Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 44

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

Devanagari script

अर्धचन्द्रनिभो बिंदुर्नादो दीपशिखाकृतिः । बीजं द्वितीयं बीजेषु मंत्रस्यास्य वरानने

Transliteration

ardhacandranibho biṃdurnādo dīpaśikhākṛtiḥ | bījaṃ dvitīyaṃ bījeṣu maṃtrasyāsya varānane

Translation

Ô toi au visage gracieux, parmi les syllabes-semences de ce mantra, la seconde semence est le bindu, semblable au demi-croissant de lune ; et son nāda a la forme de la flamme d’une lampe.

Word by Word

• अर्धचन्द्रनिभः: like a half-moon
• अर्धचन्द्रनिभः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ardha-candra-nibha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular); समासः—अर्धचन्द्रस्य निभः (like a half-moon)

• बिन्दुः: the bindu (dot)
• बिन्दुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bindu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular)

• नादः: nāda (mystic sound)
• नादः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular)

• दीपशिखाकृतिः: (having) the form of a lamp-flame
• दीपशिखाकृतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dīpa-śikhā-kṛti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular); समासः—दीपस्य शिखा इव कृतिः/आकृतिः (form like a lamp-flame)

• बीजम्: the seed-syllable
• बीजम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bīja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (singular)

• द्वितीयम्: second
• द्वितीयम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dvitīya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति (Nom./Acc.), एकवचन (singular); बीजम् इति विशेषणम्

• बीजेषु: among the seeds
• बीजेषु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bīja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), सप्तमी विभक्ति (Locative/7th), बहुवचन (plural)

• मन्त्रस्य: of the mantra
• मन्त्रस्य: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), षष्ठी विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (singular)

• अस्य: of this
• अस्य: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (singular)

• वरानने: O fair-faced lady
• वरानने: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vara-ānana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), सम्बोधन विभक्ति (Vocative/8th), एकवचन (singular); समासः—वरम् आननं यस्याः (O fair-faced one)

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It points to the mantra’s inner, subtle structure: bindu (concentrated consciousness) and nāda (vibratory awareness). In Shaiva understanding, steady contemplation of these leads the mind from outward sound to the inward presence of Pati (Shiva), loosening pasha (bondage).

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

The Linga symbolizes the concentrated point of reality (bindu) and the ever-present pulsation of awareness (nāda). Meditating on the mantra’s bindu-nāda refines Saguna worship into interiorized contemplation, where the devotee perceives Shiva as both form (support for focus) and transcendent consciousness.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Japa with attentive visualization: hold awareness at the bindu (as a crescent-like subtle mark) and listen inwardly to nāda as a steady flame-like continuity. This can be paired with orthodox Shaiva supports such as Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa while maintaining mantra-dhyāna.