Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 58

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

Devanagari script

मत्प्रियं च शिवं चैव क्रमेणाप्यक्रमेण वा । तथापि मम भक्ता ये नात्यंतविवशाः पुनः

Transliteration

matpriyaṃ ca śivaṃ caiva krameṇāpyakrameṇa vā | tathāpi mama bhaktā ye nātyaṃtavivaśāḥ punaḥ

Translation

Qu’ils adorent ce qui M’est cher et ce qui est cher à Śiva—pas à pas ou même sans ordre établi—pourtant, ceux qui sont Mes dévots ne sont pas de nouveau entièrement démunis (face au lien et à l’illusion).

Word by Word

• मत्-प्रियम्: dear to me
• मत्-प्रियम्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मत् (अस्मद्-षष्ठी/सम्बन्ध-प्रातिपदिक) + प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (मम प्रियं); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/accusative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयार्थक निपात (conjunction)

• शिवम्: Śiva
• शिवम्: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयार्थक निपात

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधारणार्थक निपात (emphatic particle)

• क्रमेण: in due order
• क्रमेण: Karana (करण/manner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/instrumental), एकवचन; प्रकारवाचक (by order/gradually)

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निपात

• अक्रमेण: without order
• अक्रमेण: Karana (करण/manner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/instrumental), एकवचन; नञ्-पूर्वक (without order)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, विकल्पार्थक निपात

• तथा: thus/nevertheless
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारवाचक

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निपात

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, षष्ठी (6th/genitive), एकवचन

• भक्ताः: devotees
• भक्ताः: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• ये: who
• ये: Karta (कर्ता/relative subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; सम्बन्धबोधक (relative pronoun)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निषेधार्थक निपात (negation)

• अत्यन्त-विवशाः: utterly helpless
• अत्यन्त-विवशाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अत्यन्त (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + विवश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (अत्यन्तं विवशाः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• पुनः: again/further
• पुनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, पुनरुक्ति/पुनरावृत्तिवाचक (again/further)

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse affirms that sincere devotion to Shiva (Pati) protects the soul (paśu) from becoming completely overpowered by pasha (bondage), even when worship is performed imperfectly or without strict procedural order.

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

It supports Saguna Shiva worship (such as Linga-puja) by emphasizing bhakti as the essential principle: even if offerings and steps are not perfectly sequenced, devotion directed to Shiva remains spiritually effective and safeguards the devotee.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Prioritize steady bhakti—japa of the Panchakshara ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), simple Linga worship, and inner remembrance—without anxiety over perfect ritual order; sincerity and continuity are highlighted over rigidity.