Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 14
पञ्चाक्षरमाहात्म्यम् / The Greatness of the Pañcākṣarī (Five-Syllable) Mantra
स चिरं संसरत्यस्मिन्संसारे दुःखसागरे । दुर्ल्लभं प्राप्य मानुष्यं मूढो नार्चयते शिवम्
sa ciraṃ saṃsaratyasminsaṃsāre duḥkhasāgare | durllabhaṃ prāpya mānuṣyaṃ mūḍho nārcayate śivam
เขาพเนจรอยู่เนิ่นนานในสังสารวัฏอันเป็นมหาสมุทรแห่งทุกข์; แม้ได้เกิดเป็นมนุษย์อันหาได้ยาก ผู้หลงผิดก็ยังไม่บูชาพระศิวะผู้เป็นเจ้า।
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Significance: Frames human birth as a rare opportunity to turn from saṃsāra toward Śiva; implicitly urges pilgrimage/arcana as a means to cross the duḥkha-sāgara.
FAQs
The verse warns that saṃsāra is inherently duḥkha (bondage and sorrow), and that human birth—rare and spiritually potent—should be used to turn toward Pati (Śiva) through worship; neglecting Śiva keeps the jīva (paśu) revolving under pāśa (bondage).
It emphasizes arcana (worship) as a practical doorway for the deluded mind: worship of Saguna Śiva—especially through Śiva-liṅga pūjā—purifies karma and directs the devotee toward Śiva’s grace, which culminates in liberation.
A direct takeaway is daily Śiva-arcana with the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” along with simple observances like vibhūti (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa as aids to steady devotion and remembrance.