Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 179

पञ्चावरणमार्गस्थं योगेश्वरस्तोत्रम्

Pañcāvaraṇa-mārga Stotra to Yogeśvara Śiva

Devanagari script

इत्युक्त्वा दंडवद्भूमौ प्रणिपत्य शिवं शिवाम् । जपेत्पञ्चाक्षरीं विद्यामष्टोत्तरशतावराम्

Transliteration

ityuktvā daṃḍavadbhūmau praṇipatya śivaṃ śivām | japetpañcākṣarīṃ vidyāmaṣṭottaraśatāvarām

Translation

Après avoir ainsi parlé, qu’on se jette à terre tel un bâton et qu’on se prosterne pleinement devant Śiva et Śivā (Pārvatī). Puis qu’on répète la science sacrée aux cinq syllabes—le mantra Pañcākṣarī «Namaḥ Śivāya»—cent huit fois.

Word by Word

• इति: thus
• इति: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; वाक्य-समाप्ति/उद्धरणसूचक (quotative)

• उक्त्वा: having said
• उक्त्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive); ‘having said’

• दण्डवत्: like a staff (fully prostrate)
• दण्डवत्: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दण्डवत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमानवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (like a staff; prostrate)

• भूमौ: on the ground
• भूमौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; locative singular feminine

• प्रणिपत्य: having prostrated
• प्रणिपत्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + नि + पत् (धातु) + ल्यप्
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); ‘having bowed down/prostrated’

• शिवम्: Śiva
• शिवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; accusative singular masculine

• शिवाम्: Śivā (Pārvatī)
• शिवाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिवा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; accusative singular feminine

• जपेत्: should recite
• जपेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; should recite

• पञ्च-अक्षरीम्: five-syllabled
• पञ्च-अक्षरीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च + अक्षरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; accusative singular feminine; द्विगु-समासः (पञ्च अक्षराणि यस्याः)

• विद्याम्: mantra/vidyā
• विद्याम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विद्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; accusative singular feminine

• अष्टोत्तर-शत-अवराम्: (to be recited) 108 times
• अष्टोत्तर-शत-अवराम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्ट + उत्तर + शत + अवरा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; accusative singular feminine; समासः—तत्पुरुष (शतं अष्टोत्तरम् = 108; अवरा = times/rounds)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s worship-method as taught in the Vāyavīyasaṃhitā)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: नमः शिवाय

Type: panchakshara

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It teaches that humility (daṇḍavat praṇāma) and disciplined mantra-japa are direct means to receive Śiva’s grace; devotion expressed through body and speech purifies the paśu (bound soul) toward liberation under Pati (Śiva).

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

The verse emphasizes Saguna upāsanā—reverent worship of Śiva together with Śivā—supported by the Pañcākṣarī mantra commonly used before the Liṅga; through form-based devotion, the seeker is led toward the highest realization.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform full prostration (daṇḍavat), offer salutations to Śiva and Pārvatī, and chant the Pañcākṣarī (‘Namaḥ Śivāya’) 108 times as a complete japa cycle.