Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 4

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

Devanagari script

तदल्पाक्षरमर्थाढ्यं वेदसारं विमुक्तिदम् । आज्ञासिद्धमसंदिग्धं वाक्यमेतच्छिवात्मकम्

Transliteration

tadalpākṣaramarthāḍhyaṃ vedasāraṃ vimuktidam | ājñāsiddhamasaṃdigdhaṃ vākyametacchivātmakam

Translation

此一言辞，虽寥寥数音而义蕴丰厚；乃诸吠陀之精髓，能赐解脱。由神圣权威所确立，毫无疑惑——此语即具湿婆自性。

Word by Word

• tat: that
• tat: Viśeṣya-nirdeśa (विशेष्य-निर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Napuṃsakaliṅga, Prathamā/Dvitīyā (Nom/Acc), Ekavacana

• alpa-akṣaram: having few syllables
• alpa-akṣaram: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: alpa (अल्प) + akṣara (अक्षर) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Samāsa: Karmadhāraya ‘few-syllabled’; Napuṃsakaliṅga, Prathamā/Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• artha-āḍhyam: rich in meaning
• artha-āḍhyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: artha (अर्थ) + āḍhya (आढ्य) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Samāsa: Tatpuruṣa ‘rich in meaning’; Napuṃsakaliṅga, Prathamā/Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• veda-sāram: the essence of the Vedas
• veda-sāram: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: veda (वेद) + sāra (सार) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Samāsa: Tatpuruṣa ‘essence of the Veda(s)’; Napuṃsakaliṅga, Prathamā/Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• vimukti-dam: giving liberation
• vimukti-dam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vimukti (विमुक्ति) + da (द) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Samāsa: Tatpuruṣa ‘giver of liberation’; Napuṃsakaliṅga, Prathamā/Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• ājñā-siddham: authoritatively established
• ājñā-siddham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ājñā (आज्ञा) + siddha (सिद्ध) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Samāsa: Tatpuruṣa ‘established by command/authority’; Napuṃsakaliṅga, Prathamā/Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• a-saṃdigdham: undoubted
• a-saṃdigdham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a- (नञ्) + saṃdigdha (संदिग्ध) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Prathamā/Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; nañ-tatpuruṣa sense (negation)

• vākyam: statement/utterance
• vākyam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vākya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṃsakaliṅga, Prathamā (Nominative, 1st), Ekavacana

• etat: this
• etat: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Sarvanāma, Napuṃsakaliṅga, Prathamā/Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• śiva-ātmakam: of the nature of Śiva
• śiva-ātmakam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śiva (शिव) + ātmaka (आत्मक) (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Samāsa: Tatpuruṣa ‘having the nature of Śiva’; Napuṃsakaliṅga, Prathamā/Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Vedas

FAQs

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

It declares that a concise sacred utterance (mantra) can contain the full purport of the Vedas and directly grant liberation, because it is Śiva-natured—i.e., not merely words, but a living means of contact with Pati (Śiva) that cuts the bonds (pāśa) and frees the soul (paśu).

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

By stating the mantra is “Śiva Himself,” it supports Saguna upāsanā where sound (mantra) and form (Liṅga) work together: the Liṅga is the stable, worshipful presence of Śiva, and the mantra is His revealed vibration—both are authoritative, doubt-free means for devotion and realization.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Regular mantra-japa of the few-syllabled Śiva-mantra (traditionally the Pañcākṣarī, associated with “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), done with faith and clarity, as a direct liberating practice—especially suitable for daily worship and Mahāśivarātri observance.