Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 96

पञ्चावरणमार्गस्थं योगेश्वरस्तोत्रम्

Pañcāvaraṇa-mārga Stotra to Yogeśvara Śiva

Devanagari script

देव्या प्रियसखीवर्गो देवीलक्षणलक्षितः । सहितो रुद्रकन्याभिः शक्तिभिश्चाप्यनेकशः

Transliteration

devyā priyasakhīvargo devīlakṣaṇalakṣitaḥ | sahito rudrakanyābhiḥ śaktibhiścāpyanekaśaḥ

Translation

Le cercle bien-aimé des compagnes intimes de la Déesse—distingué par des signes fastes et des attributs divins—se tenait uni aux filles de Rudra, ainsi qu’à de multiples manifestations de Śakti.

Word by Word

• देव्याः: of the Goddess
• देव्याः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• प्रियसखीवर्गः: group of dear friends (female companions)
• प्रियसखीवर्गः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रिय-सखी-वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• देवीलक्षणलक्षितः: marked by the Goddess’s signs
• देवीलक्षणलक्षितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: देवी-लक्षण-लक्षित (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-भूतकर्मणि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘लक्ष्’ धातोः क्त-प्रत्ययान्त

• सहितः: accompanied
• सहितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सहित (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘सह’ (with) अर्थे क्त-प्रत्ययान्त ‘accompanied’

• रुद्रकन्याभिः: with the daughters of Rudra
• रुद्रकन्याभिः: Sahakāraka (सहकारक/तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र-कन्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• शक्तिभिः: with the powers (Śaktis)
• शक्तिभिः: Sahakāraka (सहकारक/तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

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

• अपि: also
• अपि: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अप्यर्थ (also/even)

• अनेकशः: in many ways / manifoldly
• अनेकशः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनेकशस् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (in many ways / many times)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Umāpati

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Parvati
• Shiva (Rudra)
• Shakti

FAQs

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

It presents the Goddess’s retinue as an ordered manifestation of divine power—Śakti appearing in many forms—highlighting, in Shaiva Siddhanta terms, that the Lord (Pati) is inseparable from His powers through which grace and protection operate in the world.

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

Saguna worship in the Shiva Purana commonly honors Shiva together with His Śakti and attendants; this verse supports the devotional understanding that approaching the Linga with reverence to the Goddess and Her energies aligns one’s worship with Shiva’s complete, manifest presence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to worship Shiva with Śakti-bhāva—reciting the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) while offering flowers and mental salutations to the Goddess and her divine attendants—cultivating devotion, humility, and receptivity to grace.