Shloka 39

Devanagari script

अथ पंचाक्षरं नित्यं जपेदयुतमादरात् । संध्ययोश्च सहस्रं वा ज्ञेयं शिवपदप्रदम्

Transliteration

atha paṃcākṣaraṃ nityaṃ japedayutamādarāt | saṃdhyayośca sahasraṃ vā jñeyaṃ śivapadapradam

Translation

Therefore, one should constantly recite the five-syllabled mantra with reverence—ten thousand times; or else, at the two twilight junctions (dawn and dusk), one thousand times. This is to be known as the practice that bestows the state (abode) of Śiva.

Word by Word

• अथ: now/then
• अथ: Particle (अव्यय-प्रयोग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: Discourse particle (अथ)

• पञ्च-अक्षरम्: the five-syllable (mantra)
• पञ्च-अक्षरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च (प्रातिपदिक) + अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2/द्वितीया), Singular; dvigu compound ‘five-syllabled (mantra)’

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adverbial accusative (क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण द्वितीया) ‘always’

• जपेत्: should recite
• जपेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √जप् (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्/optative), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; parasmaipada

• अयुतम्: ten thousand (times)
• अयुतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अयुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; measure/number object of japa

• आदरात्: from reverence; earnestly
• आदरात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Ablative (5/पञ्चमी), Singular; ‘out of reverence/with earnestness’

• संध्ययोः: of the two sandhyās
• संध्ययोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संध्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Genitive (6/षष्ठी), Dual; ‘of the two twilights’ (morning & evening)

• च: and
• च: Particle (अव्यय-प्रयोग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• सहस्रम्: a thousand (times)
• सहस्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular; alternative count for japa

• वा: or
• वा: Particle (अव्यय-प्रयोग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: Disjunctive particle (विकल्प)

• ज्ञेयम्: is to be known (as)
• ज्ञेयम्: Kriya (क्रिया-विशेषण/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञेय (कृदन्त, √ज्ञा)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular; gerundive (तव्यत्/यत्) ‘to be known/considered’

• शिव-पद-प्रदम्: granting Śiva’s state
• शिव-पद-प्रदम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + पद (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular; ‘giver of the state/abode of Śiva’ qualifying (पञ्चाक्षरम्)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadashiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Daily pañcākṣarī-japa is presented as a direct sādhana for attaining Śivapada (liberation/Śiva-sāyujya), functioning as an inner pilgrimage where mantra replaces physical travel.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: (oṃ) namaḥ śivāya

Type: panchakshara

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that disciplined, reverent japa of the Pañcākṣara (Namaḥ Śivāya) is a direct sādhana for attaining Śiva-pada—union with the Lord’s grace and liberation in the Shaiva Siddhanta sense.

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

The Pañcākṣara is the mantra-form of Saguna Śiva worship; japa performed daily—especially at dawn and dusk—functions like inner linga-pūjā, focusing the mind on Śiva as the accessible Lord who grants grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Daily Pañcākṣara mantra-japa: either 10,000 repetitions regularly, or 1,000 repetitions at both sandhyās (morning and evening), done with ādarā (reverence) as a focused meditative discipline.