Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 17

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

Devanagari script

मम भक्तो जितक्रोधो सलब्धो ऽलब्ध एव वा । अलब्धालब्ध एवेह कोटिकोटिगुणाधिकः

Transliteration

mama bhakto jitakrodho salabdho 'labdha eva vā | alabdhālabdha eveha koṭikoṭiguṇādhikaḥ

Translation

عبدي المُحبّ لي، الذي قهر الغضب—سواء نال ثمراتٍ دنيوية أم لم ينل—يبقى هنا سواءً في الكسب وعدم الكسب؛ ومثل هذا يفوق الآخرين بدرجاتٍ لا تُحصى، كرورًا فوق كرور.

Word by Word

• मम: my
• मम: सम्बन्ध (Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• भक्तः: devotee
• भक्तः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्त (प्रातिपदिक; भज्-धातोः क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• जित-क्रोधः: one who has conquered anger
• जित-क्रोधः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa of भक्तः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जित (प्रातिपदिक; जि-धातोः क्त) + क्रोध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष (क्रोधं जितः = one who has conquered anger)

• स-लब्धः: successful/one who has obtained (results)
• स-लब्धः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa of भक्तः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लब्ध (प्रातिपदिक; लभ्-धातोः क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सह-पूर्वपद (having obtained/possessing)

• अ-लब्धः: unsuccessful/not having obtained
• अ-लब्धः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa of भक्तः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लब्ध (प्रातिपदिक; नञ्-पूर्वपद)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नञ्-समासार्थ (not obtained)

• एव: indeed/just
• एव: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक-निपात (emphatic ‘indeed/only’)

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

• अ-लब्ध-अ-लब्धः: (even if) unsuccessful in every way
• अ-लब्ध-अ-लब्धः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa of भक्तः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अलब्ध (प्रातिपदिक; नञ्+लब्ध) + अलब्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (alabdha and alabdha; idiomatically ‘whether unsuccessful or unsuccessful’)

• एव: indeed
• एव: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-निपात

• इह: here
• इह: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देश/प्रसङ्गवाचक (here/in this world/in this matter)

• कोटि-कोटि-गुण-अधिकः: greater by crores upon crores of times
• कोटि-कोटि-गुण-अधिकः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa of भक्तः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कोटि (प्रातिपदिक) + कोटि (प्रातिपदिक) + गुण (प्रातिपदिक) + अधिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (कोटिकोटिभिः गुणैः अधिकः = superior by crores upon crores of times)

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Ethical-psychological teaching rather than shrine narrative: the true bhakta is equanimous in success and failure, having conquered anger.

Significance: Defines the inner fruit of pilgrimage/worship: steadiness (samatā) and krodha-jaya; such inner transformation is valued above external attainments.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It declares that the highest Shiva-bhakta is one who has mastered anger and remains inwardly steady in both gain and non-gain—showing mature devotion and freedom from binding desires (pāśa).

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

Linga-worship trains the devotee to offer all outcomes to Shiva; by seeing Shiva as the Lord of results, the worshipper becomes even-minded, loving Saguna Shiva while moving toward inner purity fit for liberation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with a vow of kṣamā (forbearance), and mentally offer both success and failure at Shiva’s feet after daily pūjā (optionally with bhasma and rudrākṣa) to cultivate equanimity.