Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 30

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

Devanagari script

वाच्यवाचकभावेन ज्ञातवान्मां महेश्वरम् । ज्ञात्वा प्रयोगं विविधं सिद्धमंत्रः प्रजापतिः

Transliteration

vācyavācakabhāvena jñātavānmāṃ maheśvaram | jñātvā prayogaṃ vividhaṃ siddhamaṃtraḥ prajāpatiḥ

Translation

Durch das Verhältnis von Ausgesagtem und Aussagendem (Bedeutung und Wort) erkannte Prajāpati Mich, Maheśvara. Nachdem er die vielfältigen Anwendungen des Mantras verstanden hatte, wurde er im Mantra vollendet und erlangte Mantra-Siddhi.

Word by Word

• वाच्यवाचकभावेन: by the (expressed–expresser) relation
• वाच्यवाचकभावेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाच्य + वाचक + भाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (वाच्यश्च वाचकश्च) + भाव; ‘by the relation of expressed and expresser’

• ज्ञातवान्: (he) came to know
• ज्ञातवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: क्तवतु-प्रत्ययान्त (perfect participle/agentive), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘having known’

• माम्: me
• माम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• महेश्वरम्: Mahēśvara (the Great Lord)
• महेश्वरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (महान् ईश्वरः)

• ज्ञात्वा: having understood
• ज्ञात्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having known’

• प्रयोगम्: application/usage
• प्रयोगम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रयोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• विविधम्: various
• विविधम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; प्रयोगम् इति विशेषणम्

• सिद्धमन्त्रः: one with a perfected mantra
• सिद्धमन्त्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिद्ध + मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (सिद्धः मन्त्रः यस्य/सिद्धमन्त्रः)

• प्रजापतिः: Prajāpati
• प्रजापतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (प्रजानां पतिः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Mantra Metadata

Type: panchakshara

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahma

FAQs

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

It teaches that realization of Śiva (Pati) can arise through disciplined understanding of mantra—where sound (vācaka) and meaning (vācya) unite—leading the bound soul toward liberation by Śiva’s grace.

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

Mantra is a saguna support: by correct grasp of its meaning and ritual application, the worshipper’s mind is stabilized on Maheśvara, and mantra becomes a living means to approach Śiva as the accessible Lord (often worshipped in the Liṅga).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice japa with clear understanding of the mantra’s meaning and proper prayoga (nyāsa, purity, concentration); this is the implied path toward mantra-siddhi rather than mere mechanical repetition.