Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 62

पञ्चावरणमार्गस्थं योगेश्वरस्तोत्रम्

Pañcāvaraṇa-mārga Stotra to Yogeśvara Śiva

Devanagari script

महाकालो महाबाहुर्महादेव इवापरः । महादेवाश्रितानां १ तु नित्यमेवाभिरक्षतु

Transliteration

mahākālo mahābāhurmahādeva ivāparaḥ | mahādevāśritānāṃ 1 tu nityamevābhirakṣatu

Translation

Puisse Mahākāla—aux bras puissants, comme un autre Mahādeva—protéger à jamais ceux qui ont pris refuge en Mahādeva.

Word by Word

• महाकालः: Mahākāla
• महाकालः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महā-काल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine); कर्मधारयः (महान् कालः)

• महाबाहुः: mighty-armed
• महाबाहुः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—epithet)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महā-बाहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग; कर्मधारयः (महान् बाहुः)

• महादेवः: Mahādeva
• महादेवः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महā-देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग; कर्मधारयः (महान् देवः)

• इव: like, as if
• इव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Comparative particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय—उपमा/particle of comparison

• अपरः: another (one)
• अपरः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा, एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग; ‘another/second’

• महादेवाश्रितानाम्: of those who have taken refuge in Mahādeva
• महादेवाश्रितानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महā-देव-आश्रित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन (Plural), पुल्लिङ्ग; समासः तत्पुरुषः (महादेवं आश्रिताः) — ‘of those devoted to Mahādeva’

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय—निपात/particle; ‘indeed/but’

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः—क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial accusative) ‘always’

• एव: certainly, indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय—अवधारण/particle of emphasis

• अभिरक्षतु: may (he) protect
• अभिरक्षतु: Kriyā (क्रिया/Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-रक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद; ‘may he protect’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahākāla

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Mahākāleśvara

Sthala Purana: Mahākāla as the Lord of Time who protects devotees; the Ujjayinī liṅga is famed as a self-manifest (svayambhū) jyotirliṅga where Śiva’s protective, time-transcending sovereignty is especially celebrated.

Significance: Protection from fear of death/time, removal of calamities, and strengthening of refuge in Mahādeva; especially associated in popular practice with kāla-śānti and protective grace.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Kālī

Role: destructive

Ritual Elements

Offering: dipa

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Kāla-tattva emphasis: Mahākāla as the devourer/transcender of time (symbolic cosmic context rather than a calendrical marker).

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Mahakala
• Mahadeva

FAQs

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

It affirms śaraṇāgati (taking refuge) in Mahādeva: the devotee who relies on Shiva is guarded by Shiva’s own power, here praised as Mahākāla—the Lord who transcends and governs time and fear.

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

The verse highlights Saguna Shiva’s grace: when Shiva is adored as Mahādeva/Mahākāla (including through Linga worship), the relationship becomes personal—protector and refuge—supporting steady devotion that leads toward liberation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice daily refuge in Shiva through japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and a simple prayer for protection; on Mahāśivarātri, combine this with Linga abhiṣeka and remembrance of Mahākāla as the remover of fear.