Shloka 155

Devanagari script

पंचाक्षरेण जप्तं च तोयमन्नं विदुः सुखम् । अथवाऽहुर्दरिद्र स्य भिक्षान्नंज्ञानदं भवेत्

Transliteration

paṃcākṣareṇa japtaṃ ca toyamannaṃ viduḥ sukham | athavā'hurdaridra sya bhikṣānnaṃjñānadaṃ bhavet

Translation

Water and food over which the Pañcākṣara, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” has been recited are known to become a source of well-being and inner ease. Moreover, it is said that even a poor person’s begged food, when sanctified, can become a giver of spiritual understanding.

Word by Word

• pañca-akṣareṇa: with the five-syllabled (mantra)
• pañca-akṣareṇa: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pañca (संख्या/प्रातिपदिक) + akṣara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु समास: पञ्च अक्शराणि यस्य/येन; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; instrumental (with the five-syllabled mantra)

• japtam: recited/enchanted
• japtam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: japta (कृदन्त from √jap)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; qualifying toyam/annam

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• toyam: water
• toyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: toya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• annam: food
• annam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• viduḥ: they know/consider
• viduḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vid (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद; 'they know/consider'

• sukham: pleasant; good
• sukham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; predicate-object complement: 'as pleasant/beneficial'

• athavā: or else
• athavā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: athavā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक अव्यय (disjunctive particle)

• āhuḥ: they say
• āhuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ah (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद; 'they say'

• daridrasya: of a poor man
• daridrasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daridra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; genitive: 'of a poor person'

• bhikṣā-annam: alms-food
• bhikṣā-annam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhikṣā (प्रातिपदिक) + anna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: भिक्षायाः अन्नम्; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; subject of bhavet

• jñāna-dam: giving knowledge
• jñāna-dam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jñāna (प्रातिपदिक) + da (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: ज्ञानं ददाति इति; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; predicate adjective

• bhavet: would be/becomes
• bhavet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; 'may be/would be'

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Sanctification (saṃskāra) of daily necessities by mantra turns ordinary consumption into sādhana, supporting purity and receptivity to grace.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: oṃ namaḥ śivāya

Type: panchakshara

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Pañcākṣara-japa consecrates ordinary sustenance into Śiva-prasāda, turning daily life into worship and making even simple nourishment a support for clarity, purity, and liberating insight.

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

In Saguna Śiva worship, offerings (water/food) are made with mantra and devotion; the verse affirms that mantra-infused offerings carry Śiva’s grace, aligning the devotee’s body-mind with reverence toward the Liṅga and the Lord’s presence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Recite “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” over water and food before offering or consuming it, treating it as Śiva-prasāda; the practice is especially suitable for daily pūjā and Mahāśivarātri observances.