Adhyaya 23: श्वेत-लोहित-पीत-कृष्ण-विश्व-कल्पेषु रुद्रस्वरूप-गायत्री-तत्त्ववर्णनम्
सोमश् च मन्त्रसंयुक्तो यस्मान्मम मुखाच्च्युतः जीवः प्राणभृतां ब्रह्मन् पुनः पीतस्तनाः स्मृताः
somaś ca mantrasaṃyukto yasmānmama mukhāccyutaḥ jīvaḥ prāṇabhṛtāṃ brahman punaḥ pītastanāḥ smṛtāḥ
सोमश्च मन्त्रसंयुक्तो यस्मान्मम मुखाच्च्युतः। जीवः प्राणभृतां ब्रह्मन् पुनः पीतस्तनाः स्मृतः॥
Brahma (within Suta's narration to the sages)
It links mantra-powered creation to sustenance: Soma as consecrated essence becomes the nourishing principle for embodied life, implying that worship (puja) and mantra uphold both creation and continuity under Pati (Shiva) as the supreme regulator.
By presenting mantra as the causal power behind manifest essence (Soma) and life-support (jīva), the verse aligns with Shaiva Siddhanta where Pati is the lord of mantra and the source through which life is energized and sustained, even when described through Brahma’s creative speech.
Mantra-prayoga is central: the verse emphasizes mantra-samyoga (mantra union) as the means by which subtle essence becomes effective—supporting the Shaiva view that disciplined japa, initiation-linked mantra, and consecration are key to transforming and sustaining prāṇa in practice.