Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 25

पञ्चावरणमार्गस्थं योगेश्वरस्तोत्रम्

Pañcāvaraṇa-mārga Stotra to Yogeśvara Śiva

Devanagari script

स्वेच्छावतारं कुर्वंतौ स्वांशभेदैरनेकशः । ताविमौ शिवयोः पार्श्वे नित्यमित्थं मयार्चितौ

Transliteration

svecchāvatāraṃ kurvaṃtau svāṃśabhedairanekaśaḥ | tāvimau śivayoḥ pārśve nityamitthaṃ mayārcitau

Translation

เทวะทั้งสองทรงอวตารตามพระประสงค์ของตน และทรงปรากฏหลากหลายด้วยการแบ่งภาคแห่งพระองค์เอง; ทั้งสองประทับเคียงข้างพระศิวะเป็นนิตย์—ฉะนั้นข้าพเจ้าจึงบูชาท่านทั้งสองอยู่เสมอ

Word by Word

• sva-icchā-avatāram: a self-willed incarnation
• sva-icchā-avatāram: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + icchā (प्रातिपदिक) + avatāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘स्वेच्छया अवतारः’ (incarnation by one’s own will)

• kurvantau: doing (the two)
• kurvantau: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (कृ धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ/शानच्), प्रथमा (Nominative), द्विवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; ‘doing/performing’

• sva-aṃśa-bhedaiḥ: by divisions of their own portions
• sva-aṃśa-bhedaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument/means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + aṃśa (प्रातिपदिक) + bheda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; ‘स्वांशस्य भेदाः’ (divisions of their own portions)

• anekaśaḥ: in many ways
• anekaśaḥ: Prakāra (प्रकार/Mode)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: anekaśas (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकार-अव्यय (adverb: in many ways/many times)

• tau: those two
• tau: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन

• imau: these two
• imau: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन

• śivayoḥ: of (the two) Śivas / of Śiva (pair)
• śivayoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), द्विवचन

• pārśve: at the side
• pārśve: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pārśva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• nityam: always
• nityam: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nitya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-रूपेण नपुंसक एकवचन (adverbial accusative: always/constantly)

• ittham: thus
• ittham: Prakāra (प्रकार/Mode)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ittham (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकार-अव्यय (thus/in this manner)

• mayā: by me
• mayā: Karta (कर्ता/Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• arcitau: worshipped (the two)
• arcitau: Karta (कर्ता/Subject complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: arc (अर्च् धातु) + ta (क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (worshipped)

Speaker

Brahma

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a specific jyotirliṅga episode; the verse expresses the doctrine of voluntary manifestation (svecchā-avatāra) and aṃśa-bheda—attendant powers/deities remaining by Śiva’s side, a common purāṇic framing for parivāra-devatā and cosmic functionaries.

Significance: Supports the temple liturgy idea that worship of Śiva includes honoring his attendant powers and manifestations; pilgrimage is strengthened by parivāra-sevā as part of complete darśana.

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: creative

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It highlights unwavering devotion to Pati (Śiva): the verse praises two divine beings who freely manifest in many forms yet remain eternally near Śiva, teaching that true greatness is constant proximity to—and worshipful service of—the Lord.

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

By emphasizing perpetual attendance at Śiva’s side and continual worship, it supports Saguna devotion—approaching Śiva through His accessible presence (including the Liṅga) and honoring His divine order and attendants as part of reverence to Śiva Himself.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is nitya-arcana (daily worship): steady japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), regular Liṅga-pūjā with bhakti, and maintaining a disciplined devotional routine rather than occasional devotion.