Shloka 59

न्यासवर्णनम् (Nyāsa-varṇanam) — Description of Nyāsa in the Saṃnyāsa Procedure

Devanagari script

एकाग्रमानसो योगी विमृश्यात्तां च मातृकाम् । पुटितां प्रणवेनाथ न्यसेद्बाह्ये च मातृकाम्

Transliteration

ekāgramānaso yogī vimṛśyāttāṃ ca mātṛkām | puṭitāṃ praṇavenātha nyasedbāhye ca mātṛkām

Translation

Mit einspitzigem Geist soll der Yogi jene Mātṛkā, die Matrix der heiligen Laute, betrachten. Dann, von der Pranava (Oṁ) umschlossen, soll er dieselbe Mātṛkā auch nach außen hin durch die entsprechende Nyāsa-Setzung niederlegen.

Word by Word

• एकाग्रमानसः: single-pointed in mind
• एकाग्रमानसः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एकाग्र (प्रातिपदिक) + मानस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—‘एकाग्रं मानसं यस्य’/‘एकाग्रं मानसम्’ (single-pointed mind)

• योगी: the yogin
• योगी: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• विमृश्यात्: should contemplate
• विमृश्यात्: क्रिया (Action/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-√मृश् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘should contemplate/examine’

• ताम्: that (her/it)
• ताम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• मातृकाम्: the mātṛkā (letters/energy)
• मातृकाम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; ‘mātṛkā’ (letters/ मातृका-शक्ति)

• पुटिताम्: enclosed/encased
• पुटिताम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुटित (कृदन्त, √पुट्/√पुटि?; ‘enclosed/covered’)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त—‘wrapped/enclosed’; विशेषण (qualifying ‘मातृकाम्’)

• प्रणवेन: by the praṇava (Oṃ)
• प्रणवेन: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रणव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; करणार्थे

• अथ: then
• अथ: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनन्तरार्थक/आरम्भसूचक (then/now)

• न्यसेत्: should place (perform nyāsa)
• न्यसेत्: क्रिया (Action/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-√अस्/√न्यस् (धातु; ‘to place’, denominative usage in tantra)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘should place/perform nyāsa’

• बाह्ये: externally/outside
• बाह्ये: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाह्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; ‘externally/outside’ (as locus)

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• मातृकाम्: the mātṛkā
• मातृकाम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: Oṃ (praṇava)

Type: gayatri

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Lalitā

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that mantra is not merely recited but internalized: the yogin contemplates the divine power of sound (Mātṛkā) and seals it with Oṁ, integrating consciousness, speech, and body toward Śiva-realization (Pati) beyond bondage (pāśa).

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

Nyāsa prepares the practitioner as a fit vessel for Saguna worship—making the body a sacred field for Śiva’s presence—so that external worship (including Linga-pūjā) is supported by inner mantra-śakti and focused awareness.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A mantra-based nyāsa practice: meditate on the Mātṛkā (letters), ‘enclose’ it with the Pranava (Oṁ), and then perform external placement/assignment (bāhya-nyāsa) on the body as part of Shaiva mantra-sādhanā.