Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 10

योगाचार्यरूपेण शर्वावताराः (Śarva’s manifestations as Yoga-Teachers)

Devanagari script

सनत्कुमारस्सनकः सनंदश्च सनातनः । सुधामा विरजाश्चैव शंखश्चांडज एव च

Transliteration

sanatkumārassanakaḥ sanaṃdaśca sanātanaḥ | sudhāmā virajāścaiva śaṃkhaścāṃḍaja eva ca

Translation

Sanatkumāra, Sanaka, Sananda und Sanātana; ebenso Sudhāmā, Virajā, Śaṅkha und auch Āṇḍaja—diese ehrwürdigen Weisen werden zu den Anwesenden/Genannten gezählt.

Word by Word

• sanatkumāraḥ: Sanatkumāra (name)
• sanatkumāraḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sanat (प्रातिपदिक) + kumāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; karmadhāraya ‘ever-young youth’ (proper name)

• sanakaḥ: Sanaka (name)
• sanakaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sanaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; proper name

• sanandaḥ: Sananda (name)
• sanandaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sananda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; proper name

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)

• sanātanaḥ: eternal; Sanātana (name)
• sanātanaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sanātana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; epithet

• sudhāmā: Sudhāmā (name)
• sudhāmā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sudhāman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; -man stem (मन्-प्रातिपदिक) proper name

• virajā: Virajā (stainless; name)
• virajā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: virajā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; proper name/epithet ‘stainless’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (अवधारण)

• śaṃkhaḥ: Śaṅkha (conch; name)
• śaṃkhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṃkha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; proper name/common noun ‘conch’

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)

• aṇḍajaḥ: Aṇḍaja (egg-born; name)
• aṇḍajaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṇḍaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; ‘egg-born’ (name/epithet)

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (अवधारण)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga passage; it lists primordial sages (Kumāras and others) who function as archetypal transmitters of jñāna and yoga—supporting the notion of revealed Śaiva wisdom preserved by ṛṣis.

Significance: Invokes the Kumāras (Sanatkumāra etc.) as paradigms of renunciation and jñāna—qualities prized for Śiva-anugraha and liberation from pāśa.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Sanatkumara
• Sanaka
• Sananda
• Sanatana
• Sudhama
• Viraja
• Shankha
• Andaja

FAQs

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

It sanctifies the narrative by naming realized sages, implying that Shiva-tattva is best approached through the company and testimony of the purified seers who embody detachment and knowledge directed toward Pati (Shiva).

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

By foregrounding authoritative rishis, the text signals that Linga-worship and devotion to Saguna Shiva are grounded in an authentic transmission (guru–rishi–śāstra), not mere sentiment—thus strengthening śraddhā in prescribed Shaiva worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is śāstra-śravaṇa (devotional listening/recitation) in a sattvic assembly, remembering the rishis and invoking Shiva with mantra-japa (especially the Panchakshara, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) before study.