Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 57

पाशुपतव्रतविधिः | The Procedure of the Supreme Pāśupata Vow

Devanagari script

कृत्वा च कारयित्वा च हित्वा च प्रतिपूजनम् । स्तोत्रं व्यपोहनं जप्त्वा विद्यां पञ्चाक्षरीं जपेत्

Transliteration

kṛtvā ca kārayitvā ca hitvā ca pratipūjanam | stotraṃ vyapohanaṃ japtvā vidyāṃ pañcākṣarīṃ japet

Translation

Having performed the prescribed rites oneself—or had them performed—and having set aside the counter-worship done for the removal of obstacles, one should first recite the ‘Vyapohana’ stotra for purification. Then one should repeat the five-syllabled Vidyā (mantra)—the Pañcākṣarī—devoted to Śiva.

Word by Word

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive), from √कृ; ‘having done’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• कारयित्वा: having caused to be done
• कारयित्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कारय् (णिजन्त धातु) < कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund), causative (णिजन्त) of √कृ; ‘having caused (to be done)’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• हित्वा: having abandoned
• हित्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund) from √हा (to abandon); ‘having abandoned’

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• प्रतिपूजनम्: counter-worship / reciprocal honoring
• प्रतिपूजनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रति-पूजन (प्रातिपदिक) < पूज् (धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative/Nominative Singular); उपसर्गपूर्वक तत्पुरुष-समास: प्रति + पूजन

• स्तोत्रम्: hymn
• स्तोत्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्तोत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative/Nominative Singular)

• व्यपोहनम्: removal / dispelling
• व्यपोहनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यपोहन (प्रातिपदिक) < अप-उह् (धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा एकवचन (Neuter, Accusative/Nominative Singular); उपसर्गसमास: वि + अपोहन

• जप्त्वा: having recited
• जप्त्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जप् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund) from √जप्; ‘having recited’

• विद्याम्: mantra/vidyā
• विद्याम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (Feminine, Accusative Singular)

• पञ्चाक्षरीम्: five-syllabled
• पञ्चाक्षरीम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च-अक्षरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (Feminine, Accusative Singular); द्विगु-समास: पञ्च + अक्षरी; विशेषणम् of ‘विद्याम्’

• जपेत्: should recite
• जपेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन (3rd person singular); ‘should recite’

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Vāyavīya teaching to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadashiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Liturgical pivot from external pūjā to internal mantra-sādhana; not a Jyotirliṅga legend.

Significance: Establishes the Pañcākṣarī as the core Śaiva vidyā for purification and grace; recitation after removing impediments aligns the paśu toward pati through anugraha.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: नमः शिवाय (Namaḥ Śivāya)

Type: panchakshara

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches right order in sādhana: purification and removal of impediments first, then steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī. In Shaiva Siddhanta terms, this supports the soul (paśu) in loosening bonds (pāśa) through disciplined devotion to Śiva (Pati).

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

The verse assumes a ritual framework—acts done personally or through a priest, hymns for cleansing, and then mantra-japa—typical of Saguna Śiva worship (often centered on the Liṅga). The Pañcākṣarī focuses the mind and offering toward Śiva as the accessible Lord who grants grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Recite a purificatory hymn (Vyapohana stotra) and then perform japa of the Pañcākṣarī Vidyā (commonly understood as ‘Namaḥ Śivāya’). The emphasis is on preparatory purity and uninterrupted repetition rather than merely external ceremony.