Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 54

पञ्चावरणमार्गस्थं योगेश्वरस्तोत्रम्

Pañcāvaraṇa-mārga Stotra to Yogeśvara Śiva

Devanagari script

महाभोगींद्रकल्पेन वालेन च विराजितः । रक्तास्यशृंगचरणौ रक्तप्रायविलोचनः

Transliteration

mahābhogīṃdrakalpena vālena ca virājitaḥ | raktāsyaśṛṃgacaraṇau raktaprāyavilocanaḥ

Translation

Il resplendissait, paré d’une puissante queue semblable à celle du seigneur des serpents ; sa bouche, ses cornes et ses pieds étaient rouges, et ses yeux presque entièrement cramoisis.

Word by Word

• mahā-bhogi-indra-kalpena: with/like a great enjoyer-Indra
• mahā-bhogi-indra-kalpena: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument) / Hetu (हेतु/Cause-association)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + bhogin (भोगिन्; प्रातिपदिक) + indra (इन्द्र; प्रातिपदिक) + kalpa (कल्प; प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Samāsa: multi-member Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) with upamā-sense “(mahābhogī) indra-kalpa” = like Indra among great enjoyers; Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (Instrumental) Ekavacana; used with “vālena” as descriptive instrument/association

• vālena: by/with Vāla
• vālena: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument) / Sahakārī (सहकारी/Accompaniment)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāla (वाल; प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Tṛtīyā (Instrumental) Ekavacana

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; samuccaya-conjunction (समुच्चय/and)

• virājitaḥ: adorned/illuminated
• virājitaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Predicate adjective of implied subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi-rājita (विराजित; √rāj (राज् धातु) + kta)
• Form: kta-participle (क्त-कृदन्त) of √rāj with vi-; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (Nominative) Ekavacana

• rakta-āsya-śṛṅga-caraṇau: having red mouth, horns, and feet
• rakta-āsya-śṛṅga-caraṇau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier of implied subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rakta (रक्त; प्रातिपदिक) + āsya (आस्य; प्रातिपदिक) + śṛṅga (शृङ्ग; प्रातिपदिक) + caraṇa (चरण; प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvandva (द्वन्द्व) of three body-parts: āsya + śṛṅga + caraṇa; qualified by rakta- (karmadhāraya within) “red-faced, red-horned, red-footed”; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (Nominative) Dvivacana (Dual/द्विवचन) (agreeing with dual compound ending -au)

• rakta-prāya-vilocanaḥ: whose eyes were mostly red
• rakta-prāya-vilocanaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: rakta (रक्त; प्रातिपदिक) + prāya (प्राय; प्रातिपदिक/avyaya-like) + vilocana (विलोचन; प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) with prāya = “mostly/almost”; Puṃliṅga, Prathamā (Nominative) Ekavacana

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse uses intense visual markers—serpentine power and crimson features—to indicate a formidable, energized manifestation under Shiva’s lordship, reminding devotees that the Supreme (Pati) can assume awe-inspiring forms to govern and transform the bound soul (paśu).

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

Such descriptions support Saguna-upāsanā: devotees contemplate Shiva’s manifested power through concrete attributes (color, form, ornaments like serpentine emblems), while recognizing that these forms ultimately point back to the transcendent Nirguna Shiva represented by the Linga.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditate on Shiva as the inner ruler of all powers (including serpentine symbolism) while repeating the Panchākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—and, if aligned with tradition, wear Rudrākṣa and apply Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) to steady the mind in devotion.