Shloka 2

Śiva-Śakti Tattva, Varṇa-Rahasya, and Mahāvākya-Bhāvanā

Interpretive Discipline

Devanagari script

अकारः सर्ववर्णाग्र्यः प्रकाशः परमः शिवः । हकारो व्योमरूपः स्याच्छक्त्यात्मा संप्रकीर्तितः

Transliteration

akāraḥ sarvavarṇāgryaḥ prakāśaḥ paramaḥ śivaḥ | hakāro vyomarūpaḥ syācchaktyātmā saṃprakīrtitaḥ

Translation

音节“阿”（A）为一切音声之首，是至上之光，即帕拉玛希瓦本身。音节“哈”（Ha）被说为具虚空（vyoma）之性，并被宣称为圣力（Shakti）的本质。

Word by Word

• अकारः: the letter ‘a’ (akāra)
• अकारः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; नाम (letter-name)

• सर्ववर्णाग्र्यः: foremost among all letters
• सर्ववर्णाग्र्यः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier of ‘अकारः’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व-वर्ण-अग्र्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (सर्वेषां वर्णानां अग्र्यः = best among all letters)

• प्रकाशः: light, illumination
• प्रकाशः: Pradhāna-viśeṣya (विधेय/Predicate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रकाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय (predicate nominative)

• परमः: supreme
• परमः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier of ‘शिवः’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• शिवः: Śiva
• शिवः: Pradhāna-viśeṣya (विधेय/Predicate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय (predicate nominative)

• हकारः: the letter ‘ha’ (hakāra)
• हकारः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नाम (letter-name)

• व्योमरूपः: having the form of space (ether)
• व्योमरूपः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier of ‘हकारः’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्योम-रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (व्योम्नः रूपः = having the form of space/sky)

• स्यात्: would be / should be
• स्यात्: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• शक्त्यात्मा: having Śakti as its essence
• शक्त्यात्मा: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier of ‘हकारः’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शक्ति-आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (शक्तेः आत्मा = whose essence is Śakti)

• संप्रकीर्तितः: is proclaimed / is declared
• संप्रकीर्तितः: Pradhāna-viśeṣya (विधेय/Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-प्र-कीर्त् (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (भूतकर्मणि/PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगः (passive sense)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: akāraḥ ... paramaḥ śivaḥ | hakāro ... śaktyātmā

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: creative

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shakti

FAQs

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

It teaches that sacred sound (varṇa) is not merely linguistic: ‘A’ signifies Paramashiva as pure luminous consciousness (prakāśa), while ‘Ha’ signifies Shakti as the subtle expanse (vyoma) in which manifestation and mantra-resonance unfold—pointing to the inseparability of Pati (Shiva) and His Shakti.

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

Linga-worship trains the mind to recognize the formless supreme reality through a sacred form; this verse complements that by showing how the same supreme is approached through mantra and sound-symbolism—Shiva as the illuminating principle and Shakti as the all-pervading field—supporting Saguna worship that leads toward Nirguna realization.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Mantra-japa with contemplative bhāvanā: while repeating Shiva-mantras (especially the Panchakshara, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), meditate that Shiva is the inner light (prakāśa) and Shakti is the subtle space of awareness (vyoma) in which the mantra arises and dissolves; this aligns japa with yogic inwardness.