Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 158

पञ्चावरणमार्गस्थं योगेश्वरस्तोत्रम्

Pañcāvaraṇa-mārga Stotra to Yogeśvara Śiva

Devanagari script

कूष्मांडाः प्रेतवेताला ग्रहा भूतगणाः परे । डाकिन्यश्चापि योगिन्यः शाकिन्यश्चापि तादृशाः

Transliteration

kūṣmāṃḍāḥ pretavetālā grahā bhūtagaṇāḥ pare | ḍākinyaścāpi yoginyaḥ śākinyaścāpi tādṛśāḥ

Translation

กูษมานฑะ เปรต และเวตาล รวมทั้งเคราะห์ร้ายและหมู่ภูตอื่น ๆ—ดากินี โยคินี ตลอดจนศากินีและสรรพสัตว์จำพวกเดียวกัน।

Word by Word

• कूष्माण्डाः: Kūṣmāṇḍas (a class of spirits)
• कूष्माण्डाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject—list item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कूष्माण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (Masculine, Nominative, Plural)

• प्रेत-वेतालाः: ghosts and vetālas
• प्रेत-वेतालाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject—list item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रेत (प्रातिपदिक) + वेताल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—द्वन्द्व (प्रेताश्च वेतालाश्च)

• ग्रहाः: seizers/demons (grahas)
• ग्रहाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject—list item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्रह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• भूत-गणाः: hosts of beings/spirits
• भूत-गणाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject—list item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक) + गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (भूतानां गणाः)

• परे: others, further (ones)
• परे: विशेषण (of implied group)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (others/further)

• डाकिन्यः: ḍākinīs
• डाकिन्यः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject—list item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: डाकिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• अपि: also
• अपि: निपात (particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, अवधान/समुच्चय (particle: also/even)

• योगिन्यः: yoginīs
• योगिन्यः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject—list item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योगिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• शाकिन्यः: śākinīs
• शाकिन्यः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject—list item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शाकिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• अपि: also
• अपि: निपात (particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, निपात (particle: also)

• तादृशाः: such (of that kind)
• तादृशाः: विशेषण (of listed beings)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तादृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (such-like)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya in the Vayu Samhita discourse)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Bhairava

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Kālī

Role: destructive

FAQs

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

The verse catalogs classes of obstructive and fear-inducing beings (bhūtas, pretas, vetālas, grahas, ḍākinīs, yoginīs, śākinīs), highlighting the realm of pasha (bondage/affliction) that troubles the pashu (bound soul). In Shaiva Siddhanta, remembrance of Shiva as Pati is the remedy that subdues fear and restores inner purity.

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

Such beings are traditionally said to be pacified or rendered powerless in the presence of Saguna Shiva worship—especially Linga-upāsanā—because the Linga signifies Shiva’s sovereign presence that orders all ganas and dissolves tamasic disturbances through devotion and sanctity.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is protective japa and Shiva-centered discipline: recite the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with steady bhakti, maintain śauca (purity), and apply Tripuṇḍra bhasma as a reminder of Shiva-tattva and inner detachment from fear and affliction.