Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 16

पञ्चाक्षरीविद्यायाḥ कलियुगे मोक्षोपायः | The Pañcākṣarī Vidyā as a Means of Liberation in Kali Yuga

Devanagari script

स ब्रह्मांगेन मां भक्त्या पूजयेद्यदि मुच्यते । पतितो ऽपतितो वापि मन्त्रेणानेन पूजयेत्

Transliteration

sa brahmāṃgena māṃ bhaktyā pūjayedyadi mucyate | patito 'patito vāpi mantreṇānena pūjayet

Translation

إن عبدني أحدٌ بمحبةٍ وتفانٍ مستخدمًا البْرَهْمَانْغَا المقرَّر (الملحق المقدّس للعبادة)، تحرّر ونال الخلاص. ساقطًا كان أو غير ساقط، فليعبد بهذا المانترا بعينه.

Word by Word

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

• ब्रह्म-अङ्गेन: with a Brahma-limb/with Brahmā’s limb (i.e., with the Brahmāṅga)
• ब्रह्म-अङ्गेन: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (ब्रह्मणः अङ्गम्)

• माम्: me
• माम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भक्त्या: with devotion
• भक्त्या: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument; manner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पूजयेत्: should worship
• पूजयेत्: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• यदि: if
• यदि: सम्बन्ध/अव्यय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; शर्तार्थक (conditional conjunction ‘if’)

• मुच्यते: is liberated
• मुच्यते: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, आत्मनेपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोगः

• पतितः: fallen (person)
• पतितः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject; alternative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पतित (प्रातिपदिक; पत्-धातोः क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अ-पतितः: not fallen (person)
• अ-पतितः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject; alternative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पतित (प्रातिपदिक; नञ्-पूर्वपद)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नञ्-समासार्थ (not fallen)

• वा: or
• वा: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-निपात

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थ-निपात

• मन्त्रेण: with a mantra
• मन्त्रेण: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अनेन: with this
• अनेन: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa of मन्त्रेण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; निर्देशक (demonstrative)

• पूजयेत्: should worship
• पूजयेत्: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: General prescription: worship with 'brahmāṅga' (a prescribed ritual limb/adjunct) plus mantra and bhakti; not linked to a particular shrine.

Significance: Emphasizes that correct ritual framing (aṅga) plus devotion makes worship efficacious anywhere, not only at famed tīrthas.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: (implied) नमः शिवाय / ॐ नमः शिवाय

Type: panchakshara

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that Shiva’s grace is accessed through bhakti and mantra, and that liberation (moksha) is not restricted by one’s prior impurity; sincere worship itself becomes the purifying means.

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

It supports Saguna worship—approaching Shiva through a concrete ritual form and mantra—affirming that disciplined, devotional pūjā (often centered on the Shiva-linga) can lead to release when performed with faith.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Regular mantra-japa and mantra-based pūjā are emphasized; the verse implies using the prescribed ritual adjuncts (brahmāṅga) along with devotion, making mantra worship a direct sādhana toward purification and moksha.