Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 3

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

Devanagari script

वेदे शिवागमे चायमुभयत्र षडक्षरेः । सर्वेषां शिवभक्तानामशेषार्थसाधकः

Transliteration

vede śivāgame cāyamubhayatra ṣaḍakṣareḥ | sarveṣāṃ śivabhaktānāmaśeṣārthasādhakaḥ

Translation

ویدوں اور شیو آگموں دونوں میں یہ شڈاکشر منتر سکھایا گیا ہے۔ یہ تمام شیو بھکتوں کے لیے ہر مقصد کو پورا کرنے والا ہے۔

Word by Word

• वेदे: in the Veda
• वेदे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• शिवागमे: in the Śiva-āgama (Śaiva scripture)
• शिवागमे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव + आगम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (शिवस्य आगमः)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• अयम्: this (one)
• अयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• उभयत्र: in both places
• उभयत्र: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Adverbial location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उभयत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देश/स्थानवाचक अव्यय (locative adverb)

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

• सर्वेषाम्: of all
• सर्वेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• शिवभक्तानाम्: of Śiva’s devotees
• शिवभक्तानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव + भक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (शिवस्य भक्ताः)

• अशेषार्थसाधकः: accomplisher of all aims without remainder
• अशेषार्थसाधकः: Vidhaya (विधेय/Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अशेष + अर्थ + साधक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः (अशेषान् अर्थान् साधयति)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a site-legend; the verse functions as a śāstra-pramāṇa statement: the mantra is validated by both Veda and Śivāgama.

Significance: Affirms that mantra-sādhana is universally authorized (Veda + Āgama), making every place a field for Śiva-upāsanā; supports pilgrims and householders alike.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: (Oṃ) namaḥ śivāya (understood); also referenced as ṣaḍakṣara when prefixed with Oṃ

Type: panchakshara

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It declares the six-syllable Śiva-mantra as scripturally authoritative in both Veda and Āgama and as a complete means for Śiva-bhaktas—supporting dharma and leading to liberation through Śiva’s grace.

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

The mantra is a direct method of approaching Śiva in worship; it naturally integrates with saguna upāsanā such as Liṅga-pūjā, where japa and offering are performed while contemplating Śiva as the compassionate Lord (Pati) who removes bonds.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Regular japa of the six-syllable Śiva-mantra with devotion—ideally alongside Śiva-pūjā—serving as a daily sādhana for both inner purification and steadfast bhakti.