Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 46

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

Devanagari script

देवता शिव एवाहं मन्त्रस्यास्य वरानने । गौतमो ऽत्रिर्वरारोहे विश्वामित्रस्तथांगिराः

Transliteration

devatā śiva evāhaṃ mantrasyāsya varānane | gautamo 'trirvarārohe viśvāmitrastathāṃgirāḥ

Translation

ഹേ വരാനനേ, ഈ മന്ത്രത്തിന്റെ ദേവത ശിവൻ തന്നെയാണ്—അഥവാ ഞാൻ തന്നെ. ഹേ വരാരോഹേ, ഇതിലെ ഋഷികൾ ഗൗതമൻ, അത്രി, വിശ്വാമിത്രൻ, അങ്ങിരസൻ എന്നിവരാണ്.

Word by Word

• देवता: the deity
• देवता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devatā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular)

• शिवः: Śiva
• शिवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular)

• एव: indeed / alone
• एव: Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), अवधारण (emphatic particle)

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular)

• मन्त्रस्य: of the mantra
• मन्त्रस्य: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), षष्ठी विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (singular)

• अस्य: of this
• अस्य: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन (singular)

• वरानने: O fair-faced lady
• वरानने: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vara-ānana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), सम्बोधन विभक्ति (Vocative/8th), एकवचन (singular)

• गौतमः: Gautama
• गौतमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gautama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular)

• अत्रिः: Atri
• अत्रिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: atri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular)

• वरारोहे: O noble-limbed lady
• वरारोहे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vara-āroha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), सम्बोधन विभक्ति (Vocative/8th), एकवचन (singular); समासः—वरः आरोहः यस्याः (O lady of excellent ascent/hips)

• विश्वामित्रः: Viśvāmitra
• विश्वामित्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viśvāmitra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular)

• तथा: likewise / also
• तथा: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), समुच्चय/तुल्यताबोधक (adverb/particle: ‘also/likewise’)

• अङ्गिराः: Aṅgirases / Aṅgirā(s)
• अङ्गिराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṅgiras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), बहुवचन (plural)

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Gautama
• Atri
• Vishvamitra
• Angiras

FAQs

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

It establishes that the mantra’s ultimate refuge and presiding reality (devatā) is Śiva Himself, aligning with Shaiva Siddhanta where Pati (Śiva) is the liberating Lord and mantra-japa becomes effective when centered on Him.

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

By naming Śiva as the mantra’s devatā, the verse supports Saguna upāsanā—worship of Śiva as approachable Lord—commonly focused through the Śiva-liṅga, while still implying His supreme, all-pervading status behind the symbol.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Before japa, remember the mantra’s devatā (Śiva) and the rishis (Gautama, Atri, Viśvāmitra, Aṅgiras) as part of mantra-smarana/nyāsa; then perform steady japa with devotion, ideally with vibhūti (tripuṇḍra) and Rudrākṣa if following Shaiva discipline.