Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 94

पञ्चावरणमार्गस्थं योगेश्वरस्तोत्रम्

Pañcāvaraṇa-mārga Stotra to Yogeśvara Śiva

Devanagari script

शिवप्रियतमा नित्यं शिवलक्षणलक्षिताः । सौम्याधारास्तथा मिश्राश्चांतरालद्वयात्मिकाः

Transliteration

śivapriyatamā nityaṃ śivalakṣaṇalakṣitāḥ | saumyādhārāstathā miśrāścāṃtarāladvayātmikāḥ

Translation

Ils sont à jamais les plus chers à Śiva, marqués des propres caractéristiques de Śiva. Certains ont un support d’une douceur paisible, et d’autres sont de nature mêlée, portant une condition intermédiaire double.

Word by Word

• शिवप्रियतमा: most dear to Śiva
• शिवप्रियतमा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव-प्रिय-तम (प्रातिपदिक; तमप्-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; अतिशय-तुलनात्मक (superlative)

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• शिवलक्षणलक्षिताः: marked by Śiva’s signs
• शिवलक्षणलक्षिताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव-लक्षण-लक्षित (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-भूतकर्मणि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; ‘लक्ष्’ धातोः क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle)

• सौम्याधाराः: having gentle bases/supports
• सौम्याधाराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सौम्य-आधार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/उपमानार्थ (also/likewise)

• मिश्राः: mixed
• मिश्राः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मिश्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• अन्तरालद्वयात्मिकाः: having the nature of a pair of intermediate spaces
• अन्तरालद्वयात्मिकाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्तराल-द्वय-आत्मिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; ‘द्वय’ संख्याशब्द-सम्बन्ध

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse praises those who bear “Śiva’s marks” in conduct and inner disposition—becoming dear to Śiva through sādhana that reflects His qualities (purity, auspiciousness, steadiness). It also hints that practitioners may pass through distinct inner phases, including intermediate states, on the way to grace (anugraha) and liberation.

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

In Saguna worship, the devotee approaches Śiva through recognizable “lakṣaṇas”—ritual purity, devotion, mantra-japa, and reverence for the Liṅga as the auspicious support (ādhāra). The verse’s language of “supports” and “marks” aligns with Liṅga-upāsanā where the outer form trains the inner qualities that mirror Śiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt a sāttvika (saumya) discipline—daily pañcākṣarī japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), Liṅga-pūjā with calm mind, and steady ethical restraint; combine it with supportive observances (e.g., bhasma/tripuṇḍra and rudrākṣa) as a “mixed” practice that stabilizes the aspirant through transitional inner phases.