神（デーヴィー）のマントラを唱えるかぎり、その間まさに女神の近き臨在は確かに宿る。ゆえに賢き帰依者は、深き敬虔をもってシヴァを礼拝すべし。彼自身が聖なる音声（マントラ）の形に与る者となるからである。

Word by Word

• yāvat: as long as
• yāvat: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yāvat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), correlative adverb (यावत्-तावत्): 'as long as'

• mantram: mantra
• mantram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• japet: should recite
• japet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jap (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• devyāḥ: of the Goddess
• devyāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• tāvat: that long
• tāvat: Kāla (काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tāvat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), correlative adverb: 'so long/that long'

• sānnidhyam: presence
• sānnidhyam: Karta (कर्ता) / Predicate-noun (विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sānnidhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd: प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• asti: is
• asti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• hi: indeed; for
• hi: Hetu/Emphasis (हेतु/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), particle (निपात) giving reason/emphasis

• śivam: Śiva
• śivam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• saṃpūjayet: should worship fully
• saṃpūjayet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: saṃ + pūj (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• dhīmān: the wise one
• dhīmān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhīmat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); adjective used substantively

• svayam: himself
• svayam: Karta-emphasis (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: svayam (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), reflexive adverb: 'oneself'

• vai: indeed
• vai: Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), particle/emphasis (निपात)

• śabda-rūpa-bhāk: possessing the form of sound
• śabda-rūpa-bhāk: Karta (कर्ता) / Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śabda (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक) + bhāj (धातु)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); कृदन्त: 'bhāk' = present participial/agent-noun from √bhāj 'to partake/possess' meaning 'possessing'; तत्पुरुष-समास: 'śabdasya rūpam' (as object of possession)

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating Śiva-worship principles to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya within the Vidyeśvara Saṃhitā context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Durgā

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Devi

FAQs

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

It teaches that mantra-japa is not symbolic but an immediate mode of divine contact: Devī’s sannidhya (felt nearness) remains as long as japa continues, and the devotee is refined into śabda (sacred sound), making Śiva-pūjā inwardly alive and effective.

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

By linking mantra with presence, the verse supports Saguna worship (including Liṅga-pūjā) as a living encounter: mantra sustains the deity’s sannidhya during worship, so external offerings to Śiva are empowered by inner vibration and attention.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Continuous mantra-japa during Śiva-pūjā—keeping awareness anchored in sound (śabda) so the worship remains uninterrupted; this can be paired with traditional Śaiva aids like rudrākṣa for counting japa and a steady, devotional focus.