Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 18

ध्यानप्रकारनिर्णयः / Determination of the Modes of Meditation

on Śrīkaṇṭha-Śiva

Devanagari script

अव्याक्षिप्तेन मनसा ध्यानमित्यभिधीयते । बुद्धिप्रवाहरूपस्य ध्यानस्यास्यावलंबनम्

Transliteration

avyākṣiptena manasā dhyānamityabhidhīyate | buddhipravāharūpasya dhyānasyāsyāvalaṃbanam

Translation

Wenn der Geist nicht zerstreut ist, wird dieser Zustand Meditation (dhyāna) genannt. Für diese Meditation—deren Wesen ein ununterbrochener Strom unterscheidender Erkenntnis (buddhi) ist—soll eine feste Stütze (ālambana) gehalten werden.

Word by Word

• अव्याक्षिप्तेन: with (a mind) not distracted
• अव्याक्षिप्तेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-वि-आ-क्षिप्त (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्ताधारित)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifier)

• मनसा: by/with the mind
• मनसा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• ध्यानम्: meditation
• ध्यानम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्यान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; इत्यादि-निर्देशक (quotative particle)

• अभिधीयते: is called/defined
• अभिधीयते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-धा (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive)

• बुद्धिप्रवाहरूपस्य: of the form of a flow of thought/intellect
• बुद्धिप्रवाहरूपस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बुद्धि-प्रवाह-रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; बहु-तत्पुरुष-समासः (बुद्धेः प्रवाहः यस्य रूपम्)

• ध्यानस्य: of meditation
• ध्यानस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्यान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• अस्य: of this
• अस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• अवलम्बनम्: support/means of fixation
• अवलम्बनम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अव-लम्बन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Teaches the practical lakṣaṇa of dhyāna (avyākṣepa) and the need for ālambana; supports sādhakas in stabilizing attention as a prerequisite for Śiva’s grace.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It defines true dhyāna as an undistracted mind and an unbroken flow of discerning awareness, pointing to inner steadiness as the doorway to Shiva-realization and liberation in the Shaiva Siddhanta spirit.

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

The verse highlights ālambana—an inner support for meditation—which in Saguna worship is commonly the Shiva-Linga, Shiva’s form, or the Panchakshara; such a support stabilizes the mind until awareness becomes a continuous stream directed to Shiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt one steady ālambana—such as japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” while visualizing the Linga—and maintain an unbroken attentive flow (buddhi-pravāha), minimizing distraction; this is the practical takeaway of the verse.