Shloka 7

कैवल्याख्या पंचमी च दुर्लभा सर्वथा नृणाम् । तल्लक्षणं प्रवक्ष्यामि श्रूयतामृषिसत्तमाः

kaivalyākhyā paṃcamī ca durlabhā sarvathā nṛṇām | tallakṣaṇaṃ pravakṣyāmi śrūyatāmṛṣisattamāḥ

The lunar fifth day known as “Kaivalyā” (leading to liberation) is indeed exceedingly rare for human beings. I shall now declare its distinguishing marks—listen, O best of sages.

कैवल्याख्याcalled ‘Kaivalya’
कैवल्याख्या:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootकैवल्य-आख्या (प्रातिपदिक; कैवल्य ‘liberation’ + आख्या ‘named/called’)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कृदन्त-क्त (आख्या = √ख्या/आ-√ख्या ‘to call’ से) विशेषण
पञ्चमीthe fifth (tithi/observance)
पञ्चमी:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootपञ्चमी (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन
and
:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चयबोधक अव्यय
दुर्लभाrare, hard to obtain
दुर्लभा:
Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/with implied ‘is’)
TypeAdjective
Rootदुर्लभ (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण
सर्वथाin every way
सर्वथा:
Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootसर्वथा (अव्यय)
Formप्रकारवाचक अव्यय (adverb: in every way)
नृणाम्of men, of humans
नृणाम्:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
TypeNoun
Rootनृ (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन
तत्that
तत्:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/demonstrative)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम
लक्षणम्characteristic, definition
लक्षणम्:
Karma (कर्म/Object)
TypeNoun
Rootलक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन
प्रवक्ष्यामिI shall explain
प्रवक्ष्यामि:
Kriyā (क्रिया/finite verb)
TypeVerb
Rootप्र-√वच् (धातु)
Formलृट् (Simple Future), परस्मैपद, उत्तमपुरुष (1st), एकवचन
श्रूयताम्let (it) be heard; please listen
श्रूयताम्:
Kriyā (क्रिया/imperative)
TypeVerb
Root√श्रु (धातु)
Formलोट् (Imperative), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; आज्ञार्थे ‘let it be heard / please listen’
ऋषिसत्तमाःO best of sages
ऋषिसत्तमाः:
Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/vocative)
TypeNoun
Rootऋषि-सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक; ऋषि ‘sage’ + सत्तम ‘best’)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; सम्बोधनार्थे (vocative sense though form = nominative plural)

Suta Goswami

Tattva Level: pashu

Significance: Marks an auspicious, rare pañcamī conducive to Śiva-upāsanā aimed at kaivalya (release from pāśa), emphasizing the scarcity of such liberating occasions for embodied souls.

Role: liberating

FAQs

It elevates a specific sacred time (Kaivalyā Pañcamī) as a rare opportunity for humans, implying that right timing joined with Shaiva devotion can accelerate purification and liberation-oriented practice.

By announcing the ‘marks’ of Kaivalyā Pañcamī, the text prepares the listener for prescribed observances typically centered on Saguna Shiva—Linga worship, vrata discipline, and devotion—which in Shaiva Siddhanta become means toward the grace that culminates in moksha.

The verse signals an upcoming vrata guideline for Pañcamī; the practical takeaway is to observe the prescribed tithi with Shiva-focused worship—japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), Linga-pūjā, and disciplined conduct—when the text defines its lakṣaṇas.