Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 10

पञ्चाक्षर-षडक्षरमन्त्र-माहात्म्यम् | The Greatness of the Pañcākṣara/Ṣaḍakṣara Mantra

Devanagari script

वाच्यश्शिवोप्रमेयत्वान्मंत्रस्तद्वाचकस्स्मृतः । वाच्यवाचकभावो ऽयमनादिसंस्थितस्तयोः

Transliteration

vācyaśśivoprameyatvānmaṃtrastadvācakassmṛtaḥ | vācyavācakabhāvo 'yamanādisaṃsthitastayoḥ

Translation

Because Śiva, as the meaning to be expressed (vācya), is immeasurable, the mantra is remembered as that which expresses Him (vācaka). This relation of “expressed” and “expressing” between the two is established from beginningless time.

Word by Word

• वाच्यः: the signified (referent)
• वाच्यः: Visheshya-predicate (विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाच्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणरूपेण (as predicate adjective)

• शिवः: Śiva
• शिवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृ/विषय (topic)

• अप्रमेयत्वात्: because of (his) being immeasurable/unknowable
• अप्रमेयत्वात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ + प्रमेय + त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; हेतौ (ablative of cause)

• मन्त्रः: the mantra
• मन्त्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृपद (subject)

• तत्: that (i.e., him)
• तत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा एकवचन-रूप; अत्र समासपूर्वपदम् (as prior member in compound) referring to ‘Śiva’

• वाचकः: signifier/denoter
• वाचकः: Visheshya-predicate (विधेय-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाचक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषणम् of मन्त्रः

• स्मृतः: is regarded (as)
• स्मृतः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोगार्थः—‘is considered/remembered’

• वाच्यवाचकभावः: the signified–signifier relation
• वाच्यवाचकभावः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाच्य + वाचक + भाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृपद (subject)

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; निर्देश (demonstrative)

• अनादि: beginningless
• अनादि: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनादि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत्-प्रयोग (indeclinable-like) as upapada in compound; ‘beginningless’

• संस्थितः: is established
• संस्थितः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘is established/exists’

• तयोः: of the two (signified and signifier)
• तयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/षष्ठी), द्विवचन; सम्बन्ध (genitive)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadashiva

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that mantra is not merely sound but a beginningless, sacred means that points to Śiva, the immeasurable Reality (Pati). By holding the mantra, the seeker aligns consciousness with Śiva’s presence and moves toward liberation.

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

Just as the Liṅga is a sacred sign through which devotees approach the transcendent Śiva, the mantra is the verbal sign that expresses Him. Both function as accessible supports (upāya) for approaching the immeasurable, beyond-form Lord.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Regular japa and dhyāna on Śiva-mantras—especially the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya)—with disciplined repetition and inner contemplation of Śiva as the mantra’s meaning.