Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 55

पञ्चावरणमार्गस्थं योगेश्वरस्तोत्रम्

Pañcāvaraṇa-mārga Stotra to Yogeśvara Śiva

Devanagari script

पीवरोन्नतसर्वांगस्सुचारुगमनोज्ज्वलः । प्रशस्तलक्षणः श्रीमान्प्रज्वलन्मणिभूषणः

Transliteration

pīvaronnatasarvāṃgassucārugamanojjvalaḥ | praśastalakṣaṇaḥ śrīmānprajvalanmaṇibhūṣaṇaḥ

Translation

Sein ganzer Leib war voll und wohlgestaltet, erhoben und herrlich; sein Gang war anmutig und strahlend. Mit glückverheißenden Zeichen geziert und von Majestät erfüllt, leuchtete er, geschmückt mit Edelsteinen, die wie in Lichtflammen brannten.

Word by Word

• pīvara-unnata-sarva-aṅgaḥ: whose whole body was stout and well-raised
• pīvara-unnata-sarva-aṅgaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pīvara (पीवर; प्रातिपदिक) + unnata (उन्नत; √nam (नम् धातु) + kta with ud-) + sarva (सर्व; प्रातिपदिक) + aṅga (अङ्ग; प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Bahuvrīhi (बहुव्रीहि) “pīvarāṇi unnata-sarvāṅgāni yasya” = whose whole body is stout and elevated; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā Ekavacana

• su-cāru-gamana-ujjvalaḥ: radiant with a very charming gait
• su-cāru-gamana-ujjvalaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (सु; उपसर्ग/प्रातिपदिक) + cāru (चारु; प्रातिपदिक) + gamana (गमन; प्रातिपदिक) + ujjvala (उज्ज्वल; प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Bahuvrīhi (बहुव्रीहि) “su-cāruṃ gamanaṃ yasya saḥ; (tena) ujjvalaḥ” = radiant due to very charming gait; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā Ekavacana

• praśasta-lakṣaṇaḥ: having excellent marks
• praśasta-lakṣaṇaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: praśasta (प्रशस्त; √śas (शस् धातु) + kta with pra-) + lakṣaṇa (लक्षण; प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) “praśastāni lakṣaṇāni yasya” (sense close to bahuvrīhi, but used as determinative epithet); Puṃliṅga, Prathamā Ekavacana

• śrīmān: splendid/fortunate
• śrīmān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śrīmat (श्रीमन्/श्रीमत्; प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā Ekavacana; matup-anta possessive adjective (मतुप्) = “possessed of śrī”

• prajvalan-maṇi-bhūṣaṇaḥ: wearing ornaments with blazing gems
• prajvalan-maṇi-bhūṣaṇaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prajvalan (प्रज्वलन्; √jval (ज्वल् धातु) + śatṛ) + maṇi (मणि; प्रातिपदिक) + bhūṣaṇa (भूषण; प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) “prajvalantaḥ maṇayaḥ bhūṣaṇe yasya” = whose ornaments have blazing gems; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā Ekavacana; śatṛ-present participle (शतृ-कृदन्त) used adjectivally

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse presents Shiva’s saguna (graspable) splendor—auspicious marks, radiance, and harmony of form—so the devotee’s mind can rest on a pure object of contemplation, ripening bhakti and leading toward grace (anugraha) and liberation.

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

While the Linga signifies Shiva beyond form, this description supports saguna-upāsanā: meditating on Shiva’s auspicious, radiant presence. In Shaiva practice, both converge—the Linga anchors transcendence, and the divine form nurtures devotion and focused dhyāna.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is dhyāna: visualize Shiva as radiant and auspicious while repeating the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya). If performing pūjā, keep a steady gaze on the Linga and offer devotion with a purified mind.