Shiv Panchakshar Stotra — Word-by-Word Meaning

To Him who wears the king of serpents as a garland, the three-eyed, His body smeared with ash, the great Lord — eternal, pure and sky-clad — to that syllable 'Na', salutations to Shiva. To Him anointed with the water of the Ganga and with sandal paste, the Lord of Nandi and of the Pramatha hosts, the great Lord, worshipped with mandara and many flowers — to that syllable 'Ma', salutations to Shiva. To the auspicious one, the sun to the lotus-cluster that is Gauri's face, the destroyer of Daksha's sacrifice, the blue-throated, the bull-bannered — to that syllable 'Shi', salutations to Shiva. To Him whose crown is worshipped by Vasishtha, Agastya (born of the pot), Gautama and the lords of sages and gods, whose three eyes are the moon, the sun and fire — to that syllable 'Va', salutations to Shiva. To Him of the yaksha form, bearing matted locks, the Pinaka bow in hand, the eternal, the divine, the sky-clad God — to that syllable 'Ya', salutations to Shiva. Whoever recites this holy five-syllable (Panchakshara) hymn in the presence of Shiva attains the abode of Shiva and rejoices forever in His company.