Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 33

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

Devanagari script

शिवज्ञानानि यावंति विद्यास्थानापि यानि च । षडक्षरस्य सूत्रस्य तानि भाष्यं समासतः

Transliteration

śivajñānāni yāvaṃti vidyāsthānāpi yāni ca | ṣaḍakṣarasya sūtrasya tāni bhāṣyaṃ samāsataḥ

Translation

บรรดาความรู้ทั้งปวงเกี่ยวกับพระศิวะ และสถานแห่งวิชาและระเบียบวิชาทั้งหลาย—โดยสรุปแล้ว ล้วนเป็นคำอธิบายต่อ “สูตร” แห่งมนตร์หกพยางค์

Word by Word

• शिवज्ञानानि: knowledges of Śiva
• शिवज्ञानानि: Karma (कर्म/Object; of implied 'to be explained')
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव-ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी: शिवस्य ज्ञानानि)

• यावन्ति: as many as
• यावन्ति: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Quantifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यावत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (शिवज्ञानानि)

• विद्यास्थानानि: seats/fields of learning
• विद्यास्थानानि: Karma (कर्म/Object; coordinated)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्या-स्थान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी: विद्यायाः स्थानानि)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अप्यर्थ (also/even)

• यानि: which
• यानि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Relative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचन; सम्बन्धबोधक (relative pronoun)

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

• षडक्षरस्य: of the six-syllabled
• षडक्षरस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: षट्-अक्षर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; समासः—द्विगु (षट् अक्षराणि यस्य)

• सूत्रस्य: of the aphorism/formula
• सूत्रस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• तानि: those (all)
• तानि: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; of implied 'are')
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), बहुवचन; निर्देश (demonstrative)

• भाष्यम्: commentary/exposition
• भाष्यम्: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानााधिकरण/Predicate)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भाष्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन

• समासतः: in brief, concisely
• समासतः: Prakāra (प्रकार/Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: समासतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त (ablatival adverb)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: This verse is a doctrinal praise of the ṣaḍakṣara as a sūtra encompassing all Śiva-vidyā; it is not tied to a specific Jyotirliṅga-sthala narrative.

Significance: Frames mantra as a complete śāstra in seed-form; supports the idea that mantra-japa itself is a sufficient sādhana leading toward Śiva-jñāna and grace.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that the six-syllabled Shiva-mantra is a complete spiritual “sutra”: all Shiva-knowledge and all branches of sacred learning are essentially its expanded meaning, pointing the soul (paśu) toward Shiva (Pati) and liberation.

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

By affirming the mantra as the essence of all teachings, it supports Saguna worship—such as Linga-upasana—where mantra-japa, devotion, and right understanding converge, culminating in Shiva’s grace that reveals the highest truth beyond form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Regular japa of the six-syllabled Shiva-mantra with focused contemplation on its meaning—supported by Shaiva disciplines like purity, devotion, and steady meditation—is implied as the concise practice that unfolds all Shiva-knowledge.