Shloka 14

Vighneshvara-Prashna and Deva-Krita Shiva-Stava

Adhyaya 104

Devanagari script

पञ्चमाय महापञ्चयज्ञिनां फलदाय च पञ्चास्यफणिहाराय पञ्चाक्षरमयाय ते

Transliteration

pañcamāya mahāpañcayajñināṃ phaladāya ca pañcāsyaphaṇihārāya pañcākṣaramayāya te

Translation

Verehrung Dir—dem Fünften, der die fünffache Ordnung übersteigt; dem Spender der Frucht für die Vollzieher des großen Pañcayajña; dem, der Schlangenhauben auf seinen fünf Gesichtern trägt; und dem, dessen Wesen das fünfsilbige Mantra ist: „namaḥ śivāya“.

Word by Word

• पञ्चमाय: to the Fifth (the transcendent principle beyond the five)

• महापञ्चयज्ञिनाम्: of those who perform the great five sacrifices

• फलदाय: bestower of results/fruits

• च: and

• पञ्चास्य: five-faced

• फणिहाराय: to the wearer of serpent-hoods/serpents as an ornament

• पञ्चाक्षरमयाय: whose nature is the five-syllabled (mantra)

• ते: to You (salutation implied).

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating a Shiva-stuti within the Linga Purana’s Purva-Bhaga context)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It identifies Shiva as the very essence of the Pañcākṣara (namaḥ śivāya), implying that Linga-puja becomes most potent when united with mantra-japa and devotion to Pati (the Lord) who grants the true fruit of worship.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

Shiva is praised as “the Fifth,” indicating a transcendent reality beyond the fivefold manifested order; as Pati, He dispenses karmic and spiritual results, and as mantra-svarūpa He is directly accessible through the Pañcākṣara.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The verse links Vedic duty (the Mahā-pañca-yajñas) with Shaiva mantra practice, highlighting Pañcākṣara-japa as a core discipline that aligns the Pashu (soul) toward liberation from Pāśa (bondage) under Pati (Shiva).