Shloka 34

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

Devanagari script

पंचाक्षरजपेनैव सर्वसिद्धिं लभेन्नरः । प्रणवेनादिसंयुक्तं सदा पंचाक्षरं जपेत्

Transliteration

paṃcākṣarajapenaiva sarvasiddhiṃ labhennaraḥ | praṇavenādisaṃyuktaṃ sadā paṃcākṣaraṃ japet

Translation

By the japa of the five-syllabled mantra alone, a person attains every spiritual accomplishment. Therefore one should always repeat the five-syllabled mantra joined with the Pranava “Oṁ” at its beginning.

Word by Word

• पञ्चाक्षरजपेन: by the japa of the five-syllabled (mantra)
• पञ्चाक्षरजपेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्चाक्षर-जप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/Instrumental), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पञ्चाक्षरस्य जपः)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय; एव = emphasis/only

• सर्वसिद्धिम्: all accomplishment(s)
• सर्वसिद्धिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व-सिद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (सर्वा सिद्धिः)

• लभेत्: may obtain
• लभेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• नरः: a man/person
• नरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता/Nominative), एकवचन

• प्रणवेन: with/using the praṇava (Oṃ)
• प्रणवेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रणव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/Instrumental), एकवचन

• आदिसंयुक्तम्: joined with the praṇava at the beginning
• आदिसंयुक्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आदि-संयुक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः तत्पुरुषः (आदिना संयुक्तम् = joined with the beginning/prefix)

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• पञ्चाक्षरम्: the five-syllabled (mantra)
• पञ्चाक्षरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च-अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः द्विगुः (पञ्च अक्षराणि यस्य)

• जपेत्: should recite (as japa)
• जपेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Promises sarva-siddhi through pañcākṣara-japa, a standard pan-Śaiva claim motivating sustained practice at home or in kṣetras.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: oṃ 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 declares the Panchakshara (Namaḥ Śivāya) as a complete Shaiva sadhana: through steady japa, the devotee gains siddhi culminating in Shiva’s grace and liberation.

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

The mantra is the sonic form of Shiva used in Saguna worship (including Linga-puja); by prefixing Oṁ, the devotee aligns the practice with the supreme principle (Pati) while remaining anchored in devotional approach.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Daily mantra-japa of “Oṁ Namaḥ Śivāya” (Panchakshara with Pranava), performed consistently as a disciplined practice, ideally alongside Shaiva observances such as purity, devotion, and focused meditation.