Shloka 8

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

Devanagari script

यमस्तु प्रथमः प्रोक्तो द्वितीयो नियमस् तथा तृतीयमासनं प्रोक्तं प्राणायामस्ततः परम्

Transliteration

yamastu prathamaḥ prokto dvitīyo niyamas tathā tṛtīyamāsanaṃ proktaṃ prāṇāyāmastataḥ param

Translation

যমক প্ৰথম অংগ বুলি কোৱা হৈছে, নিয়ম দ্বিতীয়; আসন তৃতীয়, আৰু তাৰ পিছত প্ৰাণায়াম—প্ৰাণৰ নিয়মন—আহে।

Word by Word

• यमः (yamaḥ): restraint, ethical discipline

• तु (tu): indeed/and

• प्रथमः (prathamaḥ): first

• प्रोक्तः (proktaḥ): declared/taught

• द्वितीयः (dvitīyaḥ): second

• नियमः (niyamaḥ): observance, inner discipline

• तथा (tathā): likewise

• तृतीयम् (tṛtīyam): third

• आसनम् (āsanam): posture/seat

• प्रोक्तम् (proktam): taught

• प्राणायामः (prāṇāyāmaḥ): breath-control, regulation of prāṇa

• ततः (tataḥ): thereafter

• परम् (param): next/then

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Yoga teaching within the Linga Purana’s Shaiva framework)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames Linga-upāsanā as grounded in yogic purity: ethical restraint (yama) and disciplined observance (niyama) stabilize the pashu (individual soul) so worship becomes a means to loosen pāśa (bondage) and turn toward Pati (Śiva).

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

By presenting yoga as a graded path culminating in prāṇa-regulation, it implies Śiva-tattva as the supreme Pati approached through inner purification and steadiness—where mind and prāṇa are aligned for Śiva-realization.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

It highlights the initial limbs of yoga—yama, niyama, āsana, and prāṇāyāma—often treated in Shaiva practice as preparatory disciplines for mantra-japa and focused Linga-dhyāna within Pāśupata-oriented sādhanā.