Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 20

पञ्चाक्षरीविद्यायाḥ कलियुगे मोक्षोपायः | The Pañcākṣarī Vidyā as a Means of Liberation in Kali Yuga

Devanagari script

मम पञ्चाक्षरे मंत्रे तस्माच्छ्रेष्ठतरो हि सः । पञ्चाक्षरप्रभावेण लोकवेदमहर्षयः

Transliteration

mama pañcākṣare maṃtre tasmācchreṣṭhataro hi saḥ | pañcākṣaraprabhāveṇa lokavedamaharṣayaḥ

Translation

Dans Mon mantra aux cinq syllabes, ce mantra est véritablement le plus excellent. Par la puissance du Pañcākṣara, les mondes, les Veda et les grands rishis sont soutenus et illuminés.

Word by Word

• मम: of me/my
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• पञ्चाक्षरे: in the five-syllabled (mantra)
• पञ्चाक्षरे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्चाक्षर (प्रातिपदिक; पञ्च + अक्षर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (पञ्च + अक्षर)

• मन्त्रे: in the mantra
• मन्त्रे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• तस्मात्: therefore/from that
• तस्मात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन

• श्रेष्ठतरः: superior
• श्रेष्ठतरः: Pratijna/Predicate (विशेष्य-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रेष्ठतर (प्रातिपदिक; श्रेष्ठ + तर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तुलनात्मक (comparative)

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अवधान/हेतु-भाव

• सः: he/that (one)
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• पञ्चाक्षर-प्रभावेण: by the power of the five-syllabled (mantra)
• पञ्चाक्षर-प्रभावेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्चाक्षर + प्रभाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (पञ्चाक्षरस्य प्रभावः)

• लोक-वेद-महर्षयः: the worlds, the Vedas, and the great sages
• लोक-वेद-महर्षयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक + वेद + महर्षि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (लोकाः, वेदाः, महर्षयः)

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Positions the Pañcākṣara as the supreme upāya (means) for stability of worlds and revelation of Veda—pilgrimage gains its ‘life’ when accompanied by pañcākṣara-japa.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: नमः शिवाय

Type: panchakshara

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vedas
• Maharishis

FAQs

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

The verse proclaims the Pañcākṣara as Shiva’s own supreme mantra, whose śakti upholds and enlightens the cosmos and sacred revelation; it directs the devotee toward liberation through Shiva-centered mantra and grace (Pati’s anugraha).

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

The Pañcākṣara is the core verbal form of Saguna Shiva worship; it is traditionally joined with Linga-pūjā, abhiṣeka, and devotion, making the formless truth approachable through Shiva’s merciful, worshipable form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Regular japa of the Pañcākṣara (with purity, devotion, and steady attention), especially alongside Linga worship; it may be supported by rudrākṣa for counting and bhasma/tripuṇḍra as Shaiva marks of discipline and surrender.