Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 6

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

Devanagari script

मन्त्रं सुखमुकोच्चार्यमशेषार्थप्रसिद्धये । प्राहोन्नमः शिवायेति सर्वज्ञस्सर्वदेहिनाम्

Transliteration

mantraṃ sukhamukoccāryamaśeṣārthaprasiddhaye | prāhonnamaḥ śivāyeti sarvajñassarvadehinām

Translation

为使一切义理与所求之果皆得圆满显明，他宣说了易于诵持的真言：“唵 那摩ḥ 湿婆耶（Oṃ Namaḥ Śivāya）。”此乃全知之主的圣音，亦是一切有身众生内在之自性。

Word by Word

• मन्त्रम्: mantra
• मन्त्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• सुखम्: easy/pleasant
• सुखम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifier) of ‘मन्त्रम्’

• उच्चार्यम्: to be uttered
• उच्चार्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उद्-चर् (धातु) + य (कृत्, यत्/य-प्रत्यय; कर्मणि)
• Form: कर्मणि-यत् (gerundive/भाव्य), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘उच्चार्य’ = to be uttered

• अशेषार्थप्रसिद्धये: for the complete meaning’s manifestation/attainment
• अशेषार्थप्रसिद्धये: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अशेष + अर्थ + प्रसिद्धि (प्रातिपदिक); components: अशेष(अ-शेष) + अर्थ + प्रसिद्धि
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थे (for the purpose of)

• प्राह: said/spoke
• प्राह: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-आह्/अह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• उन्नमः: salutation (raised/reverent)
• उन्नमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत् + नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन; ‘उन्नमः’ = raised salutation / reverential bow

• शिवाय: to Śiva
• शिवाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण-समाप्तिसूचक अव्यय (quotative particle)

• सर्वज्ञः: the omniscient one
• सर्वज्ञः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + ज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेष्यः (apposition)

• सर्वदेहिनाम्: of all embodied beings
• सर्वदेहिनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + देहिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

Speaker

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

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: oṃ namaḥ śivāya

Type: panchakshara

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It proclaims the Pañcākṣarī “Oṃ Namaḥ Śivāya” as a simple yet complete means that reveals and fulfills the soul’s aims—devotion, purification, and liberation—by turning the bound soul (paśu) toward the Lord (Pati).

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

The mantra is a direct devotional address to Śiva that can be practiced with saguna supports like the Śiva-liṅga (archana, abhiṣeka, japa). By sustained japa, the worshipper’s mind becomes fit to grasp Śiva beyond form as well.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Daily japa of “Oṃ Namaḥ Śivāya” with steady pronunciation and surrender (namaḥ), ideally before the Śiva-liṅga, optionally supported by vibhūti (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa for continuity of remembrance.