Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 36

पञ्चाक्षरीविद्यायाḥ कलियुगे मोक्षोपायः | The Pañcākṣarī Vidyā as a Means of Liberation in Kali Yuga

Devanagari script

प्रोक्तवानहमार्याणां जगत्सृष्टिविवृद्धये । ततस्ते मंत्रमाहात्म्यादृषयस्तपसेधिताः

Transliteration

proktavānahamāryāṇāṃ jagatsṛṣṭivivṛddhaye | tataste maṃtramāhātmyādṛṣayastapasedhitāḥ

Translation

میں نے دنیا کی تخلیق اور افزائش کے لیے اَریاؤں کو تعلیم دی۔ پھر اس منتر کی عظمت سے متاثر ہو کر وہ رِشی تپسیا میں مضبوطی سے لگ گئے۔

Word by Word

• प्रोक्तवान्: having spoken; I said
• प्रोक्तवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वच् (धातु) → प्रोक्तवत् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकालिक-कृदन्तः (past active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोगे ‘अहम्’ इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अहम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

• आर्याणाम्: of the noble ones
• आर्याणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), बहुवचन

• जगत्सृष्टिविवृद्धये: for the creation and increase of the world
• जगत्सृष्टिविवृद्धये: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/प्रयोजन-चतुर्थी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् + सृष्टि + विवृद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative), एकवचन; समासः (जगतः सृष्टिः च विवृद्धिः च—अर्थे प्रयोजनम्)

• ततः: then; thereafter
• ततः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• ते: they
• ते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचन

• मन्त्र-माहात्म्यात्: from/because of the greatness of the mantra
• मन्त्र-माहात्म्यात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र + माहात्म्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मन्त्रस्य माहात्म्यम्)

• ऋषयः: the seers
• ऋषयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचन

• तपसा: by austerity
• तपसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन

• एधिताः: were increased/prospered
• एधिताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: एध् (धातु) → एधित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकालिक-कृदन्तः (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मणि भावः—‘वर्धिताः/समृद्धाः’

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Vāyavīya teaching to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga narrative; it frames mantra-upadeśa as serving jagat-sṛṣṭi-vivṛddhi (world’s orderly flourishing) and motivating sages toward tapas.

Significance: Highlights the purāṇic view that mantra is not merely personal salvation-technique but also supports loka-saṅgraha (cosmic/social order).

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Rishis
• Mantra

FAQs

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

It teaches that mantra is not merely sound but Shiva’s power (śakti) that awakens dharma and spiritual resolve; when its glory is understood, seekers naturally turn toward tapas—self-discipline that purifies the pashu (bound soul) and loosens pāśa (bondage) under Pati’s grace.

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

Mantra-mahātmyā is commonly realized through saguna upāsanā—japa and worship directed to Shiva as the approachable Lord, often with the Liṅga as the focal support; the verse highlights that such mantra-centered devotion culminates in inner steadiness and purification.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Regular mantra-japa with disciplined tapas: keep a vow of purity, perform daily Shiva remembrance, and combine japa with simple austerities (regulated food, silence, night-vigil on Mahāśivarātri); if following Shaiva custom, support it with vibhūti (tripuṇḍra) and Rudrākṣa while maintaining ethical restraints.