Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 45

प्रणवविभागः—वेदस्वरूपत्वं लिङ्गे च प्रतिष्ठा

The Division of Oṃ, Its Vedic Forms, and Its Placement in the Liṅga

Devanagari script

अप्राप्य तन्निवर्तंते वाच्यस्त्वेकाक्षरेण सः । एकाक्षरादकाराख्यादात्मा ब्रह्माभिधीयते

Transliteration

aprāpya tannivartaṃte vācyastvekākṣareṇa saḥ | ekākṣarādakārākhyādātmā brahmābhidhīyate

Translation

言语不能抵达彼至上实相，遂皆退返；然而祂仍以一音节而被指示。由那一音节——名为“A”——自性（我）被称为梵（Brahman）。

Word by Word

• अप्राप्य: not reaching / without attaining
• अप्राप्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/Prerequisite action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ + प्राप् (धातु) + ल्यप् → अप्राप्य (कृदन्त-अव्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त/ल्यपन्त अव्यय (absolutive/gerund); नञ्-पूर्वक (not having reached)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• निवर्तन्ते: turn back/return
• निवर्तन्ते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + वृत् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन (Plural), आत्मनेपद

• वाच्यः: the signified (object of expression)
• वाच्यः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाच्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भावार्थे/विशेष्य (the expressible/that to be denoted)

• तु: but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/विशेष (but/indeed)

• एकाक्षरेण: by the one syllable (Om)
• एकाक्षरेण: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक + अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन; द्विगु-समास

• सः: it/he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• एकाक्षरात्: from the one syllable
• एकाक्षरात्: Apadana (अपादान/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक + अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative), एकवचन; द्विगु-समास

• अकाराख्यात्: from (that) called ‘a’ (akāra)
• अकाराख्यात्: Apadana (अपादान/Source)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अकार + आख्यात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (अकारस्य आख्यातः/आख्यः = named as 'a')

• आत्मा: the Self
• आत्मा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

• ब्रह्म: Brahman
• ब्रह्म: Pratijna (प्रतिज्ञा/Predicate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन

• अभिधीयते: is called/denoted
• अभिधीयते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + धा (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: A (akāra) as the one-syllable indicator within Oṃ

Type: gayatri

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that the Absolute (identified with Shiva as the Supreme) transcends speech and mind; still, for the seeker’s practice, that ineffable Reality is pointed to through mantra—here, the primal one-syllable ‘A’ as the seed of sacred sound and realization of the Self as Brahman.

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

Lingārcana and Saguna forms provide an accessible focus for devotion, while this verse clarifies the metaphysical ground: the same Shiva ultimately surpasses all verbal description and form, yet is approached through sound-symbols (bīja/Om) used alongside external worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Japa and contemplation on the primal sound—especially akāra within Om—leading inward from recitation to silence, where speech ‘returns’ and awareness rests in the Self; this supports Shaiva meditation aimed at moksha.