Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 5

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

Devanagari script

अब्भक्षा वायुभक्षाश्च ये चान्ये व्रतकर्शिताः । तेषामेतैर्व्रतैर्नास्ति शिवलोकसमागमः

Transliteration

abbhakṣā vāyubhakṣāśca ye cānye vratakarśitāḥ | teṣāmetairvratairnāsti śivalokasamāgamaḥ

Translation

ജലമാത്രം ആഹരിക്കുന്നവരും, വായുമാത്രം ആശ്രയിക്കുന്നവരും, കഠിനവ്രതങ്ങളാൽ ക്ഷീണിച്ച മറ്റുള്ളവരും—ഇത്തരം വ്രതങ്ങൾ മാത്രം കൊണ്ടു ശിവലോകസമാഗമം ലഭ്യമല്ല.

Word by Word

• अब्भक्षाः: water-eaters (those who subsist on water)
• अब्भक्षाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप्/अम्बु (प्रातिपदिक) + भक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (उपपद/षष्ठीभाव) ‘अद्भिः/अम्बुना भक्ष्यते ये’ (water-eaters); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; बहुवचन (Nominative Plural)

• वायुभक्षाः: air-eaters (those who subsist on air)
• वायुभक्षाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु (प्रातिपदिक) + भक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (उपपद) ‘वायुं भक्ष्यते ये’ (air-eaters); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; बहुवचन (Nominative Plural)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक निपात (conjunction)

• ये: those who
• ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; बहुवचन (Nominative Plural)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक निपात

• अन्ये: others
• अन्ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; बहुवचन (Nominative Plural)

• व्रतकर्शिताः: emaciated by vows/austerities
• व्रतकर्शिताः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्शित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; कर्श् धातु)
• Form: तत्पुरुष ‘व्रतेन कर्शिताः’ (austerity-worn); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि/भूतकृत् (past passive participle used adjectivally); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; बहुवचन (Nom Pl)

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक; षष्ठी विभक्ति; बहुवचन (Genitive Plural)

• एतैः: by these
• एतैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक; तृतीया विभक्ति; बहुवचन (Instrumental Plural)

• व्रतैः: by vows; by observances
• व्रतैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया विभक्ति; बहुवचन (Instrumental Plural)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation)

• अस्ति: is; exists
• अस्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present); प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपद (3rd sg)

• शिवलोकसमागमः: attainment/meeting with Śiva’s world
• शिवलोकसमागमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + लोक (प्रातिपदिक) + समागम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (समाहार/षष्ठीभाव) ‘शिवस्य लोकः’ + ‘(तस्य) समागमः’; पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; एकवचन (Nominative Singular)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a jyotirliṅga legend; it polemicizes against relying on bodily mortification alone (water/air fasting) as sufficient for Śivaloka.

Significance: Teaches that pilgrimage/austerity without Śiva-bhakti and Śiva-mantra does not culminate in Śivaloka; emphasizes inner orientation over extreme vrata.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that extreme austerities (like living on water or air) are not sufficient by themselves; communion with Śiva (Śivaloka) arises from right knowledge and Śiva-bhakti aligned with dharma, not mere self-mortification.

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

It redirects the seeker from harsh bodily practices to authentic Śiva-upāsanā—reverent worship of Saguna Śiva through the Liṅga, mantra-japa, and devotion—supported by inner purity rather than outward extremity.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Prioritize Śiva-centered sādhanā such as pañcākṣarī japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), mindful Liṅga-pūjā, and disciplined but balanced vrata—rather than extreme fasting as an end in itself.