Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 99

पञ्चावरणमार्गस्थं योगेश्वरस्तोत्रम्

Pañcāvaraṇa-mārga Stotra to Yogeśvara Śiva

Devanagari script

अविकारात्मकश्चाद्य एकस्सामान्यविक्रियः । असाधारणकर्मा च सृष्टिस्थितिलयक्रमात्

Transliteration

avikārātmakaścādya ekassāmānyavikriyaḥ | asādhāraṇakarmā ca sṛṣṭisthitilayakramāt

Translation

He is of the nature of changelessness—the Primordial One, the One alone—yet He appears to undergo the common modes of transformation. His action is unique and incomparable, proceeding in ordered sequence as creation, preservation, and dissolution.

Word by Word

• अविकार-आत्मकः: of unchanging nature
• अविकार-आत्मकः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अविकार (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (अविकारः आत्मा यस्य/whose nature is unchanging)

• च: and
• च: Avyaya (अव्यय/Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• आद्यः: primeval/first
• आद्यः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• एकः: one
• एकः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• सामान्य-विक्रियः: having ordinary/common modification
• सामान्य-विक्रियः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सामान्य (प्रातिपदिक) + विक्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (सामान्या विक्रिया यस्य/whose transformation is common)

• असाधारण-कर्मा: of extraordinary action
• असाधारण-कर्मा: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: असाधारण (प्रातिपदिक) + कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (असाधारणं कर्म यस्य/whose action is extraordinary)

• च: and
• च: Avyaya (अव्यय/Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• सृष्टि-स्थिति-लय-क्रमात्: from the sequence of creation, maintenance, and dissolution
• सृष्टि-स्थिति-लय-क्रमात्: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान; cause/source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थिति (प्रातिपदिक) + लय (प्रातिपदिक) + क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; समाहार/श्रृङ्खला-तत्पुरुषः (सृष्टेः स्थितेः लयस्य च क्रमः तस्मात्)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: creative

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: cyclic creation–maintenance–dissolution

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Shiva as Pati is intrinsically changeless (avikāra), yet He freely manifests the cosmos and its cycles—creation, preservation, and dissolution—without compromising His transcendence, guiding the devotee toward liberation through right understanding.

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

The verse supports Saguna worship (such as the Shiva-Linga) as a compassionate manifestation of the changeless Supreme: though Shiva is beyond change, He becomes approachable through forms and functions by which devotees contemplate His lordship over sṛṣṭi-sthiti-laya.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva as the one changeless Reality while chanting the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), contemplating the three cosmic acts (sṛṣṭi, sthiti, laya) and offering inner surrender alongside simple Linga-puja with bhasma and Rudraksha if practiced.