Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 128

पञ्चावरणमार्गस्थं योगेश्वरस्तोत्रम्

Pañcāvaraṇa-mārga Stotra to Yogeśvara Śiva

Devanagari script

असाधारणकर्मा च सृष्ट्यादिकरणात्पृथक् । दक्षिणांगभवेनापि स्पर्धमानः स्वयंभुवा

Transliteration

asādhāraṇakarmā ca sṛṣṭyādikaraṇātpṛthak | dakṣiṇāṃgabhavenāpi spardhamānaḥ svayaṃbhuvā

Translation

Wahrlich, er besaß eine außergewöhnliche Kraft des Handelns, getrennt von den gewöhnlichen Ursachen der Schöpfung und des Übrigen; und obwohl aus der rechten Seite (des Herrn) geboren, wetteiferte er doch mit dem Selbstgeborenen (Brahmā).

Word by Word

• असाधारणकर्मा: one of extraordinary deeds
• असाधारणकर्मा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: असाधारण + कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः — ‘असाधारणं कर्म यस्य’ (having extraordinary deeds) used adjectivally

• च: and
• च: Avyaya (अव्यय/Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-निपात (conjunction) — ‘and’

• सृष्टि-आदि-करणात्: from the act/agency of creation and the like
• सृष्टि-आदि-करणात्: Apadana (अपादान/Ablative source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक) + करण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः — ‘सृष्ट्यादीनां करणम्’ (the act/means of creation etc.) + ablative ‘from’

• पृथक्: apart; distinct
• पृथक्: Avyaya (अव्यय/Adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पृथक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb) — ‘separately/apart’

• दक्षिण-अङ्ग-भवेन: by (his) origin from the right limb/side
• दक्षिण-अङ्ग-भवेन: Karana (करण/Instrument or means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः — ‘दक्षिणं अङ्गं यस्य’/‘दक्षिणाङ्गसम्बन्धी भवः’ (by/through the state of being from the right limb/side)

• अपि: also; even
• अपि: Avyaya (अव्यय/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle) — ‘also/even’

• स्पर्धमानः: competing; rivaling
• स्पर्धमानः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-qualifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्पर्ध् (धातु) + शानच् (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (present middle participle) ‘स्पर्धमान’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन — ‘competing’

• स्वयंभुवा: with/against Svayaṃbhū (the self-born Brahmā)
• स्वयंभुवा: Saha (सह/Association; instrumental accompaniment)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वयंभू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; proper epithet — ‘with/against Svayaṃbhū (Brahmā)’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: brahmāṇḍa-sṛṣṭi (cosmic origination narrative)

Characters & Entities

• Brahma

FAQs

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

It highlights that extraordinary beings and powers can arise beyond ordinary creative causation, yet egoic rivalry even with Brahmā remains a mark of limitation; Shaiva Siddhānta points beyond such competition to surrender to Pati (Śiva), the true Lord of creation and liberation.

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

By implying that Brahmā’s status is not ultimate, the verse supports turning from created hierarchies to the Saguna presence of Śiva—classically centered in Liṅga worship—as the accessible form of the transcendent Pati who stands beyond mere cosmic functions.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is humility-based japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and Liṅga-dhyāna, using Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa to discipline pride and redirect the mind from rivalry toward devotion and liberation.