Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 109

पञ्चावरणमार्गस्थं योगेश्वरस्तोत्रम्

Pañcāvaraṇa-mārga Stotra to Yogeśvara Śiva

Devanagari script

चतुःषष्टिगुणैश्वर्यो बुद्धितत्त्वे प्रतिष्ठितः । निर्गुणो गुणसंकीर्णस्तथैव गुणकेवलः

Transliteration

catuḥṣaṣṭiguṇaiśvaryo buddhitattve pratiṣṭhitaḥ | nirguṇo guṇasaṃkīrṇastathaiva guṇakevalaḥ

Translation

Im Prinzip der Buddhi (kosmische Intelligenz) gegründet, besitzt der Herr eine Herrschaft, die sich in vierundsechzig göttlichen Vorzügen offenbart. Und doch ist Er Nirguṇa, jenseits aller Eigenschaften; ebenso wird Er — je nach Standpunkt von Offenbarung und Erfahrung — als Guṇa-saṃkīrṇa, mit Qualitäten vermischt, und als Guṇa-kevala, rein als Qualität erscheinend, beschrieben.

Word by Word

• चतुःषष्टिगुणैश्वर्यः: endowed with lordship of sixty-four qualities
• चतुःषष्टिगुणैश्वर्यः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुःषष्टि + गुण + ऐश्वर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (determinative): ‘चतुःषष्ट्या गुणैः ऐश्वर्यम् यस्य’ इत्यर्थे बहुव्रीह्यर्थे विशेषणवत् प्रयोगः; व्यवहारतः ‘possessing lordship with sixty-four qualities’

• बुद्धितत्त्वे: in the principle of intellect
• बुद्धितत्त्वे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुद्धि + तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘बुद्धेः तत्त्वम्’ (principle of intellect)

• प्रतिष्ठितः: established
• प्रतिष्ठितः: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति + स्था (धातु) + क्त (प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘established/abiding’

• निर्गुणः: without qualities
• निर्गुणः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर् + गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुष: ‘गुणैः रहितः’ (without qualities)

• गुणसंकीर्णः: mixed with qualities
• गुणसंकीर्णः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुण + संकीर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘गुणैः संकीर्णः’ (mixed with qualities)

• तथा: thus
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb): ‘thus/so’

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle of emphasis): ‘indeed/just’

• गुणकेवलः: only of qualities / purely qualified
• गुणकेवलः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुण + केवल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘केवलः गुणः’/‘गुणैः केवलः’ (consisting solely of qualities)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Doctrinal verse: describes Śiva’s aiśvarya and his relation to guṇas from different standpoints (nirguṇa / guṇa-saṃkīrṇa / guṇa-kevala).

Significance: Contemplation yields tattva-jñāna: discerning Pati as transcendent to guṇas while also immanent as their regulator—key for loosening pāśa (māyā).

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It reconciles Shiva’s transcendence and immanence: Shiva is ultimately nirguṇa (beyond prakṛti and its guṇas), yet for the sake of creation, grace, and liberation He is spoken of as endowed with divine excellences and accessible through manifest modes.

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

Linga worship approaches the same Supreme: the formless, nirguṇa Shiva is indicated by the Linga’s aniconic nature, while rituals, names, and attributes address Shiva’s saguna/manifest aspect—both are valid standpoints leading the devotee toward realization.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva as both beyond qualities and compassionately manifest—support this with japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and Linga-dhyāna, using bhasma (Tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa as aids to steady awareness on Pati (Shiva).