Shloka 55

Adhyaya 8: Yogasthanas, Ashtanga Yoga, Pranayama-Siddhi, and Shiva-Dhyana leading to Samadhi

Devanagari script

योगादभ्यसते यस्तु व्यसनं नैव जायते एवमभ्यस्यमानस्तु मुनेः प्राणो विनिर्दहेत्

Transliteration

yogādabhyasate yastu vyasanaṃ naiva jāyate evamabhyasyamānastu muneḥ prāṇo vinirdahet

Translation

For one who practices Yoga, no calamity or addiction-born downfall arises. When practiced in this way, the sage’s vital breath (prāṇa), refined by discipline, burns up the impurities that bind the pashu (individual soul).

Word by Word

• योगात् (yogāt): through Yoga

• अभ्यसते (abhyasate): practices, repeatedly applies

• यः (yaḥ): who

• तु (tu): indeed

• व्यसनम् (vyasanam): misfortune, vice, addiction-like downfall

• नैव (naiva): not at all

• जायते (jāyate): arises

• एवम् (evam): thus, in this manner

• अभ्यस्यमानः (abhyasyamānaḥ): being practiced, steadily cultivated

• तु (tu): indeed

• मुनेः (muneḥ): of the sage

• प्राणः (prāṇaḥ): vital breath, life-force

• विनिर्दहेत् (vinirdahet): would burn up completely, would consume

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Purva-Bhaga teachings to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It links outer devotion to inner purification: true Shaiva practice includes yogic abhyāsa, by which prāṇa becomes a purifying force that removes pasha (bondage), making Linga-worship fruitful and sattvic.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

Shiva is implied as Pati—the Lord whose path (Yoga) prevents spiritual downfall and enables the pashu’s purification, so that bondage is burned and the soul becomes fit for Shiva’s grace (anugraha).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Steady Yoga-abhyāsa with prāṇa-discipline (prāṇāyāma-like refinement), where regulated life-force ‘burns’ inner impurities and tendencies that cause vyasana.