Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 11

योगाचार्यरूपेण शर्वावताराः (Śarva’s manifestations as Yoga-Teachers)

Devanagari script

सारस्वतश्च मेघश्च मेघवाहस्सुवाहकः । कपिलश्चासुरिः पञ्चशिखो बाष्कल एव च

Transliteration

sārasvataśca meghaśca meghavāhassuvāhakaḥ | kapilaścāsuriḥ pañcaśikho bāṣkala eva ca

Translation

“(Mereka ialah) Sārasvata, Megha, Meghavāha, Suvāhaka; dan juga Kapila, Āsuri, Pañcaśikha, serta Bāṣkala.”

Word by Word

• सारस्वतः: Sārasvata
• सारस्वतः: Karta (कर्ता/list item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सारस्वत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; proper name (ṛṣi)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction (समुच्चय)

• मेघः: Megha
• मेघः: Karta (कर्ता/list item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेघ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; proper name

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction (समुच्चय)

• मेघ-वाहः: Meghavāha
• मेघ-वाहः: Karta (कर्ता/list item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेघ (प्रातिपदिक) + वाह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; ‘cloud-carrier’ (proper name)

• सु-वाहकः: Suvāhaka
• सु-वाहकः: Karta (कर्ता/list item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + वाहक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; ‘good carrier’ (proper name)

• कपिलः: Kapila
• कपिलः: Karta (कर्ता/list item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; proper name

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction (समुच्चय)

• असुरिः: Asuri
• असुरिः: Karta (कर्ता/list item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असुरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; proper name

• पञ्च-शिखः: Pañcaśikha
• पञ्च-शिखः: Karta (कर्ता/list item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + शिख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; dvigu compound ‘five-crested’ (proper name)

• बाष्कलः: Bāṣkala
• बाष्कलः: Karta (कर्ता/list item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाष्कल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; proper name

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; emphatic particle (निश्चयार्थक)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction (समुच्चय)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Characters & Entities

• Sārasvata
• Megha
• Meghavāha
• Suvāhaka
• Kapila
• Āsuri
• Pañcaśikha
• Bāṣkala

FAQs

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

This verse preserves a sacred roster of realized teachers, highlighting the guru-paramparā through which liberating knowledge of Pati (Śiva), paśu (the soul), and pāśa (bondage) is transmitted—an essential Shaiva Siddhānta emphasis.

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

By naming authoritative sages, the text implicitly validates the received forms of Shiva worship—Linga-pūjā, mantra, and yogic discipline—as practices safeguarded and taught through recognized lineages rather than personal invention.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is guru-smaraṇa (remembrance of the teachers) before japa—especially pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—and performing Linga worship with bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa in a spirit of disciplined lineage-based practice.