Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 22

पञ्चाक्षर-षडक्षरमन्त्र-माहात्म्यम् | The Greatness of the Pañcākṣara/Ṣaḍakṣara Mantra

Devanagari script

यद्यथावस्थितं वस्तु गुणदोषैः स्वभावतः । यावत्फलं च तत्पूर्णं सर्वज्ञस्तु यथा वदेत्

Transliteration

yadyathāvasthitaṃ vastu guṇadoṣaiḥ svabhāvataḥ | yāvatphalaṃ ca tatpūrṇaṃ sarvajñastu yathā vadet

Translation

พึงพรรณนาสิ่งใดตามที่เป็นอยู่จริง ตามสภาวะเดิมพร้อมทั้งคุณและโทษ และให้ครบถ้วนถึงขอบเขตแห่งผลของมัน—ดังที่ผู้ทรงรอบรู้ย่อมประกาศไว้.

Word by Word

• yat: which
• yat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक (relative)

• yathā-avasthitam: as it truly is
• yathā-avasthitam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय) + avasthita (कृदन्त; √sthā with ava-)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; क्रियाविशेषणार्थे ‘यथावस्थितम्’ = ‘as it is situated’

• vastu: a thing / reality
• vastu: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vastu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; अत्र कर्मरूपेण (object)

• guṇa-doṣaiḥ: by qualities and faults
• guṇa-doṣaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guṇa + doṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः

• svabhāvataḥ: by nature
• svabhāvataḥ: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: svabhāva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb) ‘-तः’ = ‘from/by nature’

• yāvat-phalam: to the extent of its result
• yāvat-phalam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yāvat (अव्यय) + phala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव; ‘यावत्’ (as much as) + ‘फलम्’ → ‘to the extent of the result’ (adverbial)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय

• tat-pūrṇam: that complete (account)
• tat-pūrṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + pūrṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-प्रायः ‘that (is) complete’

• sarvajñaḥ: the omniscient one
• sarvajñaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva + jña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृपद

• tu: indeed / however
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषणार्थक-अव्यय (particle: ‘indeed/but’)

• yathā: as
• yathā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: ‘as’)

• vadet: should speak
• vadet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vad (वद् धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Shiva Purana discourse to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

FAQs

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

It teaches spiritual integrity: to know and speak of any subject as it truly is—its nature, merits, defects, and consequences—so that knowledge becomes purifying and aligned with Shiva as the Lord of true wisdom (Pati).

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

Linga-worship emphasizes seeing Shiva’s presence in reality without distortion; this verse supports that discipline by urging accurate discernment (viveka) and truthful articulation, which stabilizes devotion and understanding of Saguna Shiva while pointing toward the highest truth.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice sattvic speech and self-review: before japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” reflect on actions and intentions in terms of guṇa (merit) and doṣa (fault), and offer both to Shiva with humility—supporting steadiness in japa, bhasma-dhāraṇa, and daily purity.