Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 54

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

Devanagari script

तत्रापि पञ्चमो वर्णो द्वादशस्वरभूषितः । तास्मादनेन मंत्रेण मनोवाक्कायभेदतः

Transliteration

tatrāpi pañcamo varṇo dvādaśasvarabhūṣitaḥ | tāsmādanena maṃtreṇa manovākkāyabhedataḥ

Translation

അവിടെയും പഞ്ചമ വർണം ദ്വാദശ സ്വരങ്ങളാൽ അലങ്കരിക്കപ്പെട്ടിരിക്കുന്നു. അതിനാൽ ഈ മന്ത്രത്താൽ മനസ്‑വാക്ക്‑കായ ഭേദപ്രകാരം പൂജയും നിയമസാധനയും ചെയ്യണം; ബന്ധജീവൻ പതിയായ പ്രഭുവിലേക്കു നയിക്കപ്പെടും.

Word by Word

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, देशवाचक अव्यय (locative adverb)

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निपात (particle)

• पञ्चमः: fifth
• पञ्चमः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्चम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; क्रमवाचक विशेषण (ordinal adjective)

• वर्णः: syllable/letter
• वर्णः: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• द्वादश-स्वर-भूषितः: adorned with twelve vowels
• द्वादश-स्वर-भूषितः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वादश (प्रातिपदिक) + स्वर (प्रातिपदिक) + भूषित (कृदन्त; भूष् धातु, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण; तत्पुरुषः (द्वादशानां स्वराणां भूषितः = adorned with twelve vowels)

• तस्मात्: therefore/from that
• तस्मात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तस्मात्-रूपेण हेत्वर्थे अव्ययीभूतः (ablatival adverb: 'therefore/from that')

• अनेन: by/with this
• अनेन: Karana (करण/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/instrumental), एकवचन

• मन्त्रेण: by the mantra
• मन्त्रेण: Karana (करण/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन

• मनः-वाक्-काय-भेदतः: according to the division of mind, speech, and body
• मनः-वाक्-काय-भेदतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/qualifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक) + वाक् (प्रातिपदिक) + काय (प्रातिपदिक) + भेद (प्रातिपदिक) + तस् (तसिल्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (मनः+वाक्+काय); तत्पुरुष-सम्बन्ध (…भेद); तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb: 'in terms of/from the distinction')

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Mantra Metadata

Type: panchakshara

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights the sacred precision of mantra-syllables and teaches that liberation-oriented Shaiva practice must integrate all three instruments—mind, speech, and body—so the pashu (bound soul) turns toward Pati (Shiva).

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

The verse implies complete, embodied worship: mental contemplation of Shiva, verbal japa of the mantra, and bodily acts of reverence—an integrated Saguna approach that supports inner realization of Shiva beyond form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice mantra-japa with tri-fold discipline: mentally meditate on Shiva, recite the mantra with purity of speech, and maintain bodily observances such as clean conduct, worship, and steady yogic posture during japa.