Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 172

पञ्चावरणमार्गस्थं योगेश्वरस्तोत्रम्

Pañcāvaraṇa-mārga Stotra to Yogeśvara Śiva

Devanagari script

शिष्टाः सर्वे विशिष्टा च शिवशासनयंत्रिताः । कर्मेदमनुमन्यंतां ममाभिप्रेतसाधकम्

Transliteration

śiṣṭāḥ sarve viśiṣṭā ca śivaśāsanayaṃtritāḥ | karmedamanumanyaṃtāṃ mamābhipretasādhakam

Translation

愿一切有教养而卓越之士——受持并约束于湿婆圣令之下——垂允此行；因为此举成就我所意欲之事。

Word by Word

• शिष्टाः: cultured/learned (persons)
• शिष्टाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण (cultured/learned)

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण (all)

• विशिष्टाः: distinguished
• विशिष्टाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विशिष्ट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण (distinguished)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय

• शिवशासनयंत्रिताः: restrained/regulated by Śiva’s command
• शिवशासनयंत्रिताः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिव-शासन-यंत्रित (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-आधारित विशेषण)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) ‘यंत्रित’ = यंत्र् (धातु) + क्त; समासः—तत्पुरुषः: शिवस्य शासनम् (षष्ठी) + तेन यंत्रिताः (instrumental sense)

• कर्म: the act/rite
• कर्म: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; ‘कर्म’ (act/ritual)

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (this)

• अनुमन्यन्ताम्: let (them) approve/consent
• अनुमन्यन्ताम्: Vidhi (विधि/imperative predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अनु-√मन् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद; विधिलिङ्गार्थे आज्ञा/अनुज्ञा (let them approve)

• मम: of me/my
• मम: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अभिप्रेतसाधकम्: accomplishing what is intended by me
• अभिप्रेतसाधकम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभिप्रेत-साधक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषण ‘कर्म’ इत्यस्य; समासः—तत्पुरुषः: अभिप्रेतम् (desired) + साधकम् (accomplishing)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Vāyavīyasaṃhitā discourse to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga narrative; it is a formal appeal to ‘śiṣṭa’ (cultured authorities) who are ‘śiva-śāsana-yaṃtrita’—regulated by Śiva’s ordinance—asking them to ratify an act intended to accomplish a purpose, reflecting Siddhānta’s emphasis on śāstra/ācāra conformity as the channel for anugraha.

Significance: Affirms that acts aligned with Śiva’s śāsana and approved by the śiṣṭa community become efficacious; encourages devotees to follow Śaiva ācāra under competent guidance.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that actions become spiritually valid when they are aligned with Śiva’s śāsana (divine ordinance) and affirmed by the śiṣṭas (the righteous), reflecting the Shaiva Siddhanta ideal of living under Pati’s guidance to reduce pāśa (bondage).

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

By invoking Śiva’s command as the regulating principle, the verse supports Saguna Śiva worship—such as Liṅga-pūjā—where the devotee consciously performs prescribed acts (arcana, abhiṣeka, japa) as obedience to Śiva, not merely personal preference.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is saṅkalpa with Śiva-anusandhāna: begin worship or japa (especially the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) by dedicating the act to Śiva’s ordinance and seeking the assent/blessing of the righteous and the guru-paramparā.