Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 157

पञ्चावरणमार्गस्थं योगेश्वरस्तोत्रम्

Pañcāvaraṇa-mārga Stotra to Yogeśvara Śiva

Devanagari script

असुरा राक्षसाश्चैव पातालतलवासिनः । अनंताद्याश्च नागेन्द्रा वैनतेयादयो द्विजाः

Transliteration

asurā rākṣasāścaiva pātālatalavāsinaḥ | anaṃtādyāśca nāgendrā vainateyādayo dvijāḥ

Translation

Les Asuras et les Rākṣasas également—habitants des régions souterraines de Pātāla—ainsi que les seigneurs des Nāgas, à commencer par Ananta; et les « deux-fois-nés » tels que Vainateya (Garuḍa) et d’autres : tous furent compris et rassemblés en ce lieu.

Word by Word

• असुराः: Asuras
• असुराः: Karta (कर्ता/समुच्चित-उद्देश्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• राक्षसाः: Rākṣasas
• राक्षसाः: Karta (कर्ता/समुच्चित-उद्देश्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

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

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

• पाताल-तल-वासिनः: dwellers of the netherworld regions
• पाताल-तल-वासिनः: Karta (कर्ता/समुच्चित-उद्देश्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाताल (प्रातिपदिक) + तल (प्रातिपदिक) + वासिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; वासिन्-शब्द (in -in)

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

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

• नाग-इन्द्राः: lords of serpents (Nāga-kings)
• नाग-इन्द्राः: Karta (कर्ता/समुच्चित-उद्देश्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाग (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; ‘श्रेष्ठ’ अर्थे इन्द्र

• वैनतेय-आदयः: Vainateya (Garuḍa) and others
• वैनतेय-आदयः: Karta (कर्ता/समुच्चित-उद्देश्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैनतेय (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• द्विजाः: twice-born (birds / Brahmins; here likely birds)
• द्विजाः: Karta (कर्ता/समुच्चित-उद्देश्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Nāgeśvara

Sthala Purana: Nāgas (serpent-kings) and subterranean beings are portrayed as within Śiva’s dominion; Nāgeśvara is remembered as the Lord who protects devotees from poisons, fear, and nāga-afflictions, and as ‘Nāga-īśvara’ in popular sthala traditions.

Significance: Protection from sarpa-doṣa/poison/fear; affirmation that even pātāla powers are pacified by Śiva-bhakti.

Characters & Entities

• Ananta
• Nagas
• Vainateya (Garuda)
• Asuras
• Rakshasas

FAQs

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

It emphasizes Shiva’s all-pervading sovereignty (Pati) across every realm—celestial, earthly, and subterranean—showing that all classes of beings fall within His cosmic order and can be drawn into His sphere through devotion and grace.

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

By listing diverse beings—Asuras, Nāgas, and Garuḍa-like powers—it underscores that Saguna Shiva (worshiped as the Linga) is approachable by all, not restricted by birth, realm, or species; the Linga becomes the universal focus where all distinctions are ultimately subordinated.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is inclusive Shiva-upāsanā: steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa, cultivating humility that all beings—high or low—are bound (paśu) and seek liberation through Shiva’s grace.