Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 60

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

Devanagari script

यं विना निष्फलं जाप्यं येन वा सफलं भवेत्

Transliteration

yaṃ vinā niṣphalaṃ jāpyaṃ yena vā saphalaṃ bhavet

Translation

Sans Lui, la récitation répétée du mantra demeure vaine; et par Lui seul elle devient féconde.

Word by Word

• yam: whom/which
• yam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुंसक), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• vinā: without
• vinā: Apādāna (अपादानम्)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vinā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), preposition-like indeclinable meaning ‘without’ (विना-प्रयोगः)

• niṣphalam: fruitless
• niṣphalam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: niṣphala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); predicate adjective

• jāpyam: (the) japa to be done/recitation
• jāpyam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jap (धातु) + ya (य)
• Form: Gerundive/obligatory passive participle (यत्/य), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); from √jap (जप्); ‘to be recited’

• yena: by which/with which
• yena: Karaṇa (करणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्धः)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), disjunctive particle (विकल्पार्थक)

• saphalam: fruitful
• saphalam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saphala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); predicate adjective

• bhavet: may become/would be
• bhavet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: Liṅ (लिङ्, optative/vidhiliṅ), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); parasmaipada; from √bhū (भू)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Vayu Samhita teaching to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that mantra-japa is not merely mechanical sound; it bears fruit only when connected to Pati—Lord Shiva—through devotion, right understanding, and grace, otherwise it remains spiritually barren.

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

The verse implies that the efficacy of worship depends on Shiva as the indwelling Lord; in Saguna practice, this is cultivated through Linga-upasana where japa and offerings are consciously dedicated to Shiva, the giver of siddhi and liberation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform japa with Shiva-centered bhava—mentally offering each repetition to the Linga/Shiva, ideally supported by Shaiva disciplines such as Tripundra (bhasma), Rudraksha, and steady meditation on the Panchakshara.