Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 3

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

Devanagari script

तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन पतितो ऽपि यजेच्छिवम् । भक्तश्चेन्नापरः कश्चिद्भिक्षाहारो जितेंद्रियः

Transliteration

tasmātsarvaprayatnena patito 'pi yajecchivam | bhaktaścennāparaḥ kaścidbhikṣāhāro jiteṃdriyaḥ

Translation

因此，应竭尽全力，即便堕入罪业之人也当礼敬湿婆；若其为虔诚奉主者，别无依怙，以乞食为生，并已制伏诸根。

Word by Word

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu (हेतु)/Nimitta (निमित्त)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; तस्मात् = ‘therefore’ (ablatival adverbial usage)

• सर्व-प्रयत्नेन: with all effort
• सर्व-प्रयत्नेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रयत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (सर्वस्य प्रयत्नः)

• पतितः: a fallen person
• पतितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पतित (प्रातिपदिक; क्त-कृदन्त from पत्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त ‘fallen/degraded’ used substantively

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अपि = ‘even/also’

• यजेत्: should worship/sacrifice
• यजेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: यज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• शिवम्: Śiva
• शिवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• भक्तः: a devotee
• भक्तः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्त (प्रातिपदिक; क्त-कृदन्त from भज्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘devoted’ used substantively

• चेत्: if
• चेत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चेत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; शर्तार्थक-निपात (conditional particle: if)

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध-निपात

• अपरः: another/other
• अपरः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (other/another)

• कश्चित्: someone/anyone
• कश्चित्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; अनिश्चितवाचक (indefinite pronoun)

• भिक्षा-हारः: living on alms
• भिक्षा-हारः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भिक्षा (प्रातिपदिक) + हार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (भिक्षायाः हारः) = ‘one whose food is alms’

• जित-इन्द्रियः: one who has conquered the senses
• जित-इन्द्रियः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जित (प्रातिपदिक; क्त-कृदन्त from जि) + इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (जितानि इन्द्रियाणि यस्य सः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a jyotirliṅga narrative; it universalizes eligibility: even the fallen (patita) may approach Śiva if marked by exclusive devotion, sense-control, and ascetic simplicity.

Significance: Affirms that access to Śiva’s grace is not barred by past impurity when one adopts śaraṇāgati and disciplined living; supports inclusive temple approach grounded in repentance and restraint.

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Śiva (Pati) is the supreme refuge: even a person burdened by downfall can turn toward liberation through sincere bhakti supported by self-restraint and humility.

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

It emphasizes accessible worship of Saguna Śiva—approaching Him as the compassionate Lord who accepts even the fallen devotee when devotion is exclusive and conduct is purified through sense-control.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A disciplined devotional life: worship of Śiva with renunciant simplicity (bhikṣāhāra), restraint of the senses (jitendriya), and steady devotion—naturally aligned with japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and regular Śiva-pūjā.