Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 43
देवस्तुतिः (Devastuti) — Hymn/Praise of the Devas
प्रणवो बीजमंत्राणां दारुणानां विषं भवान् । व्योमव्यप्तिमतां त्वं वै परमात्मासि चात्मनाम्
praṇavo bījamaṃtrāṇāṃ dāruṇānāṃ viṣaṃ bhavān | vyomavyaptimatāṃ tvaṃ vai paramātmāsi cātmanām
โอ้เทพเจ้า! พระองค์คือปรณวะ (โอม) อันเป็นเมล็ดแห่งพีชะมนตร์ทั้งปวง; ในหมู่สิ่งดุร้ายสยดสยอง พระองค์คือ “พิษ” อันสูงสุดที่ปราบความชั่ว. สำหรับผู้แผ่ซ่านดุจอากาศ พระองค์คือปรมาตมัน; และในอาตมันทั้งหลาย พระองค์คืออันตราตมันภายในสุด।
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Īśāna
Sthala Purana: Not tied to a jyotirliṅga; the verse identifies Śiva with Praṇava (Oṃ) as the seed of bīja-mantras and with the paradoxical ‘poison’ among the terrible—evoking Śiva’s capacity to contain/subdue toxicity (adharma, fear, evil) and to be the Paramātman within all.
Significance: Meditation on Śiva as Praṇava and Paramātman supports inner pilgrimage (antar-yātrā), shifting identity from paśu (limited self) toward recognition of Pati through grace.
Mantra: ॐ (praṇava)
Type: gayatri
Role: teaching
FAQs
The verse praises Shiva as Oṁ itself—the source-power behind all mantras—and as the Supreme Self who both transcends and indwells all beings, indicating that mantra and liberation ultimately culminate in Shiva-realization.
In Saguna worship, Shiva is approached through form—especially the Linga—yet this verse grounds that devotion in the formless Pranava and the truth that the Linga points to: Shiva as the all-pervading Paramatma and inner ruler (antaryāmin).
Mantra-japa beginning with Oṁ—especially Oṁ Namaḥ Śivāya—paired with inner contemplation of Shiva as the Self within all, is the key practice implied; it supports bhakti, purification, and steady meditation toward moksha.