Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 73

पञ्चावरणमार्गस्थं योगेश्वरस्तोत्रम्

Pañcāvaraṇa-mārga Stotra to Yogeśvara Śiva

Devanagari script

कुमारस्सुकुमाराणां रूपोदाहरणं महत् । शिवप्रियः शिवासक्तः शिवपदार्चकस्सदा

Transliteration

kumārassukumārāṇāṃ rūpodāharaṇaṃ mahat | śivapriyaḥ śivāsaktaḥ śivapadārcakassadā

Translation

Kumāra est un grand modèle de beauté parmi les plus gracieux. Il est aimé de Śiva, toujours attaché à Śiva, et vénère sans cesse les pieds sacrés de Śiva.

Word by Word

• कुमारः: Kumāra (Skanda)
• कुमारः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुमार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सुकुमाराणाम्: of the delicate/young ones
• सुकुमाराणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + कुमार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय: सुकुमारः (very delicate/young) इति; पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), बहुवचन

• रूपोदाहरणम्: an example of beauty
• रूपोदाहरणम्: Viśeṣya (विशेष्य/Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक) + उदाहरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: रूपस्य उदाहरणम्; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• महत्: great
• महत्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (agreeing with उदाहरणम्)

• शिवप्रियः: dear to Śiva
• शिवप्रियः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: शिवस्य प्रियः; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• शिवासक्तः: attached to Śiva
• शिवासक्तः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + आसक्त (आ-√सञ्ज् धातु; क्त-प्रत्यय, कृदन्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: शिवे आसक्तः; क्त-कृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• शिवपदार्चकः: worshipper of Śiva’s feet
• शिवपदार्चकः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject, appositional)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + पद (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्चक (√अर्च् धातु; ण्वुल्-प्रत्यय, प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासः (determinative): शिवस्य पदम् (feet) तस्य अर्चकः; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक-क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of time)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Models the Siddhānta ideal of the paśu’s bhakti and pāda-sevā to Pati (Śiva), which is held to mature into Śiva’s anugraha (liberating grace).

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Kartikeya

FAQs

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

The verse presents Kumāra as the ideal Shaiva devotee: beauty and greatness are secondary to unwavering attachment to Pati (Śiva) expressed through constant reverence for Śiva’s feet, a classic symbol of surrender and grace in Shaiva Siddhanta.

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

By praising “Śiva’s feet” and constant worship, the verse supports Saguna upāsanā—devotional, form-based worship such as Śiva-liṅga pūjā—through which the devotee’s bond with Śiva deepens and becomes a means for receiving Śiva’s anugraha (grace).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is daily Śiva-pūjā with bhakti—mentally bowing to Śiva’s feet while repeating the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”)—and offering bilva leaves or sacred ash (tripuṇḍra/bhasma) as a sign of steady devotion.