Shloka 122

Praṇava-Māhātmya and the Twofold Mantra (Sūkṣma–Sthūla) in Śaiva Sādhanā

Devanagari script

गुरूपदेशाज्जाप्यं वै ब्राह्मणानां नमोऽतकम् । पंचाक्षरं पंचलक्षमायुष्यं प्रजपेद्विधिः

Transliteration

gurūpadeśājjāpyaṃ vai brāhmaṇānāṃ namo'takam | paṃcākṣaraṃ paṃcalakṣamāyuṣyaṃ prajapedvidhiḥ

Translation

Having received instruction from the Guru, a Brāhmaṇa should indeed perform japa of the ‘namo’ mantra. According to proper rule, he should recite the five-syllabled (Pañcākṣara) mantra five hundred thousand times for the attainment of long life.

Word by Word

• गुरूपदेशात्: from the guru’s instruction
• गुरूपदेशात्: Hetu (हेतु/Cause/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु + उपदेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (गुरोः उपदेशः)

• जाप्यम्: is to be recited/muttered
• जाप्यम्: Kriya (क्रिया/Obligation)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जप् (धातु) + यत् (कृत्)
• Form: यत्-कृदन्त (gerundive: 'to be muttered'), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphasis)

• ब्राह्मणानाम्: of Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), बहुवचन

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Salutation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययवत्)
• Form: नमः-शब्दः; निपातवत् प्रयोगः (indeclinable interjection of salutation)

• अष्टकम्: octad; set of eight (verses)
• अष्टकम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्टक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• पञ्चाक्षरम्: the five-syllabled (mantra)
• पञ्चाक्षरम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च + अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (पञ्च अक्षराणि यस्मिन्)

• पञ्चलक्षम्: five lakhs (500,000)
• पञ्चलक्षम्: Karma (कर्म/Object/Measure)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च + लक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (five lakhs)

• आयुष्यम्: life-prolonging
• आयुष्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आयुष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying जपम्/पञ्चलक्षम्: life-prolonging)

• प्रजपेत्: should recite
• प्रजपेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + जप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• विधिः: the rule/ordinance (prescription)
• विधिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: As Viśveśvara/Viśvanātha of Kāśī, Śiva is famed as the giver of liberation; this verse’s guru-upadeśa and pañcākṣara-japa align with Kāśī’s identity as a mokṣa-kṣetra where Śiva grants saving knowledge/mantra.

Significance: Japa of pañcākṣara under guru-guidance is presented as a purifier and life-sustainer; in Kāśī-tradition it is also linked to Śiva’s special bestowal of grace leading toward mokṣa.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: (implied) namaḥ śivāya

Type: panchakshara

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It establishes that Shiva-mantra japa becomes spiritually efficacious when received through Guru-upadeśa, and that disciplined repetition of the Pañcākṣara draws Shiva’s grace for purification and life-supporting merit.

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

The Pañcākṣara “Namaḥ Śivāya” is a core Saguna-Shiva practice used alongside Linga worship; japa is presented as a direct devotional approach to Pati (Shiva) that supports ritual worship and inner contemplation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Receive the mantra from a qualified Guru and perform vidhi-based japa of the Pañcākṣara, aiming for a count of five lakhs (500,000) repetitions as a disciplined sādhana for longevity and purification.