Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 146

पञ्चावरणमार्गस्थं योगेश्वरस्तोत्रम्

Pañcāvaraṇa-mārga Stotra to Yogeśvara Śiva

Devanagari script

क्षेत्रपालो महातेजा नील जीमूतसन्निभः । दंष्ट्राकरालवदनः स्फुरद्रक्ताधरोज्ज्वलः

Transliteration

kṣetrapālo mahātejā nīla jīmūtasannibhaḥ | daṃṣṭrākarālavadanaḥ sphuradraktādharojjvalaḥ

Translation

Der Kṣetrapāla, von großer Glut und Herrlichkeit strahlend, erschien wie eine dunkelblaue Masse von Regenwolken; sein Antlitz war schreckenerregend durch hervorstehende Fangzähne, und seine leuchtend roten Lippen blitzten hell auf.

Word by Word

• kṣetra-pālaḥ: the guardian of the sacred place
• kṣetra-pālaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣetra (प्रातिपदिक) + pāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष—‘kṣetrasya pālaḥ’

• mahā-tejāḥ: of great splendor
• mahā-tejāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + tejas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण; कर्मधारय—‘mahac ca tat tejaḥ’ (very radiant)

• nīlaḥ: blue/dark
• nīlaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nīla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण

• jīmūta-sannibhaḥ: resembling a cloud
• jīmūta-sannibhaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jīmūta (प्रातिपदिक) + sannibha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपमान-तत्पुरुष—‘jīmūtasya iva sannibhaḥ’ (cloud-like)

• daṃṣṭrā-karāla-vadanaḥ: having a fearsome, fang-filled face
• daṃṣṭrā-karāla-vadanaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: daṃṣṭrā (प्रातिपदिक) + karāla (प्रातिपदिक) + vadana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय—‘daṃṣṭrābhiḥ karālaṃ vadanaṃ yasya’ (face terrible with fangs)

• sphurat-rakta-adhara-ujjvalaḥ: bright with shining red lips
• sphurat-rakta-adhara-ujjvalaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sphurat (कृदन्त; √sphur धातु) + rakta (प्रातिपदिक) + adhara (प्रातिपदिक) + ujjvala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; वर्तमानकृदन्त ‘sphurat’ (shining) + कर्मधारयसमास—‘raktādharaḥ’ (red lips) + ‘ujjvala’ (bright)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Kṣetrapāla imagery commonly frames temple-threshold guardianship; here the guardian of the sacred kṣetra manifests in a fearsome form to protect dharma and regulate access to the holy precinct.

Significance: Reminds pilgrims to approach kṣetra with purity and humility; kṣetrapāla propitiation is traditionally done before entering major Śiva shrines.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: kṣetrapālo mahātejā nīla jīmūtasannibhaḥ | daṃṣṭrākarālavadanaḥ sphuradraktādharojjvalaḥ

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Kālī

Role: destructive

Ritual Elements

Offering: dhupa

Characters & Entities

• Kshetrapala

FAQs

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

It portrays Kṣetrapāla as Shiva’s fierce, protective power guarding the sacred kṣetra—reminding devotees that holy space is preserved by divine authority and approached with reverence, purity, and surrender.

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

Kṣetrapāla is connected with Saguna Shiva’s protective aspect around the linga and temple precincts—showing that devotion includes honoring the guardianship that preserves the sanctity of Shiva’s abode.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Approach the shrine with disciplined conduct and protective remembrance—mentally recite the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and maintain purity before entering the kṣetra, honoring the guardian principle of Shiva.