Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 175

पञ्चावरणमार्गस्थं योगेश्वरस्तोत्रम्

Pañcāvaraṇa-mārga Stotra to Yogeśvara Śiva

Devanagari script

दक्षिणज्ञाननिष्ठाश्च दक्षिणोत्तरमार्गगाः । अविरोधेन वर्तंतां मंत्रश्रेयो ऽर्थिनो मम

Transliteration

dakṣiṇajñānaniṣṭhāśca dakṣiṇottaramārgagāḥ | avirodhena vartaṃtāṃ maṃtraśreyo 'rthino mama

Translation

દક્ષિણ જ્ઞાનપ્રવાહમાં નિષ્ઠાવાન અને દક્ષિણ-ઉત્તર બંને માર્ગે ચાલનારા પરસ્પર વિરોધ વિના વર્તે—મારા હિતાર્થે મંત્રજન્ય પરમ શ્રેયના સાધક બનીને.

Word by Word

• दक्षिणज्ञाननिष्ठाः: devoted to the right-hand knowledge
• दक्षिणज्ञाननिष्ठाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दक्षिण-ज्ञान-निष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण (people devoted to ‘right-hand’ knowledge); समासः—तत्पुरुषः: दक्षिणं ज्ञानम् (कर्मधारय-भाव) + तस्मिन् निष्ठा

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय

• दक्षिणोत्तरमार्गगाः: going by the southern and northern paths
• दक्षिणोत्तरमार्गगाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दक्षिण-उत्तर-मार्ग-ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण; समासः—तत्पुरुषः: दक्षिणः उत्तरश्च (द्वन्द्व-भाव) + मार्गः + ग (गच्छति इति)

• अविरोधेन: without conflict
• अविरोधेन: Karana (करण/means; adverbial)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अविरोध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषण-भाव (without opposition)

• वर्तन्ताम्: let them conduct themselves
• वर्तन्ताम्: Vidhi (विधि/imperative predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वृत् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद; ‘let them proceed/behave’

• मन्त्रश्रेयः: the benefit of the mantra
• मन्त्रश्रेयः: Karma (कर्म/Object; sought)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र-श्रेयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः: मन्त्रस्य श्रेयः (benefit of mantra)

• अर्थिनः: seekers
• अर्थिनः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; ‘seeking/desiring’

• मम: of me/my
• मम: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that sincere seekers—though following different streams of practice—should remain non-hostile and unified in the higher aim: attaining śreyas (liberating good) through mantra and devotion to Shiva as Pati (the Lord).

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

In Shaiva Siddhanta, Saguna worship (such as Linga-puja and mantra-japa) is a compassionate means given by Shiva; this verse affirms that diverse disciplines can coexist when centered on Shiva’s grace and the mantra’s saving power.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Mantra-oriented sādhana—especially steady japa with a non-contentious, disciplined mind; practically, this aligns with daily Panchakshara japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) alongside Shaiva observances like bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and rudrāksha, when undertaken with humility.