Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 5

पञ्चाक्षरमाहात्म्यम् / The Greatness of the Pañcākṣarī (Five-Syllable) Mantra

Devanagari script

अब्भक्षा वायुभक्षाश्च ये चान्ये व्रतकर्शिताः । तेषामेतैर्व्रतैर्नास्ति शिवलोकसमागमः

Transliteration

abbhakṣā vāyubhakṣāśca ye cānye vratakarśitāḥ | teṣāmetairvratairnāsti śivalokasamāgamaḥ

Translation

جو صرف پانی پر گزارا کرتے ہیں، جو صرف ہوا پر جیتے ہیں، اور دوسرے جو سخت ورتوں سے دُبلے ہو گئے ہیں—صرف ایسے ورتوں سے شِو لوک کا وصال حاصل نہیں ہوتا۔

Word by Word

• अब्भक्षाः: water-eaters (those who subsist on water)
• अब्भक्षाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप्/अम्बु (प्रातिपदिक) + भक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (उपपद/षष्ठीभाव) ‘अद्भिः/अम्बुना भक्ष्यते ये’ (water-eaters); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; बहुवचन (Nominative Plural)

• वायुभक्षाः: air-eaters (those who subsist on air)
• वायुभक्षाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु (प्रातिपदिक) + भक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (उपपद) ‘वायुं भक्ष्यते ये’ (air-eaters); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; बहुवचन (Nominative Plural)

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

• ये: those who
• ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; बहुवचन (Nominative Plural)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक निपात

• अन्ये: others
• अन्ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; बहुवचन (Nominative Plural)

• व्रतकर्शिताः: emaciated by vows/austerities
• व्रतकर्शिताः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्शित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; कर्श् धातु)
• Form: तत्पुरुष ‘व्रतेन कर्शिताः’ (austerity-worn); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि/भूतकृत् (past passive participle used adjectivally); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; बहुवचन (Nom Pl)

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक; षष्ठी विभक्ति; बहुवचन (Genitive Plural)

• एतैः: by these
• एतैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक; तृतीया विभक्ति; बहुवचन (Instrumental Plural)

• व्रतैः: by vows; by observances
• व्रतैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तृतीया विभक्ति; बहुवचन (Instrumental Plural)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation)

• अस्ति: is; exists
• अस्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present); प्रथमपुरुष; एकवचन; परस्मैपद (3rd sg)

• शिवलोकसमागमः: attainment/meeting with Śiva’s world
• शिवलोकसमागमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + लोक (प्रातिपदिक) + समागम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (समाहार/षष्ठीभाव) ‘शिवस्य लोकः’ + ‘(तस्य) समागमः’; पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा विभक्ति; एकवचन (Nominative Singular)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a jyotirliṅga legend; it polemicizes against relying on bodily mortification alone (water/air fasting) as sufficient for Śivaloka.

Significance: Teaches that pilgrimage/austerity without Śiva-bhakti and Śiva-mantra does not culminate in Śivaloka; emphasizes inner orientation over extreme vrata.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that extreme austerities (like living on water or air) are not sufficient by themselves; communion with Śiva (Śivaloka) arises from right knowledge and Śiva-bhakti aligned with dharma, not mere self-mortification.

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

It redirects the seeker from harsh bodily practices to authentic Śiva-upāsanā—reverent worship of Saguna Śiva through the Liṅga, mantra-japa, and devotion—supported by inner purity rather than outward extremity.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Prioritize Śiva-centered sādhanā such as pañcākṣarī japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), mindful Liṅga-pūjā, and disciplined but balanced vrata—rather than extreme fasting as an end in itself.