Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 23

ध्यानप्रकारनिर्णयः / Determination of the Modes of Meditation

on Śrīkaṇṭha-Śiva

Devanagari script

योगाभ्यासेन युक्तस्य योगिनस्त्वेव सिध्यति । प्रक्षीणाशेषपापानां ज्ञाने ध्याने भवेन्मतिः

Transliteration

yogābhyāsena yuktasya yoginastveva sidhyati | prakṣīṇāśeṣapāpānāṃ jñāne dhyāne bhavenmatiḥ

Translation

لليوغي الثابت الموصول بتمرين اليوغا المنضبط تتحقّق الغاية لا محالة. فإذا فَنِيَتِ الخطايا كلّها بلا بقايا، مالَ الذهنُ بطبيعته إلى المعرفة الحقّة وإلى الاندماج في السَّمادهي—مُفضيًا إلى تحقّق شيفا.

Word by Word

• योग-अभ्यासेन: by yoga-practice
• योग-अभ्यासेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग (प्रातिपदिक) + अभ्यास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: योगस्य अभ्यासः; पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; instrumental singular ‘by practice of yoga’

• युक्तस्य: of the disciplined/engaged (person)
• युक्तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युज् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त ‘joined/engaged’; पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन; genitive singular ‘of the engaged one’

• योगिनः: of the yogin
• योगिनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन; genitive singular ‘of the yogin’

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक-अव्यय; particle ‘but/indeed’

• एव: only/indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय; emphatic particle ‘only/indeed’

• सिध्यति: is accomplished/succeeds
• सिध्यति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सिध् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; present indicative 3rd sg ‘is accomplished’

• प्रक्षीण-अशेष-पापानाम्: of those whose all sins are destroyed
• प्रक्षीण-अशेष-पापानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रक्षीण (प्रातिपदिक) + अशेष (प्रातिपदिक) + पाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: अशेषाणि पापानि प्रक्षीणानि येषाम् (sense: those whose all sins are exhausted); पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), बहुवचन; genitive plural

• ज्ञाने: in knowledge
• ज्ञाने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; locative singular ‘in knowledge’

• ध्याने: in meditation
• ध्याने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्यान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), एकवचन; locative singular ‘in meditation’

• भवेत्: may arise/should be
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; optative 3rd sg ‘may/should be’

• मतिः: understanding/intent
• मतिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; nominative singular feminine

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that steady yogic discipline purifies the soul by wearing away pāpa (impurities/bondages). When these are removed, the mind becomes fit for jñāna (right knowledge) and dhyāna (contemplation), culminating in orientation toward Pati—Lord Śiva.

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

Yoga-abhyāsa here supports Saguna upāsanā: meditating on Śiva in a form—often the Liṅga—steadies the mind and burns impurities. As purification matures, devotion and contemplation deepen, preparing one for subtler realization of Śiva beyond form.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is daily dhyāna with disciplined yoga: sit in purity, apply Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) if one follows Shaiva observance, and repeat a Śiva-mantra such as the Pañcākṣarī ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") to stabilize attention and support inner purification.