Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 25

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

Devanagari script

तदा नारायणश्शेते देवो मायामयीं तनुम् । आस्थाय भोगिपर्यंकशयने तोयमध्यगः

Transliteration

tadā nārāyaṇaśśete devo māyāmayīṃ tanum | āsthāya bhogiparyaṃkaśayane toyamadhyagaḥ

Translation

Alors Nārāyaṇa reposait là—revêtant un corps façonné de Māyā—étendu sur la couche-serpent, au milieu des eaux primordiales.

Word by Word

• तदा: then, at that time
• तदा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक-क्रियाविशेषण (temporal adverb)

• नारायणः: Nārāyaṇa
• नारायणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• शेते: lies, reclines
• शेते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शी (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• देवः: the god
• देवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; नारायणस्य apposition

• मायामयीम्: made of māyā, illusory
• मायामयीम्: Karma-anvayi (कर्मसमन्वयी विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: माया + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; तनु-विशेषण; तत्पुरुष (मायया मयी = मायामयी)

• तनुम्: body, form
• तनुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• आस्थाय: having assumed, taking up
• आस्थाय: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive); पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having assumed)

• भोगि-पर्यङ्क-शयने: on the bed/couch of the serpent (Śeṣa)
• भोगि-पर्यङ्क-शयने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोगिन् + पर्यङ्क + शयन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (शयन), सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरण; समासः बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (भोगिनः पर्यङ्कः; तस्मिन् शयनम्)

• तोय-मध्यगः: situated in the midst of the waters
• तोय-मध्यगः: Karta-anvayi (कर्तृसमन्वयी विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तोय + मध्य + ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; नारायण-विशेषण; तत्पुरुष (तोयस्य मध्ये गः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: pralaya/causal-waters setting: deity reclines in primeval waters on Ananta (serpent couch)

Characters & Entities

• Narayana
• Vishnu
• Shesha (Ananta)

FAQs

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

It portrays the cosmic state where a deity functions through a māyāmayī (manifest) form within the waters of dissolution—implying that the phenomenal universe and its divine governance operate within Māyā, while Shaiva Siddhānta points beyond it to Pati (Śiva) as the ultimate liberator from Pāśa (bondage).

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

The verse highlights Saguna manifestation—God appearing with form for cosmic order. Linga-worship similarly approaches the transcendent Śiva through an accessible emblem and form, guiding the devotee from visible symbol (saguna upāsanā) toward realization of the formless Supreme (nirguna Śiva) beyond Māyā.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is dissolution-meditation (pralaya-bhāvanā): contemplate the world as resting in cosmic waters and repeat the Panchākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—to seek refuge in Śiva as Pati, the one who cuts the bonds of Māyā and grants liberation.