Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 34

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

Devanagari script

आदायाभ्यंतरं नीत्वा ह्यस्त्रमुद्वासयेत्ततः । प्रदक्षिणादिकं कृत्वा यथापूर्वोदितं क्रमात्

Transliteration

ādāyābhyaṃtaraṃ nītvā hyastramudvāsayettataḥ | pradakṣiṇādikaṃ kṛtvā yathāpūrvoditaṃ kramāt

Translation

Nachdem er die Verehrungsgeräte genommen und nach innen gebracht hat, soll er sodann die rituelle Entlassung (udvāsana) der angerufenen göttlichen Kraft, des astra, vollziehen. Danach, nach pradakṣiṇā (Umwandlung im Uhrzeigersinn) und den übrigen Abschlussriten, soll er genau in der zuvor dargelegten Reihenfolge fortfahren.

Word by Word

• आदाय: having taken
• आदाय: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ-दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund): ‘having taken’

• अभ्यन्तरम्: to the interior; inside
• अभ्यन्तरम्: Gati/Karma (गति/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभ्यन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; गत्यर्थे—‘inside (to the interior)’

• नीत्वा: having brought
• नीत्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नी (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund): ‘having led/brought’

• हि: indeed
• हि: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), बल/हेतुबोधक (emphasis/indeed)

• अस्त्रम्: the (ritual) weapon/mantra-weapon (astra)
• अस्त्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (n.), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• उद्वासयेत्: should dismiss (ritually)
• उद्वासयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्-वासय् (धातु; causative of वस्/वास)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; हेतुमति/णिच् (causative): ‘should dismiss/expel’

• ततः: then
• ततः: Anukrama (अनुक्रम)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रम/अपादानवाचक अव्यय (then; thereafter)

• प्रदक्षिण-आदिकम्: circumambulation and the like
• प्रदक्षिण-आदिकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रदक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: प्रदक्षिणा आदिः यस्य/प्रदक्षिणादि (etc. beginning with circumambulation)

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund): ‘having done’

• यथा: as; according to
• यथा: Prakāra (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (as; according to)

• पूर्व-उदितम्: previously stated
• पूर्व-उदितम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + उदित (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: पूर्वं उदितम् (previously stated)

• क्रमात्: in order; sequentially
• क्रमात्: Prakāra (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.) पञ्चमी (Ablative/5th), एकवचन; अव्ययीभावार्थे—‘in due order/step by step’ (ablative used adverbially)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: The ‘udvāsana’ (formal withdrawal) underscores that the Lord is not confined to the rite; it trains the worshipper to recognize Śiva’s transcendence beyond invoked forms.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches ritual mindfulness and inner discipline: divine presence is invoked with reverence and then respectfully withdrawn, so worship ends in orderliness, purity, and steadiness of mind—qualities that support Shaiva Siddhanta’s path of grace and liberation.

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

In linga worship, protective mantras and sanctifying rites are performed around the Saguna form; this verse emphasizes the proper completion—dismissing the protective astra and offering pradakṣiṇa—so the devotee seals the worship with devotion and correct procedure.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Conclude puja by withdrawing invoked mantra-forces (udvāsana), then perform pradakṣiṇa and other closing acts in the prescribed sequence—an outward ritual that mirrors inward recollection and calm completion of japa or dhyāna.