Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 20

ध्यानप्रकारनिर्णयः / Determination of the Modes of Meditation

on Śrīkaṇṭha-Śiva

Devanagari script

शिवध्यानस्य पूर्णस्य साक्षादुक्तं प्रयोजनम् । यस्मात्सौख्यं च मोक्षं च ध्यानादभयमाप्नुयात्

Transliteration

śivadhyānasya pūrṇasya sākṣāduktaṃ prayojanam | yasmātsaukhyaṃ ca mokṣaṃ ca dhyānādabhayamāpnuyāt

Translation

Der Zweck vollkommener Meditation über Śiva ist unmittelbar ausgesprochen: Durch diese Meditation erlangt man Glück und Befreiung; und durch Meditation gewinnt man auch Furchtlosigkeit.

Word by Word

• शिवध्यानस्य: of Śiva-meditation
• शिवध्यानस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव-ध्यान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठीविभक्ति (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः) ‘शिवस्य ध्यानम्’

• पूर्णस्य: of the complete/perfect
• पूर्णस्य: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठीविभक्ति (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifier)

• साक्षात्: directly, explicitly
• साक्षात्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: साक्षात् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषणम्/निपातः (adverb/particle)

• उक्तम्: stated, declared
• उक्तम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वच् (धातु) → उक्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle/कृत्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; ‘प्रयोजनम्’ इति पदस्य विशेषणम्

• प्रयोजनम्: purpose, aim
• प्रयोजनम्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रयोजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• यस्मात्: from which, because of which
• यस्मात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुँल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसक (contextual), पञ्चमीविभक्ति (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; हेतु-अर्थे (ablative of cause)

• सौख्यम्: happiness
• सौख्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सौख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

• मोक्षम्: liberation
• मोक्षम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुँल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

• ध्यानात्: from meditation
• ध्यानात्: Hetu/Apadana (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्यान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमीविभक्ति (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; हेतु/अपादानार्थे (from/through meditation)

• अभयम्: fearlessness
• अभयम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ-भय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• आप्नुयात्: may attain
• आप्नुयात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person/प्रथम), एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

This verse declares the direct fruit of complete Śiva-dhyāna: worldly well-being (saukhyam), liberation (mokṣa), and inner fearlessness (abhaya). In Shaiva thought, steady contemplation of Pati (Śiva) loosens the bonds (pāśa) that keep the soul (paśu) confined to anxiety and rebirth.

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

“Śiva-dhyāna” is commonly practiced through Saguna supports such as the Śiva-liṅga, Śiva’s auspicious form, and mantra-based remembrance. Meditating with a sacred support refines attention and devotion, culminating in the liberating knowledge and grace associated with Śiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The takeaway is focused dhyāna on Śiva—typically done with mantra-japa (especially the Panchakshara, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and steady visualization of Śiva or the liṅga; such disciplined meditation is said here to yield happiness, moksha, and fearlessness.