Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 26

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

Devanagari script

स्वर्गापवर्गसिद्ध्यर्थं भाषितं यत्सुशोभनम् । वाक्यं मुनिवरैः शांतैस्तद्विज्ञेयं सुभाषितम्

Transliteration

svargāpavargasiddhyarthaṃ bhāṣitaṃ yatsuśobhanam | vākyaṃ munivaraiḥ śāṃtaistadvijñeyaṃ subhāṣitam

Translation

Sachez comme « bien dit » ce bel enseignement, prononcé par des sages excellents et paisibles, en vue d’obtenir le ciel et, au-delà, la délivrance ultime.

Word by Word

• स्वर्ग-अपवर्ग-सिद्धि-अर्थम्: for attaining heaven and liberation
• स्वर्ग-अपवर्ग-सिद्धि-अर्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + अपवर्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + सिद्धि (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; चतुर्थी-तत्पुरुषार्थ (purpose): ‘स्वर्गापवर्गसिद्ध्यर्थम्’ = for the attainment of heaven and liberation

• भाषितम्: spoken
• भाषितम्: Karma-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्म-समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √भाष् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle)

• यत्: which
• यत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative pronoun)

• सु-शोभनम्: excellent
• सु-शोभनम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + शोभन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘सुशोभनम्’ = very beautiful/excellent

• वाक्यम्: a statement
• वाक्यम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• मुनि-वरैः: by the best sages
• मुनि-वरैः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक) + वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘श्रेष्ठा मुनयः’

• शान्तैः: peaceful
• शान्तैः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शान्त (प्रातिपदिक; √शम् + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying munivaraiḥ)

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; निर्देश (refers back to vākya)

• विज्ञेयम्: should be known
• विज्ञेयम्: Vidhi (विधि)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √ज्ञा (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विधिलिङ्गार्थक-कर्तव्यता (gerundive): ‘to be known/should be known’

• सु-भाषितम्: good speech
• सु-भाषितम्: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (कर्तृ-समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु (अव्यय) + भाषित (कृदन्त; √भाष् + क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘सु (well) भाषितम्’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Defines subhāṣita as that which leads to svarga and apavarga; for devotees, satsanga and śāstra-śravaṇa are framed as direct supports for both worldly uplift and liberation.

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It defines true ‘subhāṣita’ as speech that leads the soul beyond merely pleasant results (svarga) toward apavarga—release from bondage—spoken by calm, realized sages aligned with Shiva’s liberating wisdom.

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

In Shaiva practice, teachings from saintly sages direct the devotee to disciplined Linga worship and devotion to Saguna Shiva as a means that culminates in apavarga—union with Shiva’s grace rather than only worldly or heavenly merit.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Seek śānta (peaceful) guidance and adopt steady sādhanā—japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), meditation on Shiva, and purity disciplines—so that practice aims at moksha, not only merit.