Shloka 122

Praṇava-Māhātmya and the Twofold Mantra (Sūkṣma–Sthūla) in Śaiva Sādhanā

Devanagari script

गुरूपदेशाज्जाप्यं वै ब्राह्मणानां नमोऽतकम् । पंचाक्षरं पंचलक्षमायुष्यं प्रजपेद्विधिः

Transliteration

gurūpadeśājjāpyaṃ vai brāhmaṇānāṃ namo'takam | paṃcākṣaraṃ paṃcalakṣamāyuṣyaṃ prajapedvidhiḥ

Translation

Получив наставление от Гуру, брахман должен совершать джапу мантры «намо». Согласно правилам, он должен повторить пятисложную мантру (Панчакшара) пятьсот тысяч раз для обретения долгой жизни.

Word by Word

• गुरूपदेशात्: from the guru’s instruction
• गुरूपदेशात्: Hetu (हेतु/Cause/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु + उपदेश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (गुरोः उपदेशः)

• जाप्यम्: is to be recited/muttered
• जाप्यम्: Kriya (क्रिया/Obligation)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जप् (धातु) + यत् (कृत्)
• Form: यत्-कृदन्त (gerundive: 'to be muttered'), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphasis)

• ब्राह्मणानाम्: of Brahmins
• ब्राह्मणानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), बहुवचन

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Salutation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययवत्)
• Form: नमः-शब्दः; निपातवत् प्रयोगः (indeclinable interjection of salutation)

• अष्टकम्: octad; set of eight (verses)
• अष्टकम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अष्टक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• पञ्चाक्षरम्: the five-syllabled (mantra)
• पञ्चाक्षरम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च + अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (पञ्च अक्षराणि यस्मिन्)

• पञ्चलक्षम्: five lakhs (500,000)
• पञ्चलक्षम्: Karma (कर्म/Object/Measure)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च + लक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (five lakhs)

• आयुष्यम्: life-prolonging
• आयुष्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आयुष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying जपम्/पञ्चलक्षम्: life-prolonging)

• प्रजपेत्: should recite
• प्रजपेत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + जप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• विधिः: the rule/ordinance (prescription)
• विधिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: As Viśveśvara/Viśvanātha of Kāśī, Śiva is famed as the giver of liberation; this verse’s guru-upadeśa and pañcākṣara-japa align with Kāśī’s identity as a mokṣa-kṣetra where Śiva grants saving knowledge/mantra.

Significance: Japa of pañcākṣara under guru-guidance is presented as a purifier and life-sustainer; in Kāśī-tradition it is also linked to Śiva’s special bestowal of grace leading toward mokṣa.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: (implied) namaḥ śivāya

Type: panchakshara

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It establishes that Shiva-mantra japa becomes spiritually efficacious when received through Guru-upadeśa, and that disciplined repetition of the Pañcākṣara draws Shiva’s grace for purification and life-supporting merit.

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

The Pañcākṣara “Namaḥ Śivāya” is a core Saguna-Shiva practice used alongside Linga worship; japa is presented as a direct devotional approach to Pati (Shiva) that supports ritual worship and inner contemplation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Receive the mantra from a qualified Guru and perform vidhi-based japa of the Pañcākṣara, aiming for a count of five lakhs (500,000) repetitions as a disciplined sādhana for longevity and purification.