Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 28

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

Devanagari script

मत्पुत्राणां महादेव शक्तिं देहि महेश्वर । इत्येवं प्रार्थितस्तेन पञ्चवक्त्रधरो ह्यहम्

Transliteration

matputrāṇāṃ mahādeva śaktiṃ dehi maheśvara | ityevaṃ prārthitastena pañcavaktradharo hyaham

Translation

«Ô Mahādeva, ô Maheśvara, accorde la puissance (śakti) à mes fils.» Ainsi imploré par lui, moi—Śiva, le Porteur des Cinq Visages—répondis.

Word by Word

• मत्-पुत्राणाम्: of my sons
• मत्-पुत्राणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (genitive determinative)

• महादेव: O Mahādeva
• महादेव: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महादेव (प्रातिपदिक) [महा + देव]
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः

• शक्तिम्: power
• शक्तिम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• देहि: give
• देहि: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative/आज्ञार्थ), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• महेश्वर: O Maheśvara
• महेश्वर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश्वर (प्रातिपदिक) [महा + ईश्वर]
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Quotation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उक्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• एवम्: in this manner
• एवम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: रीत्यर्थक-अव्यय (adverb of manner)

• प्रार्थितः: having been requested
• प्रार्थितः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रार्थित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; प्र + अर्थ्/अर्थय् धातु)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

• तेन: by him
• तेन: Karana (करण/Instrument; agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• पञ्च-वक्त्र-धरः: the five-faced bearer (one with five faces)
• पञ्च-वक्त्र-धरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + वक्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + धर (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; धृ धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (one who has five faces)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle of emphasis/indeed)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Shiva (Pañcavaktra)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: matputrāṇāṃ mahādeva śaktiṃ dehi maheśvara

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Umā

Role: liberating

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: anugraha moment: Brahmā petitions Śiva for empowering śakti to mature sages’ siddhi

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights Shiva’s anugraha (grace): even worldly strength becomes auspicious and dharmic when received through humble prayer to the Pati (Lord) who alone empowers the jīva.

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

Pañcavaktra Shiva is a Saguna manifestation approachable through devotion; Linga-worship similarly seeks Shiva’s bestowal of śakti, protection, and right capacity for dharma and liberation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Offer a simple prayer of surrender—ideally with japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—asking Shiva to sanctify one’s abilities (śakti) for dharma rather than ego.