Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 31

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

Devanagari script

पुत्रेभ्यः प्रददौ मंत्रं मंत्रार्थं च यथातथम् । ते च लब्ध्वा मंत्ररत्नं साक्षाल्लोकपितामहात्

Transliteration

putrebhyaḥ pradadau maṃtraṃ maṃtrārthaṃ ca yathātatham | te ca labdhvā maṃtraratnaṃ sākṣāllokapitāmahāt

Translation

അവൻ തന്റെ പുത്രന്മാർക്ക് പവിത്രമന്ത്രവും അതിന്റെ യഥാർത്ഥാർത്ഥവും യഥാതഥമായി ഉപദേശിച്ചു. അവർ ലോകപിതാമഹനായ ബ്രഹ്മാവിൽ നിന്ന് സാക്ഷാൽ ആ മന്ത്രരത്നം ലഭിച്ച് അതിന്റെ അനുഗ്രഹവും അധികാരവും പ്രാപിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• पुत्रेभ्यः: to the sons
• पुत्रेभ्यः: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (सम्प्रदान/दत्तेः), बहुवचन

• प्रददौ: gave
• प्रददौ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• मन्त्रम्: a mantra
• मन्त्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मन्त्रार्थम्: the meaning of the mantra
• मन्त्रार्थम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (मन्त्रस्य अर्थः)

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

• यथा: as
• यथा: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमान/प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: 'as/according to')

• तथम्: so; in that manner
• तथम्: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: 'so/in that manner')

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (सर्वनाम)

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

• लब्ध्वा: having obtained
• लब्ध्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: लभ् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), 'having obtained'

• मन्त्ररत्नम्: the jewel-like mantra
• मन्त्ररत्नम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र + रत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुषार्थे रूढि (रत्नवत् मन्त्रः / मन्त्ररूपं रत्नम्)

• साक्षात्: directly
• साक्षात्: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साक्षात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb: 'directly/in person')

• लोकपितामहात्: from the grandsire of the world (Brahmā)
• लोकपितामहात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक + पितामह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (लोकस्य पितामहः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Mantra Metadata

Type: panchakshara

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Brahma

FAQs

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

It teaches that mantra is not merely a sound-form; its liberating power arises when the mantra is received along with its true meaning through proper transmission, leading the seeker toward Shiva-realization and freedom from bondage (pāśa).

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

In Shaiva practice, Linga worship is sustained by mantra-japa and right understanding; this verse emphasizes that correct mantric knowledge sanctifies outer worship (saguṇa upāsanā) and guides it toward inner union with Pati (Shiva).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Seek mantra-upadeśa (initiation/instruction) from an authentic teacher, then perform steady japa with contemplation of the mantra’s meaning; such disciplined practice is especially aligned with Mahāśivarātri observances.