Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 27

साधक-दीक्षा तथा मन्त्रसाधन

Puraścaraṇa and the Discipline of the Mantra-Sādhaka

Devanagari script

शुचिर्बद्धशिखस्सूत्री सपवित्रकरस्तथा । धृतत्रिपुंड्ररुद्राक्षो विद्यां पञ्चाक्षरीं जपेत्

Transliteration

śucirbaddhaśikhassūtrī sapavitrakarastathā | dhṛtatripuṃḍrarudrākṣo vidyāṃ pañcākṣarīṃ japet

Translation

Pur et maîtrisé—la śikhā nouée, portant le cordon sacré (yajñopavīta) et l’anneau purificateur de kuśa à la main—revêtu du Tripuṇḍra de bhasma et des perles de Rudrākṣa, qu’il répète la vidyā Pañcākṣarī, le mantra sacré de cinq syllabes, voie d’approche du Seigneur Śiva.

Word by Word

• śuciḥ: pure
• śuciḥ: Karta (कर्ता/qualifier of doer)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śuci (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण

• baddha-śikhaḥ: with tied topknot
• baddha-śikhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: baddha (कृदन्त, बद्ध from bandh धातु) + śikhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (one whose topknot is tied)

• sūtrī: wearing the sacred thread
• sūtrī: Karta (कर्ता/qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sūtrin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (possessing sacred thread)

• sa-pavitra-karaḥ: with pavitra on the hand
• sa-pavitra-karaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (उपसर्ग/सह) + pavitra (प्रातिपदिक) + kara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (having hand with pavitra-ring/grass)

• tathā: also
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: likewise)

• dhṛta-tripuṇḍra-rudrākṣaḥ: wearing tripuṇḍra and rudrākṣa
• dhṛta-tripuṇḍra-rudrākṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhṛta (कृदन्त, धृत from dhṛ धातु) + tripuṇḍra (प्रातिपदिक) + rudrākṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (one who has worn tripuṇḍra and rudrākṣa)

• vidyām: the vidyā (mantra)
• vidyām: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• pañcākṣarīm: five-syllabled
• pañcākṣarīm: Karma (कर्म/qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pañca (संख्या) + akṣara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (five-syllabled) विशेषण of vidyām

• japet: should recite
• japet: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: jap (जप् धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Marks the Śaiva identity and eligibility (adhikāra) for mantra-japa: tripuṇḍra, rudrākṣa, śauca, and vaidika markers (śikhā, yajñopavīta). Pilgrimage benefit is framed as daily embodied sādhana rather than a single locale.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: नमः शिवाय (Namaḥ Śivāya)

Type: panchakshara

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Pañcākṣarī-japa becomes most effective when supported by inner and outer purity—discipline, sacred observances, and Shaiva marks—aligning the devotee (paśu) toward Śiva (Pati) and loosening bondage (pāśa).

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

Tripuṇḍra and Rudrākṣa are classic emblems of Saguna Śiva-bhakti and Linga-worship; they prepare the practitioner for focused mantra-japa, which culminates in steadiness of devotion and contemplative absorption in Śiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt cleanliness and ritual discipline, wear Tripuṇḍra (bhasma), Rudrākṣa, and the pavitra ring as per tradition, and perform steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Namaḥ Śivāya) with concentration.