Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 156

पञ्चावरणमार्गस्थं योगेश्वरस्तोत्रम्

Pañcāvaraṇa-mārga Stotra to Yogeśvara Śiva

Devanagari script

गंधर्वाद्याः पिशाचांताश्चतस्रो देवयोनयः । सिद्धा विद्याधराद्याश्च ये ऽपि चान्ये नभश्चराः

Transliteration

gaṃdharvādyāḥ piśācāṃtāścatasro devayonayaḥ | siddhā vidyādharādyāśca ye 'pi cānye nabhaścarāḥ

Translation

Des Gandharvas jusqu’aux Piśācas—telles sont les quatre classes d’êtres nés de lignée divine. De même, les Siddhas, les Vidyādharas et tous les autres êtres qui parcourent le ciel sont aussi compris.

Word by Word

• गन्धर्व-आद्याः: Gandharvas and others (beginning with Gandharvas)
• गन्धर्व-आद्याः: Karta (कर्ता/समुच्चित-उद्देश्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्धर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; ‘आदि’ = ‘beginning with’ (आद्य)

• पिशाच-अन्ताः: ending with Piśācas (up to Piśācas)
• पिशाच-अन्ताः: Karta (कर्ता/समुच्चित-उद्देश्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिशाच (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; ‘अन्त’ = ‘ending with’ (अन्त)

• चतस्रः: four
• चतस्रः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतस् (प्रातिपदिक; संख्या)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; संख्या-विशेषण

• देव-योनयः: divine species/origins
• देव-योनयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक) + योनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• सिद्धाः: Siddhas
• सिद्धाः: Karta (कर्ता/समुच्चित-उद्देश्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सिद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• विद्याधर-आद्याः: Vidyādharas and others
• विद्याधर-आद्याः: Karta (कर्ता/समुच्चित-उद्देश्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्याधर (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

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

• ये: who/which
• ये: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध-सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), ‘also/even’

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

• अन्ये: others
• अन्ये: Karta (कर्ता/समुच्चित-उद्देश्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• नभः-चराः: sky-goers (celestial beings)
• नभः-चराः: Karta (कर्ता/समुच्चित-उद्देश्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नभस् (प्रातिपदिक) + चर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; ‘नभः’ = sky, ‘चर’ = moving

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Gandharvas
• Pishachas
• Siddhas
• Vidyadharas

FAQs

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

It situates many celestial and semi-celestial orders within Shiva’s cosmic domain, implying that all categories of beings—whether refined like Siddhas or shadowy like Piśācas—remain within the field of bondage (pāśa) and can be oriented toward liberation through the Lord (Pati).

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

By listing wide-ranging divine classes, the text underscores the universality of Shiva’s sovereignty and worship: Saguna Shiva as the accessible Lord for all beings, and the Linga as the unifying emblem through which diverse orders may approach the same supreme reality.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is inclusive japa and remembrance—especially Panchakshara ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya")—performed with purity (tripuṇḍra/bhasma and rudrākṣa where prescribed), recognizing that Shiva’s grace is not limited by birth or category of being.