Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 170
पञ्चावरणमार्गस्थं योगेश्वरस्तोत्रम्
Pañcāvaraṇa-mārga Stotra to Yogeśvara Śiva
लौकिका ब्राह्मणास्सर्वे क्षत्रियाश्च विशः क्रमात् । वेदवेदांगतत्त्वज्ञाः सर्वशास्त्रविशारदाः
laukikā brāhmaṇāssarve kṣatriyāśca viśaḥ kramāt | vedavedāṃgatattvajñāḥ sarvaśāstraviśāradāḥ
ലൗകികജനങ്ങൾ എല്ലാവരും—ബ്രാഹ്മണർ, പിന്നെ ക്രമമായി ക്ഷത്രിയരും വൈശ്യരും—വേദവും വേദാംഗങ്ങളും ഉള്ള തത്ത്വം അറിഞ്ഞവരും സർവ്വശാസ്ത്രങ്ങളിലും പാണ്ഡിത്യമുള്ളവരുമായിരുന്നു.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Sthala Purana: No Jyotirliṅga reference; the verse describes an idealized social-religious milieu where varṇas are learned in Veda/Vedāṅga and śāstra—knowledge that, in Siddhānta terms, can still remain ‘laukika’ (worldly) unless transmuted by Śiva’s anugraha beyond tirodhāna.
Significance: Implied teaching: mere śāstra-viśāradatā is not identical with Śiva-realization; pilgrimage/ritual must be oriented to Śiva to cross from laukika learning to liberating knowledge.
FAQs
It praises a dharmic society grounded in śruti and śāstra, implying that Shiva’s highest teaching (Pati-tattva) is best approached through disciplined knowledge and right understanding, not mere custom.
Linga-worship in the Shiva Purana is repeatedly framed as Veda-supported; this verse establishes that qualified people understood the Vedas and auxiliaries, thereby performing Shiva’s saguna worship with correct mantra, vidhi, and devotion.
Study and recitation of Vedic-Śaiva mantras with proper discipline is implied; in Shiva Purana terms, this supports steady japa (especially Panchakshara), along with scripturally guided observances such as bhasma-dhāraṇa and Rudrāksha when taught in context.