Shloka 127

Praṇava-Māhātmya and the Twofold Mantra (Sūkṣma–Sthūla) in Śaiva Sādhanā

Devanagari script

पुनश्च पंचलक्षेण मंत्रब्राह्मण उच्यते । शूद्र श्चैव नमओंतेन पंचविंशतिलक्षतः

Transliteration

punaśca paṃcalakṣeṇa maṃtrabrāhmaṇa ucyate | śūdra ścaiva namaoṃtena paṃcaviṃśatilakṣataḥ

Translation

又复，圆满五十万遍持诵，便被称为“真言婆罗门”（mantra-brāhmaṇa），即已净化并安住于真言戒行之中。即使是首陀罗，若持诵“南无—唵”（Nama–Oṁ）真言达二百五十万遍，亦能获得此等地位。

Word by Word

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: पुनरावृत्त्यर्थक अव्यय (again)

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

• पञ्चलक्षेण: with five lakhs (of repetitions)
• पञ्चलक्षेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च + लक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; instrumental

• मन्त्रब्राह्मणः: (as) a mantra-brāhmaṇa
• मन्त्रब्राह्मणः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र + ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; ‘mantra-brāhmaṇa’

• उच्यते: is called
• उच्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि (passive), आत्मनेपद; ‘is called’

• शूद्रः: a śūdra
• शूद्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; subject (understood)

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

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक निपात (particle: only/indeed)

• नमः: obeisance
• नमः: Sambodhana/Prayoga (सम्बोधन/प्रयोग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभूत/निपातवत् प्रयोग; indeclinable interjection ‘obeisance’

• ओं: Oṃ
• ओं: Mantra (मन्त्र)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ॐ (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रणव (sacred syllable), indeclinable

• तेन: by that/thereby
• तेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; instrumental ‘by that/thereby’

• पञ्चविंशतिलक्षतः: (up to) twenty-five lakhs
• पञ्चविंशतिलक्षतः: Parimāṇa/Avadhi (परिमाण/अवधि)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पञ्चविंशति + लक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + तस् (अव्यय)
• Form: तस्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय; ‘from/according to twenty-five lakhs’ (count/measure)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Shiva Purana teachings to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Affirms universal eligibility for Śiva-mantra through sustained japa; pilgrimage-fruit is interiorized as purification and adhikāra rather than mere travel.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: namaḥ oṃ (as ‘nama–oṃ’ formula, per verse wording)

Type: panchakshara

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that sustained mantra-japa purifies and elevates the practitioner; spiritual qualification is grounded in disciplined sadhana rather than mere birth-status, aligning with Shaiva emphasis on inner purification through Shiva-mantra.

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

Mantra-japa—especially Nama/Oṁ-based Shiva invocation—supports Saguna Shiva worship (Linga-puja) by steadying devotion, focusing mind and prana, and making the devotee fit for ritual and contemplative absorption in Shiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Regular, counted japa of Shiva’s Name with Oṁ (commonly linked with Om Namaḥ Śivāya), ideally alongside Linga worship, purity observances, and steady daily practice until the prescribed lakhs are completed.