Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 35
श्रद्धामाहात्म्यं तथा देवीप्रश्नः
The Greatness of Śraddhā and Devī’s Question to Śiva
विजितेंद्रियवर्गस्य यमेन नियमेन च । पूर्वपापहरो योगो विरक्तस्यैव कथ्यते । वैराग्याज्जायते ज्ञानं ज्ञानाद्योगः प्रवर्तते
vijiteṃdriyavargasya yamena niyamena ca | pūrvapāpaharo yogo viraktasyaiva kathyate | vairāgyājjāyate jñānaṃ jñānādyogaḥ pravartate
لِمَن قهر جماعة الحواس باليَما والنيَما، تُعلَّم اليوغا على أنها مُزيلَةُ الذنوب السابقة—بل تُقال حقًّا للزاهد المتجرّد. ومن الزهد ينشأ العلم المُحرِّر؛ ومن ذلك العلم تثبت اليوغا وتمضي قُدُمًا.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Significance: Ethical conquest (yama-niyama) and vairāgya are framed as prerequisites for lifting the veiling power (tirodhāna) that keeps the paśu bound.
FAQs
It presents the Shaiva path of purification: ethical discipline (yama-niyama) steadies the senses, dispassion (vairagya) matures, true knowledge arises, and Yoga becomes a sin-destroying, liberation-oriented practice centered on turning the soul from bondage (pāśa) toward the Lord (Pati).
Sense-control and dispassion make Linga-worship fruitful: the mind becomes fit for steady dhyāna on Saguna Shiva in the Linga, which supports inner Yoga and the rise of right knowledge that leads toward Shiva-realization.
Begin with yama and niyama, then practice daily Shiva-dhyāna with mantra-japa (especially the Panchākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) to stabilize the senses; as vairagya and jñāna deepen, meditation becomes steady and purifying.