Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 25

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

Devanagari script

तस्मादीश्वरवाक्यानि श्रद्धेयानि विपश्चिता । यथार्थपुण्यपापेषु तदश्रद्धो व्रजत्यधः

Transliteration

tasmādīśvaravākyāni śraddheyāni vipaścitā | yathārthapuṇyapāpeṣu tadaśraddho vrajatyadhaḥ

Translation

Darum soll der Weise Vertrauen in die Worte des Herrn (Īśvara) setzen, denn sie sprechen die Wahrheit über Verdienst und Sünde; wer aber ohne solchen Glauben ist, stürzt hinab.

Word by Word

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu/Apādāna-artha (हेतु/अपादानार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya); तस्मात् = ‘therefore/from that’ (ablatival adverbial usage)

• ईश्वर-वाक्यानि: the words of the Lord
• ईश्वर-वाक्यानि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक) + वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (Genitive Tatpurusha): ‘īśvarasya vākyāni’

• श्रद्धेयानि: worthy of faith
• श्रद्धेयानि: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रद्धेय (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √श्रध्/श्रद्धा-करणे + यत्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (predicate adjective)

• विपश्चिता: by the wise (person)
• विपश्चिता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विपश्चित् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; साधन/कर्तृ-निर्देश (by the wise person)

• यथार्थ-पुण्य-पापेषु: in (matters of) true merit and sin
• यथार्थ-पुण्य-पापेषु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यथार्थ (प्रातिपदिक) + पुण्य (प्रातिपदिक) + पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय-समास: ‘यथार्थे (true) पुण्यपापे’ = true merit and sin; अधिकरण (locative)

• तत्: that (person)
• तत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (refers to the person described next)

• अश्रद्धः: faithless
• अश्रद्धः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-श्रद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; नञ्-प्रत्यय (negation)

• व्रजति: goes
• व्रजति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √व्रज् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present); प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अधः: downwards
• अधः: Gati/Deśa (गति/देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अधस् (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya); क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s doctrine to the sages at Naimisharanya, within the Vayu Samhita’s philosophical discourse)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Emphasizes śraddhā in Īśvara-vākya as a safeguard in dharma (puṇya/pāpa discernment); for pilgrims, right trust prevents spiritual ‘falling’ (adhaḥ) into harmful conduct.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that śraddhā (trustful receptivity) toward Īśvara’s instruction is essential for right understanding of puṇya and pāpa and for progress toward liberation; disbelief leads to moral and spiritual decline.

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

In Shaiva practice, Saguna worship (Linga-pūjā) is grounded in trusting Shiva’s revealed guidance; accepting the Lord’s words supports disciplined worship and right conduct, which purify the soul for higher realization.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Cultivate śraddhā through regular japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and steady Shiva-pūjā with sincere adherence to dharma, treating the Lord’s teachings as the standard for what is wholesome and harmful.