Shloka 62

Devanagari script

वाच्यवाचकसम्बन्धान्मिथुनत्वमुपेयुषि । कलावर्णस्वरूपेऽस्मिन्पञ्चके भूतपञ्चकम्

Transliteration

vācyavācakasambandhānmithunatvamupeyuṣi | kalāvarṇasvarūpe'sminpañcake bhūtapañcakam

Translation

Through the relation between the expressed meaning (vācya) and the expressing word (vācaka), a paired unity is formed. In this pentad—whose nature is kalā (power/measure), varṇa (phoneme), and svarūpa (essential form)—the five great elements are also present as a fivefold set.

Word by Word

• vācya-vācaka-sambandhāt: from the relation of the denoted and the denoter
• vācya-vācaka-sambandhāt: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vācya (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + vācaka (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + sambandha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान), एकवचन; समासः: वाच्य-वाचकयोः सम्बन्धः (genitive relation inside; ablative outside)

• mithunatvam: pairedness/duality
• mithunatvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mithuna (प्रातिपदिक) + tva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भाववाचक

• upeyuṣi: in (that) which has attained
• upeyuṣi: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: upa-i (धातु) → upeta/upeyuṣ (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, perfect active participle)
• Form: सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग सम्भाव्य; विशेषणम् (अस्मिन्/पञ्चके प्रति): ‘in that which has attained’

• kalā-varṇa-svarūpe: in the nature/form of kalās and varṇas
• kalā-varṇa-svarūpe: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kalā (प्रातिपदिक) + varṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + svarūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; समासः (तत्पुरुषः): कलानां वर्णानां स्वरूपे

• asmin: in this
• asmin: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• pañcake: in the pentad/group of five
• pañcake: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pañcaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; ‘group of five’

• bhūta-pañcakam: the five elements
• bhūta-pañcakam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūta (प्रातिपदिक) + pañcaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः: भूतानां पञ्चकम्

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Kailāsa-saṃhitā teaching to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that manifested reality is structured through the inseparable pairing of sound/word and meaning, and that the same fivefold principles also carry the five elements—pointing to Shiva as the underlying consciousness that orders both language (mantra) and matter (bhūtas).

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

In Shaiva practice, the Liṅga is approached through mantra and ritual forms: this verse frames why mantra (varṇa) and form (svarūpa) are not separate from the elemental cosmos, making Saguna worship a valid doorway to realizing Shiva as Pati beyond names and forms.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Mantra-japa with precise attention to varṇa (sound) and artha (meaning)—especially the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—paired with contemplative awareness that the five elements in the body and world are pervaded by Shiva.