Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 127

पञ्चावरणमार्गस्थं योगेश्वरस्तोत्रम्

Pañcāvaraṇa-mārga Stotra to Yogeśvara Śiva

Devanagari script

निर्गुणस्सत्त्वबहुलस्तथैव गुणकेवलः । अविकाराभिमानी च त्रिसाधारणविक्रियः

Transliteration

nirguṇassattvabahulastathaiva guṇakevalaḥ | avikārābhimānī ca trisādhāraṇavikriyaḥ

Translation

He is beyond the guṇas, yet for the sake of revelation He is predominantly luminous (sāttvika); likewise He is the very ground of the guṇas alone. Though in truth changeless, He assumes the stance of ‘I act’ for the world’s instruction, and He manifests the transformations that are common to the three (guṇas) without Himself undergoing any modification.

Word by Word

• निर्गुणः: without qualities
• निर्गुणः: Visheshana (विशेषण/predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नञ्/निर्-पूर्वक-तत्पुरुष (having no guṇas)

• सत्त्व-बहुलः: abounding in sattva
• सत्त्व-बहुलः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक) + बहुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (बहुलः सत्त्वेन)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: रीति-अव्यय (adverb: 'thus/likewise')

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय

• गुण-केवलः: consisting solely of guṇas
• गुण-केवलः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुण (प्रातिपदिक) + केवल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (केवलः गुणः/गुणमात्रः)

• अविकार-अभिमानी: self-conceiving as unchanging
• अविकार-अभिमानी: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अविकार (प्रातिपदिक) + अभिमानिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (one who has the notion 'I am unchanging')

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

• त्रि-साधारण-विक्रियः: whose modification is common to the three
• त्रि-साधारण-विक्रियः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + साधारण (प्रातिपदिक) + विक्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (विक्रियः यः त्रिषु साधारणः = common to the three)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Doctrinal clarification of transcendence vs. immanence: the Lord appears guṇic for pedagogical governance while remaining avikāra.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Shiva (Pati) is intrinsically nirguṇa and avikāra (unchanging), yet He is experienced through guṇic modes for guiding bound souls (paśu) toward liberation; the changes belong to prakṛti, not to Shiva’s essence.

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

The Linga and saguna forms are compassionate revelations within the field of the guṇas—accessible supports for meditation and devotion—while the devotee gradually realizes the same Lord as nirguṇa and untouched by change.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva as the changeless witness while doing saguna upāsanā—japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and inner contemplation that guṇic transformations arise in prakṛti, not in the Lord.