Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 45

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

Devanagari script

दीर्घपूर्वं तुरीयस्य पञ्चमं शक्तिमादिशेत् । वामदेवो नाम ऋषिः पंक्तिश्छन्द उदाहृतम्

Transliteration

dīrghapūrvaṃ turīyasya pañcamaṃ śaktimādiśet | vāmadevo nāma ṛṣiḥ paṃktiśchanda udāhṛtam

Translation

Pour le quatrième élément, on doit prescrire la cinquième Śakti, en plaçant au commencement la voyelle longue. Ici, le voyant est nommé Vāmadeva, et le mètre est déclaré Paṅkti.

Word by Word

• दीर्घपूर्वम्: having a long first (syllable)
• दीर्घपूर्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dīrgha-pūrva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular); समासः—दीर्घं पूर्वं यस्य (having a long first part)

• तुरीयस्य: of the fourth
• तुरीयस्य: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: turīya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक (contextual), षष्ठी विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (singular)

• पञ्चमम्: the fifth (one)
• पञ्चमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pañcama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• शक्तिम्: Śakti
• शक्तिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śakti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (singular)

• आदिशेत्: should indicate / should prescribe
• आदिशेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā+diś (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

• वामदेवः: Vāmadeva
• वामदेवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāmadeva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular)

• नाम: named
• नाम: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nāma (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), नामनिर्देशक (particle meaning ‘named/called’)

• ऋषिः: seer (ṛṣi)
• ऋषिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ṛṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular)

• पंक्तिः: Paṅkti (metre-name)
• पंक्तिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paṅkti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular)

• छन्दः: metre
• छन्दः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: chandas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular)

• उदाहृतम्: is stated / is declared
• उदाहृतम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud+ā+hṛ (धातु) → udāhṛta (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (nom./acc. sg)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Vāmadeva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Vamadeva

FAQs

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

It teaches mantra-śāstra discipline: a Shiva-mantra is approached with proper mantric identity—its Śakti (power), Ṛṣi (seer), and Chandas (metre)—so the sādhaka aligns speech and mind with Shiva’s grace (Pati) and gains purity and efficacy in practice.

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

Linga-worship in the Shiva Purana is supported by mantra-recitation; this verse specifies formal mantra markers (ṛṣi/chandas/śakti) that traditionally precede or frame japa and pūjā, ensuring Saguna Shiva worship is performed according to revealed order (vidhi).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It points to mantra-japa done with viniyoga awareness—remembering the Ṛṣi (Vāmadeva), the Chandas (Paṅkti), and the Śakti—before recitation; this can be integrated into daily Shiva pūjā with bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa as supportive observances.