Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 26

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

Devanagari script

तन्नाभिपंकजाज्जातः पञ्चवक्त्रः पितामहः । सिसृक्षमाणो लोकांस्त्रीन्न सक्तो ह्यसहायवान्

Transliteration

tannābhipaṃkajājjātaḥ pañcavaktraḥ pitāmahaḥ | sisṛkṣamāṇo lokāṃstrīnna sakto hyasahāyavān

Translation

Aus dem Nabel-Lotos jenes Herrn wurde der Ahnvater geboren, Brahmā, der Fünfgesichtige. Doch obwohl er die drei Welten erschaffen wollte, vermochte er es nicht, denn er war ohne Stütze—ohne Gnade und Kraft des höchsten Herrn.

Word by Word

• तत्-नाभि-पङ्कजात्: from that (Nārāyaṇa’s) navel-lotus
• तत्-नाभि-पङ्कजात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम) + नाभि + पङ्कज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (पङ्कज), पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; अपादान; समासः (तस्य नाभिः; तस्याः/तस्य नाभेः पङ्कजम्; तस्मात्)

• जातः: born, arisen
• जातः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भावे/कर्मणि-प्रयोगार्थः; ‘उत्पन्नः’

• पञ्चवक्त्रः: five-faced
• पञ्चवक्त्रः: Karta-anvayi (कर्तृसमन्वयी विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च + वक्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; पितामह-विशेषण; द्विगु-समास (पञ्च वक्त्राणि यस्य)

• पितामहः: the Grandfather (Brahmā)
• पितामहः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितामह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• सिसृक्षमाणः: desiring to create
• सिसृक्षमाणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सृज् (धातु)
• Form: सन्नन्त-धातु (सि-सृक्ष- from √सृज्) + शानच् (present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि; ‘स्रष्टुमिच्छन्’

• लोकान्: worlds
• लोकान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन

• त्रीन्: three
• त्रीन्: Karma-anvayi (कर्मसमन्वयी विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन; लोकान्-विशेषण

• न: not
• न: Nishedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation particle)

• सक्तः: able/attached (here: engaged/competent)
• सक्तः: Karta-anvayi (कर्तृसमन्वयी विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सञ्ज्/सक्त (प्रातिपदिक; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त from √सञ्ज्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; पितामह-विशेषण; ‘आसक्तः/लग्नः’

• हि: indeed, for
• हि: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle), हेत्वर्थ/समर्थन (for/indeed)

• असहायवान्: without assistance, having no helper
• असहायवान्: Karta-anvayi (कर्तृसमन्वयी विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + सहायवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; पितामह-विशेषण; नञ्-समास/उपसर्ग-निषेध (without helper)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: secondary creation setup: Brahmā’s birth from navel-lotus; inability to create without higher sanction

Characters & Entities

• Brahma

FAQs

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

It teaches that cosmic power is not autonomous: even Brahmā’s urge to create succeeds only when supported by the Supreme Pati (Shiva), highlighting divine grace as the true enabler behind all action.

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

By showing Brahmā’s dependence on higher support, the verse points devotees to Saguna Shiva (worshiped as the Linga) as the sustaining Lord whose presence empowers creation, preservation, and dissolution.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Cultivate humility and reliance on Shiva’s grace through japa of the Panchakshara—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—and offer worship to the Linga, praying that all endeavors be aligned with and empowered by the Lord.