Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 38

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

Devanagari script

इत्युक्तं परमेशेन देव्या पृष्टेन शूलिना । हिताय सर्वमर्त्यानां द्विजानां तु विशेषतः

Transliteration

ityuktaṃ parameśena devyā pṛṣṭena śūlinā | hitāya sarvamartyānāṃ dvijānāṃ tu viśeṣataḥ

Translation

Ainsi parla le Seigneur Suprême, Śiva porteur du trident, en réponse à la question de la Déesse—parole donnée pour le bien de tous les mortels, et tout particulièrement des « deux-fois-nés ».

Word by Word

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), quotative particle (इति-प्रयोग)

• uktam: was said
• uktam: Karma (कर्म/that which is said)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु) + kta (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: Kridanta (कृदन्त), past passive participle (क्त), Neuter, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; agrees with implied speech/statement

• parameśena: by Parameśa (Śiva)
• parameśena: Karana (करण/instrumental agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parameśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• devyā: by the Goddess
• devyā: Karta (कर्ता/agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; agent of asking (pṛṣṭena)

• pṛṣṭena: (having been) asked
• pṛṣṭena: Hetu (हेतु/cause-condition)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prach (धातु) + kta (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: Kridanta (कृदन्त), past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; qualifies śūlinā/parameśena: 'having been asked'

• śūlinā: by the trident-bearer
• śūlinā: Karana (करण/instrumental agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śūlin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; epithet of Śiva

• hitāya: for the welfare
• hitāya: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/for the sake of)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular; purpose dative

• sarva-martyānām: of all mortals
• sarva-martyānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + martya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural; compound: 'all (who are) mortals'

• dvijānām: of the twice-born (Brāhmaṇas etc.)
• dvijānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/genitive; subset emphasis)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvija (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), particle (emphasis/contrast)

• viśeṣataḥ: especially
• viśeṣataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: viśeṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + tas (तस्)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb formed with -tas (तस्)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the discourse of Lord Shiva to the Goddess)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a site-specific passage; it frames Śiva’s reply to Devī as universally beneficial instruction (upadeśa) rather than a local liṅga-māhātmya.

Significance: Establishes the discourse as śāstra for the welfare (hita) of all beings; hearing/reciting is positioned as spiritually salutary, especially for the initiated (dvija).

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It frames Śiva’s teaching as compassionate revelation: the Supreme Lord answers the Goddess for the upliftment of all souls (paśu), emphasizing that divine knowledge is given for universal welfare and liberation under Pati (Śiva).

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

By calling Śiva “Śūlin” and “Parameśa,” the verse links the accessible Saguna form (the Lord with attributes) to supreme reality; such teachings typically culminate in practical devotion—often through Linga-oriented worship grounded in Śiva’s grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is śravaṇa (devout listening) and manana (reflective contemplation) of Śiva’s instruction; as a Shaiva practice, this is commonly paired with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) to internalize the teaching.