Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 13

शब्दब्रह्मतनुवर्णनम् — Description of the Form of Śabda-Brahman

Devanagari script

तेनैव ऋषिणा विष्णुर्ज्ञातवान्परमेश्वरम् । महादेवं परं ब्रह्म शब्दब्रह्मतनुं परम्

Transliteration

tenaiva ṛṣiṇā viṣṇurjñātavānparameśvaram | mahādevaṃ paraṃ brahma śabdabrahmatanuṃ param

Translation

正是借由那位圣仙，毗湿奴得以认识至上主——大天（摩诃提婆）、超越的梵——其自身之形即为至上的“声梵”（Śabda-Brahman，作为神圣音声的绝对）。

Word by Word

• तेन: by him/thereby
• तेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (करण), एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: निश्चय/अवधारण-अव्यय (emphatic particle)

• ऋषिणा: by the sage
• ऋषिणा: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (करण), एकवचनम्

• विष्णुः: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः (कर्ता), एकवचनम्

• ज्ञातवान्: came to know/realized
• ज्ञातवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jñā (धातु)
• Form: क्तवतु-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past active participle), पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्; धातुः √ज्ञा (अवबोधने)

• परमेश्वरम्: the Supreme Lord
• परमेश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक) + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (कर्म), एकवचनम्; कर्मधारयः—‘परमः ईश्वरः’

• महादेवम्: Mahādeva
• महादेवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; कर्मधारयः—‘महान् देवः’

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (ब्रह्मणः)

• ब्रह्म: Brahman
• ब्रह्म: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः (कर्म), एकवचनम्

• शब्दब्रह्मतनुम्: the embodiment of Śabda-Brahman
• शब्दब्रह्मतनुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śabda (प्रातिपदिक) + brahman (प्रातिपदिक) + tanu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः—‘शब्दब्रह्मणः तनुः’ (whose body is Śabda-Brahman)

• परम्: supreme
• परम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (परमेश्वर/ब्रह्म)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Shiva
• Mahadeva
• Parameshvara
• Rishi

FAQs

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

It establishes Śiva (Mahādeva) as Parameśvara and Para Brahman, and teaches that realization of the Supreme can dawn through the guidance of a ṛṣi (guru), aligning knowledge with Shaiva understanding of Pati (the Lord) as the ultimate reality.

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

By calling Śiva both Para Brahman and Śabda-Brahman, the verse bridges nirguṇa truth and saguṇa worship: the formless Supreme is approached through manifest supports like mantra, Vedic sound, and the Liṅga as a sanctified focus of devotion and contemplation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Mantra-upāsanā is implied: meditating on Śiva through sacred sound (japa of Panchākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), along with attentive listening/recitation of Śiva-stuti, treating mantra as Śiva’s living presence (Śabda-Brahman).