Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 12

पञ्चाक्षरमाहात्म्यम् / The Greatness of the Pañcākṣarī (Five-Syllable) Mantra

Devanagari script

तस्मान्नित्यं शिवं भक्त्या सूक्तमन्त्रेण पूजयेत् । एककालं द्विकालं वा त्रिकालं नित्यमेव वा

Transliteration

tasmānnityaṃ śivaṃ bhaktyā sūktamantreṇa pūjayet | ekakālaṃ dvikālaṃ vā trikālaṃ nityameva vā

Translation

Darum soll man Śiva täglich in Hingabe (Bhakti) verehren, mit wohlgesprochenen Hymnen (Sūkta) und Mantras. Diese Verehrung kann einmal, zweimal oder dreimal am Tag geschehen—ja sogar fortwährend als tägliche heilige Übung.

Word by Word

• tasmāt: therefore/from that
• tasmāt: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुं), Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन); pronoun

• nityam: always
• nityam: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nitya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverbial accusative (क्रियाविशेषण-रूपेण द्वितीया), ‘always’

• śivam: Śiva
• śivam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• bhaktyā: with devotion
• bhaktyā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• sūkta-mantreṇa: with a well-spoken hymn/mantra
• sūkta-mantreṇa: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūkta (प्रातिपदिक) + mantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष sense: ‘a mantra that is well-spoken (sūkta)’

• pūjayet: should worship
• pūjayet: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √pūj (पूज् धातु)
• Form: Optative/benedictive mood (विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• eka-kālam: once (a day)/for one time-period
• eka-kālam: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक) + kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva compound used adverbially; Accusative singular form functioning as adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• dvi-kālam: twice (a day)
• dvi-kālam: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: dvi (प्रातिपदिक) + kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva compound used adverbially; ‘twice’

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Disjunctive particle (विकल्प-निपात)

• tri-kālam: thrice (a day)
• tri-kālam: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tri (प्रातिपदिक) + kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyayībhāva compound used adverbially; ‘thrice’

• nityam: always
• nityam: Kriya-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nitya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha/Emphasis (सम्बन्ध/निपातार्थ)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), emphasis

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Disjunctive particle (विकल्प-निपात)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Establishes nitya-upāsanā as sustaining sādhana: regular worship (once/twice/thrice daily) stabilizes devotion and prepares the paśu for Śiva’s grace.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: dhupa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It establishes nitya-pūjā (daily worship) as a core Shaiva discipline: steady bhakti expressed through mantra and hymns purifies the bound soul (paśu) and orients it toward Śiva (Pati), loosening the bonds (pāśa) through regular devotion.

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

The instruction to worship Śiva with mantra and suktas aligns with Saguna upāsanā—approaching Śiva through accessible forms such as the Śiva-liṅga, accompanied by recitation and devotional praise as the primary means of daily connection.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It recommends a consistent schedule of worship—once, twice, or thrice daily—centered on mantra-japa and stotra recitation; this can be integrated with standard Shaiva nitya-kriyā such as simple liṅga-arcana, offering water, and meditative remembrance of Śiva.