Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 91

पञ्चावरणमार्गस्थं योगेश्वरस्तोत्रम्

Pañcāvaraṇa-mārga Stotra to Yogeśvara Śiva

Devanagari script

भूताख्याश्च महावीर्या महादेवसमप्रभाः । नित्यमुक्ता निरुपमा निर्द्वन्द्वा निरुपप्लवाः

Transliteration

bhūtākhyāśca mahāvīryā mahādevasamaprabhāḥ | nityamuktā nirupamā nirdvandvā nirupaplavāḥ

Translation

‘भूत’ नाम से प्रसिद्ध वे गण महान् वीर्यवान् और महादेव के समान प्रभा वाले थे। वे नित्य-मुक्त, अनुपम, द्वन्द्वों से रहित और किसी भी विघ्न-पतन से अछूते थे।

Word by Word

• भूत-आख्याः: named ‘Bhūtas’ / called Bhūtas
• भूत-आख्याः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक) + आख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (‘भूत’ इति आख्या येषाम्/भूताख्य)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• महावीर्याः: of great valor
• महावीर्याः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + वीर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मधारय (‘महद् वीर्यम्’ = great valor)

• महादेव-सम-प्रभाः: having splendor equal to Mahādeva
• महादेव-सम-प्रभाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महादेव (प्रातिपदिक) + सम (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रभा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (‘महादेवसम’ + ‘प्रभा’)

• नित्य-मुक्ताः: ever-liberated
• नित्य-मुक्ताः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक) + मुक्त (मुच् धातु; क्त-प्रत्यय, कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मधारय (‘नित्यं मुक्ताः’)

• निरुपमाः: incomparable
• निरुपमाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर् + उपम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; नञ्/निर्-पूर्वक (without comparison)

• निर्द्वन्द्वाः: free from dualities
• निर्द्वन्द्वाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर् + द्वन्द्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘द्वन्द्व-रहित’

• निरुपप्लवाः: undisturbed / unobstructed
• निरुपप्लवाः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर् + उपप्लव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘उपप्लव-रहित’ (without disturbance/obstacle)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Mahadeva)
• Bhutas

FAQs

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

It praises Shiva’s attendant hosts as established in a liberated, unwavering condition—beyond dualities and inner disturbance—pointing to the Shaiva ideal of steadiness (nirupaplava) and freedom (nitya-mukti) attained by proximity to Pati (Shiva).

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

By describing radiance ‘equal to Mahadeva,’ the verse highlights how devotion to Saguna Shiva—often centered on the Linga—purifies and elevates the devotee toward Shiva-like qualities: equipoise, fearlessness, and liberation through Shiva’s grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The implied practice is cultivating nirdvandva-bhāva (equanimity) through Shiva-upāsanā—japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), meditation on Shiva’s steady nature, and supportive observances like Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa to anchor the mind in non-agitation.