Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 17

पञ्चाक्षरमाहात्म्यम् / The Greatness of the Pañcākṣarī (Five-Syllable) Mantra

Devanagari script

भवसंस्मरणोद्युक्ता न ते दुःखस्य भागिनः । भवनानि मनोज्ञानि विभ्रमाभरणाः स्त्रियः

Transliteration

bhavasaṃsmaraṇodyuktā na te duḥkhasya bhāginaḥ | bhavanāni manojñāni vibhramābharaṇāḥ striyaḥ

Translation

المنهمكون في تذكّر «بهافا» (شيفا) لا يصيرون شركاءَ في الحزن. ولهم تغدو المساكنُ مُبهِجةً للنفس، وتبدو النساءُ المتزيّناتُ برشاقةٍ كزينةٍ مباركةٍ للحياة لا كقيدٍ للعبودية.

Word by Word

• भवसंस्मरणोद्युक्ताः: engaged in remembering Bhava (Śiva)
• भवसंस्मरणोद्युक्ताः: विशेषण (Qualifier of ‘ते’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भव + संस्मरण + उद्युक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (भवस्य संस्मरणे उद्युक्ताः)

• न: not
• न: निषेध (Negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय

• ते: they
• ते: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• दुःखस्य: of sorrow
• दुःखस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुःख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case), एकवचन

• भागिनः: sharers/partakers
• भागिनः: विधेय (Predicate noun)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भागिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन; ‘भागिन्’ = भाग-युक्त (one who partakes)

• भवनानि: mansions, houses
• भवनानि: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), बहुवचन; अत्र प्रथमा (as subject of implied ‘(सन्ति)’)

• मनोज्ञानि: pleasing to the mind
• मनोज्ञानि: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मनोज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘भवनानि’)

• विभ्रमाभरणाः: with alluring ornaments / whose ornament is coquettishness
• विभ्रमाभरणाः: विशेषण (Qualifier of ‘स्त्रियः’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभ्रम + आभरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय (विभ्रम एव आभरणं येषाम्/विभ्रम-आभरणः = having coquettish ornaments / ornaments of allure)

• स्त्रियः: women
• स्त्रियः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Promises inner transformation: Bhava-smaraṇa converts worldly settings (home, relationships) from bondage-triggers into supports for dharma and peace.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that constant remembrance of Bhava (Śiva) dissolves duḥkha at its root; by turning the mind toward Pati (the Lord), worldly conditions lose their power to bind and instead become supportive to dharma and inner peace.

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

Śiva-smaraṇa is sustained through Saguna supports—especially the Śiva-liṅga, mantra-japa, and pūjā—so that the devotee’s mind repeatedly returns to Śiva; this steady recollection matures into freedom from sorrow and a purified experience of the world.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Daily Shiva-smaraṇa through Panchākṣarī japa (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) while contemplating the Śiva-liṅga; optionally supported by Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as aids for steady remembrance and restraint of the senses.