Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 13
षडध्ववेदनम् (Ṣaḍadhva-vedanam) — The Sixfold Path: Sound, Meaning, and Tattva-Distribution
मंत्राः सर्वैः पदैर्व्याप्ता वाक्यभावात्पदानि च । वर्णैर्वर्णसमूहं हि पदमाहुर्विपश्चितः
maṃtrāḥ sarvaiḥ padairvyāptā vākyabhāvātpadāni ca | varṇairvarṇasamūhaṃ hi padamāhurvipaścitaḥ
মন্ত্রসমূহ তাদের সকল পদ দ্বারা ব্যাপ্ত; আর পদসমূহ বাক্যের ভাব (অভিপ্রায়-অর্থ) থেকে উদ্ভূত। বর্ণের দ্বারাই পদ বর্ণসমষ্টি হয়—এমনই জ্ঞানীরা বলেন।
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Role: teaching
FAQs
It teaches that mantra is not merely sound: its power unfolds through correct syllables (varṇa), coherent words (pada), and the inner purport of the whole utterance (vākya-bhāva). In Shaiva Siddhanta, this aligns japa with understanding (jñāna) so the mind turns toward Pati (Shiva) rather than remaining at mere recitation.
Linga-worship commonly includes mantra-japa and śiva-nāma. This verse supports Saguna upāsanā by emphasizing that pronunciation and meaning must converge—sound, word, and intention—so the devotee’s offering becomes inwardly connected to Shiva, not only externally performed.
Practice mantra-japa (especially the Panchakshara, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with śuddha-ucchāraṇa (clear syllables) and bhāvanā (contemplation of meaning). Let each syllable and word be consciously offered to Shiva, rather than repeating mechanically.