Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 21

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

Devanagari script

तिष्ठंति शाश्वता धर्मा देवास्सर्वमिदं जगत् । प्रलये समनुप्राप्ते नष्टे स्थावरजंगमे

Transliteration

tiṣṭhaṃti śāśvatā dharmā devāssarvamidaṃ jagat | pralaye samanuprāpte naṣṭe sthāvarajaṃgame

Translation

Quand survient la dissolution (pralaya) et que tout ce qui est immobile et mobile est détruit, les principes éternels du Dharma, les dieux et, en vérité, cet univers tout entier demeurent encore—soutenus dans le Seigneur comme leur fondement impérissable.

Word by Word

• तिष्ठन्ति: stand/continue
• तिष्ठन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• शाश्वताः: eternal
• शाश्वताः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शाश्वत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• धर्माः: dharmas/laws
• धर्माः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• देवाः: gods
• देवाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• सर्वम्: all
• सर्वम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/प्रदर्शक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; निर्देशवाचक

• जगत्: world/universe
• जगत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• प्रलये: at dissolution
• प्रलये: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रलय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• समनुप्राप्ते: when (it) has fully arrived
• समनुप्राप्ते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण; सति-सप्तमी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-अनु-प्राप्त (कृदन्त; प्राप् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त; सति-सप्तमी (locative absolute)

• नष्टे: when destroyed
• नष्टे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण; सति-सप्तमी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नष्ट (कृदन्त; नश् धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त; सति-सप्तमी

• स्थावर-जङ्गमे: in the immobile and mobile (beings)
• स्थावर-जङ्गमे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण; सति-सप्तमी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थावर + जङ्गम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; द्वन्द्व (स्थावराणि च जङ्गमानि च)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Contemplation of pralaya cultivates vairāgya and reliance on Śiva as the imperishable ground; pilgrimage becomes a rehearsal of surrender amid impermanence.

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: pralaya (cosmic dissolution)

Characters & Entities

• Devas

FAQs

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

It teaches that pralaya destroys names and forms (moving and unmoving beings), yet the deeper, eternal order—Dharma and the divine powers—abides because all ultimately rests in Pati (Lord Shiva), the imperishable support.

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

The Linga signifies Shiva as the unchanging substratum in which creation appears and into which it resolves. Remembering Shiva through Saguna worship steadies the mind in the truth that the Lord remains when all transient forms perish.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Contemplate impermanence and take refuge in Shiva through japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and steady meditation on the Linga as the changeless ground beyond pralaya.