Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 37

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

Devanagari script

सृष्टिं वितन्वते सम्यक्सदेवासुरमानुषीम् । अस्याः परमविद्यायास्स्वरूपमधुनोच्यते

Transliteration

sṛṣṭiṃ vitanvate samyaksadevāsuramānuṣīm | asyāḥ paramavidyāyāssvarūpamadhunocyate

Translation

Dia membentangkan penciptaan dengan tertib—bersama para dewa, asura, dan manusia. Kini hakikat (rupa sejati) Pengetahuan Tertinggi ini sedang dinyatakan.

Word by Word

• सृष्टिम्: creation
• सृष्टिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• वितन्वते: they two expand/spread
• वितन्वते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + तन् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), द्विवचन; आत्मनेपद

• सम्यक्: properly; completely
• सम्यक्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम्यक् (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• स-देव-असुर-मानुषीम्: including gods, demons, and humans
• स-देव-असुर-मानुषीम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + देव + असुर + मानुषी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष/समाहारार्थः—‘देवैः असुरैः मानुषैः सह’ इति विशेषणम् सृष्टेः

• अस्याः: of this (f.)
• अस्याः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन

• परमविद्यायाः: of the supreme knowledge/mantra
• परमविद्यायाः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परमा + विद्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (परमा विद्या)

• स्वरूपम्: the nature/essential form
• स्वरूपम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वरूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

• अधुना: now
• अधुना: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अधुना (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• उच्यते: is said/declared
• उच्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (Passive)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadyojāta

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: No Jyotirliṅga specification; the verse is cosmological and doctrinal, introducing the svarūpa of ‘paramavidyā’ in relation to ordered creation including devas, asuras, and humans.

Significance: Doctrinal grounding for devotees: knowing the ‘paramavidyā’ is presented as the key to understanding Śiva as the orderly source of all classes of beings.

Shakti Dimension

Role: creative

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: kalpa-level ordered creation (implied)

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Asuras
• Humans

FAQs

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

The verse links cosmic creation to spiritual revelation: the same Supreme Lord who manifests the worlds also reveals the “paramavidyā,” the liberating knowledge that leads the soul (paśu) toward freedom from bondage.

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

By presenting the Lord as both creator and teacher of supreme wisdom, it supports Saguna worship (such as Linga-upāsanā) as a valid approach to realize the transcendent truth—moving from form-based devotion to direct insight into Shiva’s highest nature.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is jñāna-supported worship: steady Shiva-japa (especially the Panchakshara, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) alongside contemplation on Shiva as the source of creation and the revealer of liberating knowledge.