Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 34

शब्दब्रह्मतनुवर्णनम् — Description of the Form of Śabda-Brahman

Devanagari script

वामं कपोलमूकारो लृ लॄ नासापुटे उभे । एकारश्चोष्ठ ऊर्द्ध्वश्च ह्यैकारस्त्वधरो विभोः

Transliteration

vāmaṃ kapolamūkāro lṛ lṝ nāsāpuṭe ubhe | ekāraścoṣṭha ūrddhvaśca hyaikārastvadharo vibhoḥ

Translation

Suku kata “U” ialah pipi kiri; suku kata “Lṛ” dan “Lṝ” ialah kedua-dua lubang hidung. Suku kata “E” ialah bibir atas, dan suku kata “Ai” ialah bibir bawah Tuhan Yang Meliputi segala-galanya.

Word by Word

• वामम्: left (side)
• वामम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; adjective used substantively/qualifying

• कपोलम्: cheek
• कपोलम्: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपोल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन

• ऊकारः: the letter/sound ū
• ऊकारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऊकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन

• लृ: the vowel lṛ
• लृ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् वर्णनाम; प्रथमा एकवचन (as phoneme-name)

• लॄ: the vowel lṝ
• लॄ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लॄ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् वर्णनाम; प्रथमा एकवचन (as phoneme-name)

• नासापुटे: in the two nostrils
• नासापुटे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नासा + पुट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), द्विवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (नासायाः पुटे)

• उभे: both
• उभे: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उभ (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, द्विवचन; agreeing with नासापुटे (dual)

• एकारः: the letter/sound e
• एकारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• ओष्ठः: lip
• ओष्ठः: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ओष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता/अधिकरण-निर्देश), एकवचन

• ऊर्द्ध्वः: upper
• ऊर्द्ध्वः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऊर्द्ध्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; qualifying ओष्ठः

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; emphasis/indeed)

• ऐकारः: the letter/sound ai
• ऐकारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऐकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन

• तु: but/and (as contrast)
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; contrast)

• अधरः: lower
• अधरः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; qualifying ओष्ठः (understood)

• विभोः: of the Lord
• विभोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Rudrasaṃhitā teaching as received in the Purāṇic discourse)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Cosmic embodiment of phonemes: mātṛkā as the structuring power (śakti) of manifestation.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches a contemplative “mantra-body” vision: sacred sound (varna) is not separate from Śiva’s form, so meditation on phonemes becomes inner worship that steadies the mind in devotion and leads toward liberation.

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

It supports Saguna upāsanā by giving a concrete visualization—Śiva’s face and features are contemplated through syllables—helping devotees internalize Linga-worship as an inward presence rather than only an external rite.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A nyāsa-style meditation: silently place/visualize specific syllables on Śiva’s features (cheek, nostrils, lips) while maintaining devotion, often alongside japa of Śiva-mantras and focused breath awareness.