Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 120

पञ्चावरणमार्गस्थं योगेश्वरस्तोत्रम्

Pañcāvaraṇa-mārga Stotra to Yogeśvara Śiva

Devanagari script

अविकाररतः पूर्वं ततस्तु समविक्रियः । असाधारणकर्मा च सृष्ट्यादिकरणात्पृथक्

Transliteration

avikārarataḥ pūrvaṃ tatastu samavikriyaḥ | asādhāraṇakarmā ca sṛṣṭyādikaraṇātpṛthak

Translation

At first He abides in changelessness; thereafter He becomes evenly engaged in manifestation. His action is unique, distinct from the ordinary instruments that bring about creation and the rest.

Word by Word

• अविकार-रतः: delighting in changelessness
• अविकार-रतः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अविकार (प्रातिपदिक) + रत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (अविकारे रतः)

• पूर्वम्: formerly/at first
• पूर्वम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (adverb of time: formerly/at first)

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रम/अनन्तर्य-बोधक अव्यय (thereafter/then)

• तु: but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेष-बोधक अव्यय (but/indeed)

• सम-विक्रियः: equally active/with balanced activity
• सम-विक्रियः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम (उपसर्ग/प्रातिपदिक) + विक्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (समः विक्रियः)

• असाधारण-कर्मा: having extraordinary deeds
• असाधारण-कर्मा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: असाधारण (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (असाधारणं कर्म यस्य)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• सृष्टि-आदि-करणात्: from the act of creation etc.
• सृष्टि-आदि-करणात्: Apadana (अपादान/Ablative source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक) + करण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (सृष्ट्यादीनां करणम्)

• पृथक्: separate/apart
• पृथक्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पृथक् (अव्यय)
• Form: भेदवाचक अव्यय (adverb: separately/apart)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Shakti Dimension

Role: creative

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Transition from quiescent transcendence (avikāra) to balanced manifestation (samavikriyā) initiating sṛṣṭyādi processes.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Shiva, the Supreme Pati, is intrinsically changeless yet freely manifests activity without being altered—His sovereignty (aiśvarya) is unlike worldly action bound by karma.

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

The Linga signifies the transcendent, changeless Shiva, while Saguna worship honors His gracious self-manifestation for creation, preservation, and dissolution—both are affirmed here without contradiction.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva as nirvikāra (unchanging) while repeating the Panchakshara “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” letting worship and japa arise as His manifest play, not as ego-driven action.