Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 22
पञ्चाक्षर-षडक्षरमन्त्र-माहात्म्यम् | The Greatness of the Pañcākṣara/Ṣaḍakṣara Mantra
यद्यथावस्थितं वस्तु गुणदोषैः स्वभावतः । यावत्फलं च तत्पूर्णं सर्वज्ञस्तु यथा वदेत्
yadyathāvasthitaṃ vastu guṇadoṣaiḥ svabhāvataḥ | yāvatphalaṃ ca tatpūrṇaṃ sarvajñastu yathā vadet
Ein Ding soll genau so beschrieben werden, wie es besteht—gemäß seiner angeborenen Natur, mit seinen Vorzügen und Mängeln—und ebenso mit dem vollen Umfang seiner Frucht, wie es ein Allwissender verkünden würde.
Suta Goswami (narrating the Shiva Purana discourse to the sages at Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pashu
Role: teaching
FAQs
It teaches spiritual integrity: to know and speak of any subject as it truly is—its nature, merits, defects, and consequences—so that knowledge becomes purifying and aligned with Shiva as the Lord of true wisdom (Pati).
Linga-worship emphasizes seeing Shiva’s presence in reality without distortion; this verse supports that discipline by urging accurate discernment (viveka) and truthful articulation, which stabilizes devotion and understanding of Saguna Shiva while pointing toward the highest truth.
Practice sattvic speech and self-review: before japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” reflect on actions and intentions in terms of guṇa (merit) and doṣa (fault), and offer both to Shiva with humility—supporting steadiness in japa, bhasma-dhāraṇa, and daily purity.