Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 49

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

Devanagari script

पूर्वादेश्चोर्ध्वपर्यंतं नकारादि यथाक्रमम् । अदात्तः प्रथमो वर्णश्चतुर्थश्च द्वितीयकः

Transliteration

pūrvādeścordhvaparyaṃtaṃ nakārādi yathākramam | adāttaḥ prathamo varṇaścaturthaśca dvitīyakaḥ

Translation

En partant de l’orient et en s’élevant selon l’ordre prescrit—en commençant par la syllabe «na» et ainsi de suite—la première lettre est sans accent (anudātta), et la quatrième porte le second accent (dvitīyaka).

Word by Word

• पूर्वादेशः: the prior instruction/assignment
• पूर्वादेशः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + आदेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘पूर्वः आदेशः’/‘पूर्वस्य आदेशः’); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

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

• ऊर्ध्वपर्यन्तम्: up to the upper end
• ऊर्ध्वपर्यन्तम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ऊर्ध्व (प्रातिपदिक) + पर्यन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्यय (adverbial/limit marker), ‘up to above/upper limit’

• नकारादि: beginning with ‘na’
• नकारादि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नकार (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘नकारः आदिः यस्य’/‘नकारादि’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (collective)

• यथाक्रमम्: in due order
• यथाक्रमम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; अव्यय (manner adverb)

• अदात्तः: anudātta (grave accent)
• अदात्तः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अदात्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; technical phonetic term (anudātta)

• प्रथमः: first
• प्रथमः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रथम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; agrees with ‘वर्णः’

• वर्णः: letter, phoneme
• वर्णः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• चतुर्थः: fourth
• चतुर्थः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; (elliptically) ‘the fourth (letter)’

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

• द्वितीयकः: second (in designation)
• द्वितीयकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वितीयक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ordinal/technical designation

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: (intonational instruction for) na–ma–śi–vā–ya

Type: panchakshara

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that mantra is not merely meaning but also sacred sound-order; correct sequence and intonation support focused japa, purify the mind (pāśa-kṣaya), and prepare the seeker for Shiva-realization (Pati-jñāna).

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

In Saguna Shiva worship—especially Linga-pūjā—mantra-japa is a primary upacāra; this verse emphasizes disciplined recitation so the devotee’s offering becomes precise and inwardly effective.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice steady japa of the Panchakshara (e.g., “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with attention to syllable order and tone, ideally alongside Linga worship, vibhūti (Tripuṇḍra), and rudrākṣa as supportive Shaiva disciplines.