Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 14
शब्दब्रह्मतनुवर्णनम् — Description of the Form of Śabda-Brahman
चिंतया रहितो रुद्रो वाचो यन्मनसा सह । अप्राप्य तन्निवर्तंते वाच्यस्त्वेकाक्षरेण सः
ciṃtayā rahito rudro vāco yanmanasā saha | aprāpya tannivartaṃte vācyastvekākṣareṇa saḥ
രുദ്രൻ എല്ലാ ചിന്താ-കല്പനകളിലും നിന്നു വിമുക്തൻ; മനസ്സോടുകൂടിയ വാക്കും അവനെ പ്രാപിക്കാതെ മടങ്ങിപ്പോകുന്നു. എങ്കിലും അവൻ ആ ഏക അവിനാശി അക്ഷരം—‘ഓം’—കൊണ്ട് സൂച്യനാകുന്നു.
Suta Goswami (narrating the Rudra Samhita account to the sages of Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Rudra
Mantra: ॐ (एकाक्षर)
Type: gayatri
Role: teaching
FAQs
It teaches that Rudra, the Supreme Pati, transcends the limits of thought and language; liberation arises not by mental speculation but by turning inward to the revealed mantra-principle that points to Him.
Though Shiva is ultimately beyond mind and speech (nirguṇa), devotees approach Him through accessible indicators (liṅga, name, mantra). The verse grounds saguna/linga worship as a valid means that points toward the transcendent Rudra.
Japa and meditation on the Ekākṣara “Oṁ” (and, by extension, Shiva-mantra practice) with withdrawal of speech and mind—letting discursive thought subside while holding the mantra as the pointer to Shiva.