Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 35

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

Devanagari script

ऋषिं छंदश्च कीलं च बीजशक्तिं च दैवतम् । न्यासं षडंगं दिग्बंधं विनियोगमशेषतः

Transliteration

ṛṣiṃ chaṃdaśca kīlaṃ ca bījaśaktiṃ ca daivatam | nyāsaṃ ṣaḍaṃgaṃ digbaṃdhaṃ viniyogamaśeṣataḥ

Translation

Il faut connaître pleinement : le ṛṣi (voyant), le chandas (mètre), le kīla (cheville/clé de stabilisation), la semence et sa puissance (bīja–śakti) ainsi que la divinité présidante ; de même le nyāsa, les six auxiliaires (ṣaḍaṅga), le scellement des directions (digbandha) et l’application complète (viniyoga) de la pratique.

Word by Word

• ऋषिम्: seer (ṛṣi)
• ऋषिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• छन्दः: metre
• छन्दः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: छन्दस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; पदान्त-रूपम् ‘छन्दः’ (छन्दस्-शब्दस्य)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• कीलम्: pin (kīlaka)
• कीलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कील (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• बीजशक्तिम्: seed-power
• बीजशक्तिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बीज + शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (बीजस्य शक्ति:)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• दैवतम्: presiding deity
• दैवतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैवत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• न्यासम्: nyāsa (ritual placement)
• न्यासम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: न्यास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• षडङ्गम्: sixfold limbs (ṣaḍaṅga)
• षडङ्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षट् + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (षट् अङ्गानि यस्य/षडङ्गम्)

• दिग्बन्धम्: binding of the directions (digbandha)
• दिग्बन्धम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिक् + बन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (दिशां बन्धः)

• विनियोगम्: application/assignment (viniyoga)
• विनियोगम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विनियोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• अशेषतः: entirely; without remainder
• अशेषतः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अशेषतः (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not tied to a Jyotirliṅga; it is a procedural/vidhi verse describing mantra-śāstra components (ṛṣi, chandas, kīla, bīja-śakti, devatā, nyāsa, ṣaḍaṅga, digbandha, viniyoga).

Significance: Establishes orthodox discipline for mantra-prayoga; correct viniyoga and protective digbandha are presented as safeguards for sādhana efficacy.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Shiva-mantra practice is not casual repetition but a disciplined sādhanā: knowing the mantra’s lineage (ṛṣi), structure (chandas), presiding divinity (devatā), and inner potency (bīja–śakti) helps align the practitioner (paśu) toward Shiva (Pati) and loosens bondage (pāśa).

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

Nyāsa, ṣaḍaṅga, and devatā-bhāva are classic supports for Saguna Shiva worship—installing Shiva-consciousness in the body and space, then offering the practice to Shiva as the indwelling Lord, which culminates in steadiness of devotion during Linga-pūjā and japa.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It points to mantra-japa with proper viniyoga, accompanied by ṣaḍaṅga (kara/āṅga-nyāsa style auxiliaries), nyāsa on the body, and digbandha (protective sealing of directions) before beginning Shiva-mantra practice.