Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 12

पञ्चाक्षरीविद्यायाḥ कलियुगे मोक्षोपायः | The Pañcākṣarī Vidyā as a Means of Liberation in Kali Yuga

Devanagari script

सो ऽपि गच्छेन्मम स्थानं मन्त्रस्यास्यैव गौरवात् । तस्मात्तपांसि यज्ञाश्च व्रतानि नियमास्तथा

Transliteration

so 'pi gacchenmama sthānaṃ mantrasyāsyaiva gauravāt | tasmāttapāṃsi yajñāśca vratāni niyamāstathā

Translation

Selbst er würde meine Stätte erreichen, allein durch die Erhabenheit dieses Mantras. Darum sind Askesen, Opfer, Gelübde und Disziplinen (so zu verstehen, dass sie) durch dieses vollendet und zur Vollkommenheit geführt werden.

Word by Word

• सः: he
• सः: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: सम्बन्ध/प्रसङ्गसूचक (Addition)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अपवाद (also/even)

• गच्छेत्: should go
• गच्छेत्: क्रिया (Verb/आख्यात)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गम् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• मम: my
• मम: सम्बन्ध (Genitive/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• स्थानम्: abode/place
• स्थानम्: कर्म (Karma/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• मन्त्रस्य: of the mantra
• मन्त्रस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• अस्य: of this
• अस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: सम्बन्ध/अवधारण (Restriction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (only/indeed)

• गौरवात्: due to the greatness
• गौरवात्: अपादान (Apādāna/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गौरव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/अपादान), एकवचन; हेतौ (ablative of cause: due to)

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: सम्बन्ध/हेतु (Inference marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तस्मात् (अव्यय/तद्-तसिल्)
• Form: अव्यय; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त (ablatival adverb: therefore/from that)

• तपांसि: austerities
• तपांसि: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• यज्ञाः: sacrifices
• यज्ञाः: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय (Coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (and)

• व्रतानि: vows
• व्रतानि: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• नियमाः: observances
• नियमाः: कर्ता (Karta/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नियम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• तथा: likewise/and so
• तथा: सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय (Coordination/manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/प्रकारवाचक (thus/likewise)

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: नमः शिवाय (Namaḥ Śivāya)

Type: panchakshara

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It declares the supreme potency of Shiva’s mantra: by its inherent glory, a seeker can reach Shiva’s abode, showing that grace-filled mantra-japa can consummate the fruits of tapas, yajna, vrata, and niyama.

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

In Saguna worship, mantra is the living presence of Shiva invoked in Linga-puja; the verse emphasizes that sincere japa and devotion to Shiva’s invoked form leads to communion with Shiva and attainment of His realm.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Prioritize regular mantra-japa with disciplined observances (niyama) and supportive vows (vrata); treat tapas and worship as auxiliaries that culminate in focused remembrance of Shiva through the mantra.