Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 24

पञ्चाक्षर-षडक्षरमन्त्र-माहात्म्यम् | The Greatness of the Pañcākṣara/Ṣaḍakṣara Mantra

Devanagari script

अज्ञाताशेषदोषेण सर्वज्ञेय शिवेन यत् । प्रणीतममलं वाक्यं तत्प्रमाणं न संशयः

Transliteration

ajñātāśeṣadoṣeṇa sarvajñeya śivena yat | praṇītamamalaṃ vākyaṃ tatpramāṇaṃ na saṃśayaḥ

Translation

Welche makellose, reine Lehre auch immer von Śiva verfasst wurde — unberührt von jeglichem Fehler und Kenner alles Erkennbaren — eben dieses Wort ist Pramāṇa, maßgeblicher Beweis; daran besteht kein Zweifel.

Word by Word

• अज्ञाताशेषदोषेण: by one with no remaining (unknown) faults
• अज्ञाताशेषदोषेण: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument; agentive instrumental)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अज्ञात + अशेष + दोष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (अज्ञाताः अशेषाः दोषाः यस्य/येन; 'अज्ञात-शेष-दोष' = whose remaining faults are unknown/none); पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया विभक्ति; एकवचन

• सर्वज्ञेय: omniscient (knower of all knowables)
• सर्वज्ञेय: करण-विशेषण (Karaṇa-viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व + ज्ञेय (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (सर्वं ज्ञेयं यस्य/यत्); पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया विभक्ति; एकवचन (agreeing with शिवेन)

• शिवेन: by Śiva
• शिवेन: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument; agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया विभक्ति; एकवचन

• यत्: which/that (which was)
• यत्: सम्बन्ध (Relative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति; एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative pronoun)

• प्रणीतम्: composed/propounded
• प्रणीतम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Karma-viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र + नी (धातु) → प्रणीत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (PPP/क्त); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; एकवचन (qualifying वाक्यम्)

• अमलम्: pure/spotless
• अमलम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Karma-viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अमल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया; एकवचन (qualifying वाक्यम्)

• वाक्यम्: statement/utterance
• वाक्यम्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; एकवचन

• तत्: that
• तत्: कर्ता-सम्बन्ध (Correlative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• प्रमाणम्: authoritative proof
• प्रमाणम्: प्रधानीय-कर्तृ (Predicate nominative/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रमाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; एकवचन

• न: no/not
• न: सम्बन्ध (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध (negation particle)

• संशयः: doubt
• संशयः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject; 'doubt' as subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the authority of Shiva’s teaching to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Frames Śiva’s upadeśa as pramāṇa (authoritative means of knowledge); for pilgrims, śravaṇa/adhyayana of Śiva’s teaching is itself treated as a meritorious act leading toward clarity and liberation.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It establishes Shiva (Pati) as free from all defects and omniscient; therefore his upadeśa is a reliable pramāṇa that leads the bound soul (paśu) beyond bondage (pāśa) toward liberation.

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

Linga and Saguna worship are validated here as trustworthy when they are performed according to Shiva’s own pure injunctions; his words define correct devotion, right ritual, and the intended inner realization.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is to follow Shiva’s prescribed sādhana with faith—especially japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and disciplined Shaiva observances—treating Shiva’s instruction as the guiding authority.