Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 6

योगप्रकारनिर्णयः

Classification and Definition of Yoga

Devanagari script

निरुद्धवृत्त्यंतरस्यं शिवे चित्तस्य निश्चला । या वृत्तिः स समासेन योगः स खलु पञ्चधा

Transliteration

niruddhavṛttyaṃtarasyaṃ śive cittasya niścalā | yā vṛttiḥ sa samāsena yogaḥ sa khalu pañcadhā

Translation

Wenn der Geist, dessen innere Regungen gezügelt sind, unbeirrbar fest in Śiva ruht, dann heißt eben dieser Bewusstseinszustand kurz Yoga; und wahrlich, er ist fünffach.

Word by Word

• निरुद्ध-वृत्ति-अन्तरस्याम्: in (the state of) the inner modifications being restrained
• निरुद्ध-वृत्ति-अन्तरस्याम्: अधिकरण (Locative/अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निरुद्ध (कृदन्त, भूतकर्मणि/क्त, निर्-√रुध्) + वृत्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘वृत्तिः’ understood as ‘in the state/condition...’)

• शिवे: in Śiva
• शिवे: अधिकरण (Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• चित्तस्य: of the mind
• चित्तस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• निश्चला: steady/immovable
• निश्चला: कर्ता (Subject/predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निश्चल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विशेषण (to ‘वृत्तिः’)

• या: which
• या: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-सर्वनाम (relative pronoun)

• वृत्तिः: modification/mental activity
• वृत्तिः: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृत्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• सा: that
• सा: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; निर्देश-सर्वनाम (demonstrative)

• समासेन: in brief
• समासेन: सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: समास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषण-प्रयोग (instrumental used adverbially: ‘briefly’)

• योगः: yoga
• योगः: कर्ता (Predicate nominative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• सः: that (yoga)
• सः: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• खलु: indeed
• खलु: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: खलु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle: emphasis/assurance)

• पञ्चधा: fivefold
• पञ्चधा: सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण (Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पञ्चधा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारवाचक (adverb of manner: ‘in five ways’)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha

Sthala Purana: Viśvanātha (Kāśī) is celebrated as the Lord in whom liberation is granted through steadfast fixation of consciousness on Śiva; the verse’s definition of yoga as niścalā cittavṛtti in Śiva aligns with Kāśī’s mokṣa-kṣetra theology.

Significance: Stability of mind in Śiva and orientation toward mokṣa; Kāśī is held to confer taraka-upadeśa and facilitate Śiva-sāyujya for the devoted.

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: oṃ namaḥ śivāya

Type: panchakshara

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It defines Yoga as the mind becoming steady in Śiva after restraining its modifications—pointing to liberation through Pati-centered concentration where awareness rests in the Supreme Lord.

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

Steadiness “in Śiva” can be cultivated through Saguna supports such as Linga-worship, mantra, and dhyāna; these stabilize the mind so it can abide in Śiva beyond distraction, leading toward higher realization.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is mantra-japa (especially Śiva-mantra) with focused dhyāna on Śiva/Linga to restrain vṛttis; supportive observances like bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa may be adopted as aids to steadiness.