Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 118

पञ्चावरणमार्गस्थं योगेश्वरस्तोत्रम्

Pañcāvaraṇa-mārga Stotra to Yogeśvara Śiva

Devanagari script

अथ रुद्रो महादेवः शंभोर्मूर्तिर्गरीयसी । वाह्नेयमण्डलाधीशः पौरुषैश्वर्यवान्प्रभुः

Transliteration

atha rudro mahādevaḥ śaṃbhormūrtirgarīyasī | vāhneyamaṇḍalādhīśaḥ pauruṣaiśvaryavānprabhuḥ

Translation

Dann erschien Rudra — der Große Gott — als die erhabenste Gestalt Śambhus: der Herrscher der feurigen Sphäre, der allmächtige Herr, erfüllt von höchster göttlicher Majestät.

Word by Word

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्बन्ध/अनन्तर्य-बोधक अव्यय (then/now)

• रुद्रः: Rudra
• रुद्रः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• महादेवः: Mahādeva
• महादेवः: Apposition (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (महान् देवः)

• शंभोः: of Śambhu
• शंभोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शंभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• मूर्तिः: form/manifestation
• मूर्तिः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject/appositive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• गरीयसी: greater/more venerable
• गरीयसी: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गरीयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तुलनात्मक (Comparative)

• वाह्नेय-मण्डल-अधीशः: lord of the fire-region sphere
• वाह्नेय-मण्डल-अधीशः: Apposition (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाह्नेय (प्रातिपदिक) + मण्डल (प्रातिपदिक) + अधीश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (वाह्नेयस्य मण्डलस्य अधीशः)

• पौरुष-ऐश्वर्य-वान्: possessed of manly sovereignty
• पौरुष-ऐश्वर्य-वान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पौरुष (प्रातिपदिक) + ऐश्वर्य (प्रातिपदिक) + वत् (तद्धित प्रत्यय)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तद्धितान्त (possessive -वान्)

• प्रभुः: the Lord
• प्रभुः: Apposition (समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Rudra

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Fiery sphere (vāhneyamaṇḍala) epiphany; theophany of Rudra as cosmic sovereign

Characters & Entities

• Rudra
• Mahadeva
• Shambhu

FAQs

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

It praises Rudra as the most exalted manifest form of Śiva (Śambhu), emphasizing Saguna Śiva’s sovereign power—He is the supreme Pati (Lord) whose majesty surpasses all and who alone grants liberation beyond bondage.

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

By describing Rudra as Śambhu’s ‘most venerable form,’ the verse supports Saguna upāsanā: devotees may worship Śiva as the radiant, ruling Presence (often approached through the Liṅga) while recognizing that this manifestation points to the supreme Lordship of Śiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A fitting practice is dhyāna on Rudra as luminous like fire, combined with japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and offering of sacred ash (tripuṇḍra/bhasma) as a sign of surrender to Mahādeva’s supreme lordship.