Shloka 10

Adhyaya 8: Yogasthanas, Ashtanga Yoga, Pranayama-Siddhi, and Shiva-Dhyana leading to Samadhi

Devanagari script

तपस्युपरमश्चैव यम इत्यभिधीयते अहिंसा प्रथमो हेतुर् यमस्य यमिनां वराः

Transliteration

tapasyuparamaścaiva yama ityabhidhīyate ahiṃsā prathamo hetur yamasya yamināṃ varāḥ

Translation

يُسمّى اليَما (الضبط والامتناع) ذروةَ التَّبَس (التقشّف) نفسها؛ ومن بين ضوابط اليَما، يا أفضلَ أهلِ كبحِ النفس، فإنّ الأَهِمْسا (عدم الإيذاء) هي علّته الأولى وأساسه.

Word by Word

• तपसि (tapasi): in austerity/tapas

• उपरमः (uparamaḥ): cessation, highest quieting, culmination

• च एव (ca eva): and indeed

• यमः (yamaḥ): restraint, moral discipline

• इति (iti): thus

• अभिधीयते (abhidhīyate): is called/declared

• अहिंसा (ahiṃsā): non-violence

• प्रथमः (prathamaḥ): first, foremost

• हेतुः (hetuḥ): cause, basis

• यमस्य (yamasya): of yama/restraint

• यमिनाम् (yaminām): of the restrained/ascetics

• वराः (varāḥ): O best/excellent ones.

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It establishes that true Shiva-bhakti and Linga-puja are grounded in inner restraint (yama), with ahiṃsā as the primary support; worship without non-violence does not mature into purifying tapas.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

By prioritizing ahiṃsā as the root of discipline, the verse aligns Shiva-tattva with the role of Pati who uplifts the paśu through purity and self-mastery, loosening pāśa (bondage) via ethical transformation.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

The yogic foundation of yama in Pashupata-oriented practice is highlighted—especially ahiṃsā as the first discipline that stabilizes tapas and makes mantra-japa and Linga-puja spiritually effective.