Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 27

पञ्चाक्षरमाहात्म्यम् / The Greatness of the Pañcākṣarī (Five-Syllable) Mantra

Devanagari script

पुष्पं धूपं च दीपञ्च दद्यादन्नं जलैः सह । ततो दद्यान्महापीठे तिष्ठन्बलिमुदङ्मुखः

Transliteration

puṣpaṃ dhūpaṃ ca dīpañca dadyādannaṃ jalaiḥ saha | tato dadyānmahāpīṭhe tiṣṭhanbalimudaṅmukhaḥ

Translation

Qu’il offre fleurs, encens et lampe, et qu’il présente aussi la nourriture avec l’eau. Ensuite, se tenant sur le grand siège-autel (mahāpīṭha) et faisant face au nord, qu’il offre le bali (oblation rituelle).

Word by Word

• puṣpam: flower
• puṣpam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: puṣpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• dhūpam: incense
• dhūpam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• dīpam: lamp
• dīpam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dīpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• dadyāt: should give/offer
• dadyāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (दा धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative/imperative sense), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• annam: food
• annam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• jalaiḥ: with waters
• jalaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन

• saha: together with
• saha: Sahakāraka (सहकारक/सहयोग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: सह-अव्यय (postposition), तृतीया-सहयोगार्थक (with + instrumental)

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kāla/Anukrama (काल/अनुक्रम)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रम/अनन्तरार्थक (then/thereafter)

• dadyāt: should offer
• dadyāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dā (दा धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• mahāpīṭhe: on the great pedestal/altar
• mahāpīṭhe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + pīṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समास (महच्च तत् पीठम्)

• tiṣṭhan: standing
• tiṣṭhan: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sthā (स्था धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ), परस्मैपदी; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणभावे (while standing)

• balim: offering (bali)
• balim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bali (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• udaṅmukhaḥ: facing north
• udaṅmukhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: udaṅ + mukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (उदङ् = उत्तरदिक् + मुख)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Annapūrṇā

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: naivedya

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches orderly, sattvic worship: devotion is expressed through simple offerings (flower, incense, lamp, food, water) and disciplined conduct, turning daily acts into reverent service to Pati (Shiva) for inner purification.

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

These are standard upacāras of Saguna Shiva worship, typically performed before the Linga—light (dīpa) symbolizes awakening of awareness, fragrance (dhūpa) indicates sanctification, and naivedya-water signifies surrender of sustenance to Shiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform Shiva-puja with upacāras and then offer bali at the mahāpīṭha while facing north; inwardly maintain steadiness and remembrance of Shiva (often supported by japa of the Panchakshara, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”).