Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 24

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

Devanagari script

ततस्सृष्टिरभून्मत्तः प्रकृत्यात्मप्रभेदतः । गुणमूर्त्यात्मनां चैव ततोवांतरसंहृतिः

Transliteration

tatassṛṣṭirabhūnmattaḥ prakṛtyātmaprabhedataḥ | guṇamūrtyātmanāṃ caiva tatovāṃtarasaṃhṛtiḥ

Translation

Dann ging aus Mir die Schöpfung hervor — durch die Unterscheidung von Prakṛti und dem individuellen Ātman. Und für die verkörperten Wesen, die aus den Guṇa bestehen, folgt daraufhin auch eine Zwischenauflösung (teilweise Rückaufnahme).

Word by Word

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्यय-प्रकारः: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• सृष्टिः: creation
• सृष्टिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• अभूत्: came to be, arose
• अभूत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लुङ्-लकार (Aorist/Past), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• मत्तः: from me
• मत्तः: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; अपादान (ablative)

• प्रकृति-आत्म-प्रभेदतः: due to the differentiation of Prakriti and Self
• प्रकृति-आत्म-प्रभेदतः: Hetu (हेतु/निमित्त)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रकृति + आत्मन् + प्रभेद + तस् (प्रातिपदिक + अव्यय-प्रत्यय)
• Form: समासान्त-अव्यय (तस्-प्रत्ययान्त); अव्यय-प्रकारः: हेतौ/प्रकारे (by reason of / according to); समासः बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (प्रकृतेः आत्मनः प्रभेदः)

• गुणमूर्ति-आत्मनाम्: of the selves/essences that are embodiments of the guṇas
• गुणमूर्ति-आत्मनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण + मूर्ति + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (आत्मन्), षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध (genitive); समासः (गुणमूर्तिः = गुणैः मूर्तिः/गुणमयी मूर्तिः; तस्य आत्मानः)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed, just
• एव: Avadharana (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (particle of emphasis)

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• अन्तरसंहृतिः: intermediate dissolution/withdrawal
• अन्तरसंहृतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तर + संहृति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुष (अन्तरे संहृतिः / अन्तर-सम्बद्धा संहृतिः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadyojāta

Shakti Dimension

Role: creative

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: sṛṣṭi followed by avāntara-saṃhṛti (intermediate/partial dissolution) within cyclic cosmology

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Prakriti
• Atman
• Gunas

FAQs

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

It teaches that Shiva (Pati) is the ultimate source of both manifestation and withdrawal: creation unfolds through Prakṛti and the jīva’s distinction, and beings bound to the guṇas undergo periodic, partial dissolutions—pointing to liberation as transcendence of guṇa-bondage under Shiva’s grace.

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

Linga worship centers the devotee on Shiva as the ground of creation and dissolution. Saguna worship purifies the mind within the guṇas, while the Linga signifies the Lord beyond guṇas—helping the seeker move from guna-bound identity toward recognition of Shiva as the supreme Pati.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with meditation on Shiva as the source and reabsorber of all tattvas, supported by Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrāksha as disciplines for loosening guṇa-driven attachments.