Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 2

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

Devanagari script

क्षीणे वर्णाश्रमाचारे संकटे समुपस्थिते । सर्वाधिकारे संदिग्धे निश्चिते वापि पर्यये

Transliteration

kṣīṇe varṇāśramācāre saṃkaṭe samupasthite | sarvādhikāre saṃdigdhe niścite vāpi paryaye

Translation

ଯେତେବେଳେ ବର୍ଣ୍ଣାଶ୍ରମ-ଆଚାର କ୍ଷୀଣ ହୁଏ, ସଙ୍କଟ ଉପସ୍ଥିତ ହୁଏ, ଏବଂ ସମସ୍ତ ଧର୍ମକର୍ତ୍ତବ୍ୟର ଯଥାର୍ଥ ପଥ ସନ୍ଦିଗ୍ଧ ହୁଏ—କିମ୍ବା ନିଶ୍ଚିତ ଲାଗିଲେ ମଧ୍ୟ ପରିବର୍ତ୍ତିତ ହୋଇଯାଏ—

Word by Word

• kṣīṇe: when diminished/decayed
• kṣīṇe: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṣīṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; agrees with (ācāre)

• varṇa-āśrama-ācāre: in the practice of varṇa and āśrama (system)
• varṇa-āśrama-ācāre: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/context)
• Type: Noun
• Root: varṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + āśrama (प्रातिपदिक) + ācāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; tatpuruṣa (multi-member): 'conduct/practice of varṇas and āśramas'

• saṃkaṭe: in crisis
• saṃkaṭe: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/state)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saṃkaṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• samupasthite: having occurred
• samupasthite: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/participial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-upa-sthā (धातु) + kta (कृत् प्रत्यय)
• Form: Kridanta, past passive participle (क्त), Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; agrees with saṃkaṭe: 'having arisen/occurred'

• sarva-adhikāre: in all authority (matters)
• sarva-adhikāre: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/domain)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + adhikāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; karmadhāraya: 'all authority/entire jurisdiction'

• saṃdigdhe: doubtful
• saṃdigdhe: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saṃdigdha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; agrees with adhikāre

• niścite: decided/settled
• niścite: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: niścita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; agrees with paryaye (locative) in sense 'in the determined/settled (turn)'

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, disjunctive particle (option)

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

• paryaye: in the turn/phase
• paryaye: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/occasion)
• Type: Noun
• Root: paryaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not tied to a particular shrine; it continues the Kali-yuga crisis description—decline of varṇāśrama and uncertainty of dharma.

Significance: Highlights the need for a universally applicable sādhana not dependent on complex social-ritual infrastructure; prepares for mantra-centric remedy.

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Kali-yuga (social-religious inversion)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames a Kali-yuga-like condition where external dharma becomes unreliable, preparing the listener for Shaiva guidance: take refuge in Pati (Shiva) through steady devotion and right understanding when social-religious certainties collapse.

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

When eligibility and rules are disputed, Shiva’s accessible Saguna worship—especially Linga-upāsanā—serves as a stable, purifying support, leading the mind toward the higher truth of Shiva beyond change.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

In such doubtful times, one should prioritize simple Shaiva sādhana: japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with devotion, along with basic purity observances such as bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and Rudrākṣa as capacity allows.