Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 135

पञ्चावरणमार्गस्थं योगेश्वरस्तोत्रम्

Pañcāvaraṇa-mārga Stotra to Yogeśvara Śiva

Devanagari script

मत्स्यः कूर्मो वराहश्च नारसिंहो ऽथ वामनः । रामत्रयं तथा कृष्णो विष्णुस्तुरगवक्त्रकः

Transliteration

matsyaḥ kūrmo varāhaśca nārasiṃho 'tha vāmanaḥ | rāmatrayaṃ tathā kṛṣṇo viṣṇusturagavaktrakaḥ

Translation

摩蹉、俱尔摩、婆罗诃，其后那罗辛诃与婆摩那；三位罗摩，以及黑天——如是被称为毗湿奴的诸显化，亦包括马首的海耶格利瓦。从湿婆派立场看，这些著名形相皆在主宰的宇宙秩序中运作；而究竟解脱唯由对至上之主湿婆的虔敬而得，彼为超越一切系缚的最高“主宰者”（Pati）。

Word by Word

• मत्स्यः: Matsya (Fish incarnation)
• मत्स्यः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मत्स्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• कूर्मः: Kūrma (Tortoise)
• कूर्मः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कूर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वराहः: Varāha (Boar)
• वराहः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वराह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• नारसिंहः: Nṛsiṃha (Man-lion)
• नारसिंहः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर + सिंह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (नर-सिंहः = man-lion)

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भसूचक (then/now)

• वामनः: Vāmana (Dwarf)
• वामनः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वामन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• रामत्रयम्: the triad of Rāmas
• रामत्रयम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम + त्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (त्रयः रामाः)

• तथा: also
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/सादृश्यार्थ (also/likewise)

• कृष्णः: Kṛṣṇa
• कृष्णः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• विष्णुः: Viṣṇu
• विष्णुः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तुरगवक्त्रकः: one with a horse-face (Hayagrīva)
• तुरगवक्त्रकः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तुरग + वक्त्रक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (तुरगस्य वक्त्रं यस्य सः)

Speaker

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

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Enumerating avatāras highlights dharma-protection as cosmic maintenance (sthiti) within the Lord’s regulated cosmos; in Siddhānta, such functions remain within the ambit of māyā/karma (pāśa) until Śiva’s anugraha grants mokṣa.

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Matsya
• Kurma
• Varaha
• Narasimha
• Vamana
• Parashurama
• Rama
• Balarama
• Krishna
• Hayagriva

FAQs

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

It lists Viṣṇu’s well-known avatāras to show how divine power sustains dharma in the world; in the Vāyavīya discourse, such functions are understood as operating under the higher sovereignty of Śiva, the supreme Pati who alone severs the bonds (pāśa) and grants mokṣa.

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

By acknowledging cosmic preservative manifestations, the text implicitly distinguishes worldly protection from final liberation; Saguna Śiva worship—especially Linga-upāsanā—centers the devotee on the supreme Lord who transcends all limited forms while also being present through them.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to stabilize devotion through daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and Linga-pūjā, seeking Śiva’s grace for release from bondage rather than only worldly boons.