Shiva Purana — Vidyesvara Samhita, Shloka 133

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

Devanagari script

शिवभक्ताः क्रियाः सर्वा वेदसर्वक्रियां विदुः । यावद्यावच्छिवं मंत्रं येन जप्तं भवेत्क्रमात्

Transliteration

śivabhaktāḥ kriyāḥ sarvā vedasarvakriyāṃ viduḥ | yāvadyāvacchivaṃ maṃtraṃ yena japtaṃ bhavetkramāt

Translation

湿婆奉献者所行的一切戒行与仪轨，应知皆含摄诸吠陀仪式之全体。因为依次第而行，凡人诵持湿婆真言到何等程度，便在何等程度上圆满一切神圣行持之果。

Word by Word

• शिवभक्ताः: devotees of Śiva
• शिवभक्ताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव-भक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (शिवस्य भक्ताः)

• क्रियाः: rites/actions
• क्रियाः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• सर्वाः: all
• सर्वाः: Karma-viśeṣaṇa (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; विशेषण (of क्रियाः)

• वेदसर्वक्रियाम्: the entirety of Vedic rites
• वेदसर्वक्रियाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद-सर्व-क्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (वेदस्य सर्वाः क्रियाः = Vedic rites as a whole)

• विदुः: know/recognize
• विदुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √विद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect/परोक्ष), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन

• यावत्: as long as / to the extent that
• यावत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यावत् (अव्यय/संबन्ध-शब्द)
• Form: अव्यय; परिमाण/अवधि-सूचक (as much as/so long as)

• यावत्: as long as
• यावत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यावत् (अव्यय/संबन्ध-शब्द)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरुक्ति-बल (repetition for emphasis)

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

• मन्त्रम्: mantra
• मन्त्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• येन: by which
• येन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; करणवाचक (instrumental relative)

• जप्तम्: recited/chanted
• जप्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √जप् (धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle), कर्मणि प्रयोग-सामर्थ्य (that which is recited)

• भवेत्: would be / would occur
• भवेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• क्रमात्: in order, gradually
• क्रमात्: Adverbial/Hetu (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; अव्ययीभावार्थे (adverbial sense: in due order)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: oṃ namaḥ śivāya

Type: panchakshara

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Śiva-bhakti and Śiva-mantra japa are not “less than” Vedic ritualism; they are presented as the inner essence that can spiritually accomplish the purpose of all sacred rites when practiced with devotion and right order.

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

Śiva’s mantra is a Saguna support that gathers the mind and devotion; in the Shiva Purana’s devotional framework, japa offered to Śiva (often alongside Liṅga worship) is treated as a complete and efficacious mode of worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Regular, disciplined mantra-japa of Śiva’s mantra—classically the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya")—performed kramāt (with proper method, consistency, and devotional focus).