Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 144

पञ्चावरणमार्गस्थं योगेश्वरस्तोत्रम्

Pañcāvaraṇa-mārga Stotra to Yogeśvara Śiva

Devanagari script

नंदा सुनंदा सुरभिः सुशीला सुमनास्तथा । पञ्चगोमातरस्त्वेताश्शिवलोके व्यवस्थिताः

Transliteration

naṃdā sunaṃdā surabhiḥ suśīlā sumanāstathā | pañcagomātarastvetāśśivaloke vyavasthitāḥ

Translation

நந்தா, சுநந்தா, சுரபி, சுசீலா, சுமனா—இந்த ஐந்து கோமாதர்கள் சிவலோகத்தில் நிலைபெற்று வாசம் செய்கின்றனர்.

Word by Word

• नन्दा: Nandā (name)
• नन्दा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नन्दा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सुनन्दा: Sunandā (name)
• सुनन्दा: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु-नन्दा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (सु + नन्दा = ‘very/auspicious Nandā’)

• सुरभिः: Surabhi (name)
• सुरभिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुरभि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• सुशीला: good-natured (Suśīlā)
• सुशीला: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु-शील (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (सु + शीला = good-natured)

• सुमनाः: Sumanā (name)
• सुमनाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सु-मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (सु + मनस् = good-minded)

• तथा: also
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: ‘also/likewise’)

• पञ्चगोमातरः: the five cow-mothers
• पञ्चगोमातरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च-गो-मातर् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—द्विगु (पञ्च + गोमातरः = five cow-mothers)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle: contrast/emphasis)

• एताः: these
• एताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• शिवलोके: in Śiva’s world
• शिवलोके: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव-लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (शिवस्य लोकः = Śiva’s world)

• व्यवस्थिताः: are stationed/abide
• व्यवस्थिताः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-अव-स्था (धातु)
• Form: कृत्—क्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘स्थित’ अर्थे (being stationed)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Surabhi

FAQs

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

The verse elevates the sanctity of the “Cow-Mothers” by placing them in Śiva’s own realm, implying that compassion, purity, and reverence for life are aligned with Shaiva dharma and supported by Śiva’s grace.

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

By describing residents of Śiva-loka, the verse supports Saguna devotion to Śiva as Lord of a divine abode; such devotion is traditionally expressed through Linga worship accompanied by sattvic conduct such as non-harm and reverence for sacred beings.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is sattvic observance: honoring cows and performing charitable giving (go-sevā, go-dāna) alongside Śiva worship (e.g., japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), cultivating compassion as a devotional discipline.