Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 53

पञ्चावरणमार्गस्थं योगेश्वरस्तोत्रम्

Pañcāvaraṇa-mārga Stotra to Yogeśvara Śiva

Devanagari script

मेरुमंदरकैलासहिमाद्रिशिखरोपमः । सिताभ्रशिखराकारः ककुदा परिशोभितः

Transliteration

merumaṃdarakailāsahimādriśikharopamaḥ | sitābhraśikharākāraḥ kakudā pariśobhitaḥ

Translation

Il apparut tel les hautes cimes du Meru, du Mandara, du Kailāsa et de l’Himālaya—semblable à un sommet de nuages blancs—resplendissant, paré d’une bosse lumineuse (kakudā).

Word by Word

• मेरु-मन्दर-कैलास-हिमाद्रि-शिखर-उपमः: like the peaks of Meru, Mandara, Kailāsa, and Himādri
• मेरु-मन्दर-कैलास-हिमाद्रि-शिखर-उपमः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मेरु (प्रातिपदिक) + मन्दर (प्रातिपदिक) + कैलास (प्रातिपदिक) + हिमाद्रि (प्रातिपदिक) + शिखर (प्रातिपदिक) + उपम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद तत्पुरुष समास (मेरु-मन्दर-कैलास-हिमाद्रि-शिखरैः उपमः/सदृशः); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• सित-अभ्र-शिखर-आकारः: having the shape of a white-cloud peak
• सित-अभ्र-शिखर-आकारः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सित (प्रातिपदिक) + अभ्र (प्रातिपदिक) + शिखर (प्रातिपदिक) + आकार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष समास (सिताभ्रस्य शिखरस्य आकारः यस्य); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• ककुदा: with a summit/crest (hump-like peak)
• ककुदा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ककुद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन (करणे)

• परिशोभितः: adorned; beautifully shining
• परिशोभितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परि + शुभ् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त, past participle); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse uses mountain-peak and white-cloud imagery to convey steadiness, purity, and transcendental majesty—qualities that point the devotee toward Pati (Śiva) as the supreme, auspicious Reality who uplifts the bound soul (paśu) beyond limitation.

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

This is Saguna-style praise: the divine is contemplated through exalted form and attributes. Such visualization supports devotion that culminates in Linga-worship, where the same greatness is revered in the emblem that signifies Śiva’s all-pervading presence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A simple takeaway is dhyāna: meditate on Śiva’s luminous, pure, mountain-like steadfastness while repeating the Pañcākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” cultivating inner stability and clarity.