Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 41

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

Devanagari script

पद्मोत्पलकरा सौम्या वरदाभयपाणिका । सर्वलक्षणसंपन्ना सर्वाभरणभूषिता

Transliteration

padmotpalakarā saumyā varadābhayapāṇikā | sarvalakṣaṇasaṃpannā sarvābharaṇabhūṣitā

Translation

كانت لطيفةً مباركة، تحمل في يديها لوتسًا ولوتسًا أزرق؛ وباليدين الأخريين تمنح العطايا وتفيض بالأمان (أبهايا). مكتملةً بكل العلامات الفاضلة، متزينةً بجميع الحُليّ.

Word by Word

• पद्म-उत्पल-करा: holding lotus and blue-lotus in her hands
• पद्म-उत्पल-करा: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पद्म (प्रातिपदिक) + उत्पल (प्रातिपदिक) + कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (पद्मोत्पले करौ यस्याः / पद्मोत्पलधरा)

• सौम्या: gentle/auspicious
• सौम्या: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सौम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• वरद-अभय-पाणिका: with hands granting boons and fearlessness
• वरद-अभय-पाणिका: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वरद (प्रातिपदिक) + अभय (प्रातिपदिक) + पाणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (वरदाभयौ पाण्यौ यस्याः = with hands granting boons and fearlessness)

• सर्व-लक्षण-संपन्ना: endowed with all auspicious marks
• सर्व-लक्षण-संपन्ना: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + लक्षण (प्रातिपदिक) + संपन्न (कृदन्त; √पद्/पन् ‘to be accomplished’ + सम्, क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (endowed with all marks); कृदन्तः क्त-प्रत्ययान्त

• सर्व-आभरण-भूषिता: adorned with all ornaments
• सर्व-आभरण-भूषिता: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + आभरण (प्रातिपदिक) + भूषित (कृदन्त; √भूष् + क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (adorned with all ornaments); कृदन्तः क्त-प्रत्ययान्त

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Parvati

FAQs

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

The verse presents the Divine Mother as compassion (saumyā) and refuge: the lotus signifies purity amid the world, while boon-giving and fearlessness indicate her grace that removes bondage (pāśa) and steadies the soul (paśu) toward Shiva, the Supreme (Pati).

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

It supports Saguna upāsanā: devotees contemplate Shiva together with Shakti—her abhaya and varada mudrās express the accessible, grace-bestowing dimension through which the devotee approaches the Linga with trust, surrender, and devotion.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Parvati’s form with lotus hands and the abhaya-varada gestures while repeating the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), seeking inner fearlessness and the boon of steadfast bhakti; optionally accompany with Tripuṇḍra and Rudrākṣa as Shaiva marks of remembrance.