Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 131

पञ्चावरणमार्गस्थं योगेश्वरस्तोत्रम्

Pañcāvaraṇa-mārga Stotra to Yogeśvara Śiva

Devanagari script

भूभारनिग्रहार्थाय स्वेच्छयावातरक्षितौ । अप्रमेयबलो मायी मायया मोहयञ्जगत्

Transliteration

bhūbhāranigrahārthāya svecchayāvātarakṣitau | aprameyabalo māyī māyayā mohayañjagat

Translation

Afin de dompter le fardeau de la terre, de Son plein gré Il prit une incarnation. Doué d’une force incommensurable, le Seigneur—maître de la Māyā—égare le monde par Sa Māyā.

Word by Word

• भूभारनिग्रहार्थाय: for the purpose of subduing the burden of the earth
• भूभारनिग्रहार्थाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Dative purpose)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भू + भार + निग्रह + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (भूभारस्य निग्रहः तस्य अर्थः)

• स्वेच्छया: by (their) own will
• स्वेच्छया: Karana (करण/Instrumental)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व + इच्छा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (स्वा इच्छा)

• अवतारकृतौ: the two who had taken incarnation
• अवतारकृतौ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अवतार + कृत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), द्विवचन; तत्पुरुषः (अवतारं कृतवन्तौ)

• अप्रमेयबलः: of immeasurable strength
• अप्रमेयबलः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अप्रमेय + बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (अप्रमेयं बलं यस्य)

• मायी: the wielder of māyā
• मायी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मायिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; मायावान् (possessing illusion)

• मायया: by māyā/illusion
• मायया: Karana (करण/Instrumental)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन

• मोहयन्: deluding
• मोहयन्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुह् (धातु) + णिच् + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: मुह् धातोः णिच् (causative) + शतृ-प्रत्यय; वर्तमानकालिक कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (कर्तरि)

• जगत्: the world
• जगत्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: avatāra undertaken to relieve bhūbhāra (earth’s burden) within a dharma-restoration cycle

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Maya

FAQs

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

It teaches that Shiva’s descent is an act of divine freedom (svātantrya) to restore dharma, while His Māyā explains why bound souls (paśu) misperceive reality until liberated by His grace.

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

Since the world is veiled by Māyā, Saguna worship—especially of the Shiva-Linga—gives the mind a pure support to turn from delusion toward the formless truth (Nirguna Shiva) revealed through devotion and knowledge.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Regular japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa, done with awareness that Māyā binds and Shiva alone releases, is the practical takeaway.