Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 33
श्रद्धामाहात्म्यं तथा देवीप्रश्नः
The Greatness of Śraddhā and Devī’s Question to Śiva
मदुक्तेनैव मार्गेण मय्यवस्थितचेतसः । वृत्त्यंतरनिरोधो यो योग इत्यभिधीयते । अश्वमेधगणाच्छ्रेष्ठं देवि चित्तप्रसाधनम् । मुक्तिदं च तथा ह्येतद्दुष्प्राप्यं विषयैषिणाम्
maduktenaiva mārgeṇa mayyavasthitacetasaḥ | vṛttyaṃtaranirodho yo yoga ityabhidhīyate | aśvamedhagaṇācchreṣṭhaṃ devi cittaprasādhanam | muktidaṃ ca tathā hyetadduṣprāpyaṃ viṣayaiṣiṇām
আমারই উপদেশিত পথে, আমাতেই স্থিরচিত্ত হয়ে, মনের অন্যান্য বৃত্তির যে নিবৃত্তি—তাই ‘যোগ’ নামে কথিত। হে দেবী, এটি অসংখ্য অশ্বমেধ যজ্ঞের চেয়েও শ্রেষ্ঠ; চিত্তকে প্রশান্ত ও নির্মল করে এবং মোক্ষ দান করে। কিন্তু বিষয়াসক্তদের পক্ষে এটি দুর্লভ।
Lord Shiva
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Significance: Internal pilgrimage: citta-prasādana through mayy-avasthita-cetas (mind fixed in Śiva) is praised as surpassing external sacrificial merit.
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: teaching
FAQs
It defines Yoga as restraining mental modifications while fixing the mind in Śiva (Pati), presenting inner discipline as superior to external merit and as a direct means to mokṣa—aligning with Shaiva Siddhānta’s emphasis on purification and grace-oriented liberation.
The verse points to worship that culminates in contemplation: devotion to Saguna Śiva (including Linga worship) matures into steady one-pointedness where the mind abides in Śiva, and that inner absorption becomes the core of Yoga leading toward liberation.
A meditative practice of dhyāna and mental restraint—keeping awareness anchored in Śiva (often supported by japa such as the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”)—while reducing distraction toward sense-objects.