Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 52

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

Devanagari script

शिकारः कवचं तद्वद्वकारो नेत्रमुच्यते । यकारो ऽस्त्रं नमस्स्वाहा वषठुंवौषडित्यपि

Transliteration

śikāraḥ kavacaṃ tadvadvakāro netramucyate | yakāro 'straṃ namassvāhā vaṣaṭhuṃvauṣaḍityapi

Translation

音节“śi”称为护甲（kavaca）；同样，音节“va”被教为“眼”（netra，咒眼）。音节“ya”宣说为“武器”（astra）；而仪式性的咒语呼声——“namaḥ”“svāhā”“vaṣaṭ”“huṃ”“vauṣaṭ”——亦复如是。

Word by Word

• śikāraḥ: the syllable/letter 'śi'
• śikāraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śi-kāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष: 'śi' + 'kāra'

• kavacam: armor
• kavacam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kavaca (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd; प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• tadvat: likewise
• tadvat: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadvat (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययवत्-प्रत्ययान्त)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय): 'likewise/in the same way'

• vakāraḥ: the syllable/letter 'va'
• vakāraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: va-kāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष: 'va' + 'kāra'

• netram: eye
• netram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: netra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd; प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• ucyate: is called
• ucyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (धातु)
• Form: Passive (कर्मणि), Present (लट्), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• yakāraḥ: the syllable/letter 'ya'
• yakāraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ya-kāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष: 'ya' + 'kāra'

• astram: weapon (missile)
• astram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: astra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd; प्रथमा/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• namaḥ: obeisance
• namaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: namas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Particle/Exclamation (निपातवत्), used as salutation; often governs dative (चतुर्थी)

• svāhā: svāhā
• svāhā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: svāhā (अव्यय/मन्त्रपद)
• Form: Mantra-exclamation (मन्त्रनिपात) used in offerings

• vaṣaṭ: vaṣaṭ
• vaṣaṭ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vaṣaṭ (अव्यय/मन्त्रपद)
• Form: Mantra-exclamation (मन्त्रनिपात)

• hum: huṃ
• hum: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hum (अव्यय/मन्त्रपद)
• Form: Mantra-syllable (बीज/मन्त्रनिपात)

• vauṣaṭ: vauṣaṭ
• vauṣaṭ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vauṣaṭ (अव्यय/मन्त्रपद)
• Form: Mantra-exclamation (मन्त्रनिपात)

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle (इति-निपात)

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात): 'also/even'

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: śi = kavaca, va = netra, ya = astra; plus ritual exclamations: namaḥ, svāhā, vaṣaṭ, huṃ, vauṣaṭ

Type: panchakshara

Shakti Dimension

Role: protective

Ritual Elements

Offering: dhupa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that the mantra is not merely sound but a complete spiritual technology: certain syllables function as protection (kavaca), inner illumination (netra), and transformative power (astra), helping the bound soul (paśu) move toward Shiva (Pati) by removing limitations (pāśa).

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

In Linga worship, devotees employ mantra-angas (kavaca, netra, astra) to sanctify the act of abhiṣeka and pūjā—invoking Shiva’s protective and grace-bestowing presence in a saguna form while aiming toward realization of his transcendent nature.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It points to mantra-nyāsa and protective recitation: placing syllables as kavaca/netra/astra, and using formulas like namaḥ and svāhā in japa or homa; “huṃ” is used as a warding/empowering bija during purification and protection rites.