Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 23

द्वितीयतृतीयावरणपूजाक्रमः | The Sequence of the Second and Third Enclosure Worship (Āvaraṇa-pūjā)

Devanagari script

शिवायाश्च सखीवर्गं जपेद्ध्यात्वा समाहितः । एवं तृतीयावरणे वितते पूजिते सति

Transliteration

śivāyāśca sakhīvargaṃ japeddhyātvā samāhitaḥ | evaṃ tṛtīyāvaraṇe vitate pūjite sati

Translation

Với tâm chuyên nhất, trong thiền quán, hành giả nên trì tụng (danh hiệu/mantra) của vòng các bạn hữu của Śivā (Pārvatī). Như vậy, khi vòng bao thứ ba của lễ thờ đã được bày lập và cúng kính đầy đủ, nghi thức tiếp diễn theo pháp này.

Word by Word

• शिवायाः: of Śivā (the Goddess)
• शिवायाः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिवा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• सखी-वर्गम्: the group of (her) female companions
• सखी-वर्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सखी (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• जपेत्: should recite (japa)
• जपेत्: Vidhi-kriyā (विधि-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √जप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ध्यात्वा: having meditated
• ध्यात्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ध्यै (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund)

• समाहितः: composed, concentrated
• समाहितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समाहित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; सम्-आ-√धा)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP); विशेषण (of the worshipper)

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (manner adverb)

• तृतीय-आवरणे: in the third enclosure
• तृतीय-आवरणे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तृतीय (प्रातिपदिक) + आवरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• वितते: when it is spread/arranged
• वितते: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वितत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; वि-√तन्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; विशेषण (qualifies आवरणे)

• पूजिते: when it is worshipped
• पूजिते: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूजित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √पूज्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; विशेषण (qualifies आवरणे)

• सति: when/while (it) is (so)
• सति: Locative absolute (सति-सप्तमी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सति-सप्तमी (locative absolute)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Mantra Metadata

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: nurturing

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It teaches that worship is not merely external ritual: japa must be joined with dhyāna and samādhāna (collectedness). By honoring Śivā (Śakti) along with her retinue, the sādhaka approaches Śiva through the complete Shiva–Shakti reality, a key Shaiva understanding for purification and grace.

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

Avaraṇa-pūjā is a structured Saguna method: the devotee worships the central deity (often the Liṅga/Śiva) together with associated powers and attendants. Here, the third enclosure emphasizes Śivā’s aspect—showing that Liṅga worship is complemented by reverence to Śakti and her circles as part of a complete pūjā sequence.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Perform japa while simultaneously meditating, maintaining a steady, composed mind; specifically, recite the names/mantras of Śivā’s sakhīs as part of the third āvaraṇa in the maṇḍala/enclosure worship. This implies disciplined mantra-japa supported by dhyāna (rather than mechanical repetition).