Shloka 45

Bhaimaśaṅkara-māhātmya: Śiva’s Descent in Kāmarūpa and the Rise of Bhīma

Devanagari script

पंचाक्षरमयीं विद्यां जजाप प्रणवान्विताम् । नान्यत्कार्यं स वै कर्तुं लब्धवानन्तरं तदा

Transliteration

paṃcākṣaramayīṃ vidyāṃ jajāpa praṇavānvitām | nānyatkāryaṃ sa vai kartuṃ labdhavānantaraṃ tadā

Translation

അപ്പോൾ അദ്ദേഹം പ്രണവം (ഓം) ചേർന്ന പഞ്ചാക്ഷരീ വിദ്യ ജപിക്കാൻ തുടങ്ങി. അതേ നിമിഷം മറ്റൊരു കര്‍ത്തവ്യവും അവശേഷിക്കാതെ, ജപം മാത്രമേ അവന്റെ ഏകധര്‍മ്മമായി നിലനിന്നു.

Word by Word

• पञ्चाक्षरमयीम्: consisting of five syllables
• पञ्चाक्षरमयीम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च + अक्षर + मयी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/accusative), एकवचन; समासः: तत्पुरुष (पञ्चाक्षराणि यस्याः सा) / बहुव्रीहि-प्रायः; विद्याम्-विशेषणम्

• विद्याम्: mantra/knowledge (vidyā)
• विद्याम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/accusative), एकवचन

• जजाप: chanted, recited
• जजाप: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जप् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• प्रणव-अन्विताम्: accompanied by the praṇava (Oṃ)
• प्रणव-अन्विताम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रणव + अन्वित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √इ/अन्वि भावे)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/accusative), एकवचन; समासः: तत्पुरुष (प्रणवेन अन्विता)

• न: not
• न: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निषेध-निपातः (negation particle)

• अन्यत्: anything else
• अन्यत्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/accusative), एकवचन; ‘other’

• कार्यम्: task, duty
• कार्यम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्य (प्रातिपदिक; √कृ धातु-निष्पन्न)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/accusative), एकवचन

• सः: he
• सः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/nominative), एकवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निश्चय-निपातः (emphatic particle)

• कर्तुम्: to do
• कर्तुम्: प्रयोजन (Purpose/Infinitive complement)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (infinitive), प्रयोजनार्थकः (purpose)

• लब्धवान्: obtained, attained
• लब्धवान्: क्रिया (Predicate/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: क्तवतु-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (perfect participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/nominative), एकवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोगः (active sense)

• अनन्तरम्: afterwards
• अनन्तरम्: कालाधिकरण (Time adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनन्तर (प्रातिपदिक/अव्यय-प्रयोग)
• Form: अव्यय, कालवाचक-क्रियाविशेषणम् (temporal adverb: afterwards)

• तदा: then
• तदा: कालाधिकरण (Time adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, कालवाचक-क्रियाविशेषणम् (temporal adverb)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya within the Kotirudra Samhita’s Jyotirlinga context)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: In the Koṭirudrasaṃhitā’s devotional arc, the king’s practice culminates in exclusive commitment to the Pañcākṣarī with praṇava—signaling a shift from external rite to mantra-centered interiorization.

Significance: Portrays ekāgratā: when mantra-japa becomes the sole ‘duty,’ it indicates ripening devotion and readiness for Śiva’s liberating grace.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: oṃ namaḥ śivāya

Type: panchakshara

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that when devotion matures, the seeker’s life becomes centered on the Panchakshara-Mantra; japa itself becomes the primary sādhana that gathers the mind into Shiva (Pati) and loosens bondage (pāśa).

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

The Panchakshara joined with Oṁ is a direct devotional approach to Saguna Shiva as the Linga-Lord; mantra-japa supports steady remembrance and worship, which the Kotirudra Samhita links with Jyotirlinga glory and grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Continuous mantra-japa of Oṁ Namaḥ Śivāya (Panchakshara with praṇava), ideally alongside Shaiva disciplines such as Linga-pūjā, wearing Rudrākṣa, and applying Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) where appropriate.