Shloka 28

प्रणवार्थ-शिवतत्त्व-निर्णयः

The Determination of Śiva as the Meaning of Praṇava

Devanagari script

तपस्वी विजिताहारो यमाय योगम भ्यसेत् । यथा दृढतरा बुद्धिरविचाल्या भवेत्तथा

Transliteration

tapasvī vijitāhāro yamāya yogama bhyaset | yathā dṛḍhatarā buddhiravicālyā bhavettathā

Translation

Let the ascetic, having mastered his diet, practice yoga for the sake of yama (self-restraint), so that his intellect grows ever firmer and remains unshaken.

Word by Word

• तपस्वी: an ascetic
• तपस्वी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस्विन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेष्य-रूपेण (as the subject)

• विजित-आहारः: one who has conquered (regulated) food
• विजित-आहारः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विजित (कृदन्त; √जि (धातु) + क्त) + आहार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण; समासः—कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-प्रायः (विजितः आहारः यस्य)

• यमाय: for (the practice of) yama / restraints
• यमाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; प्रयोजन/सम्प्रदानार्थे

• योगम्: yoga
• योगम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• अभ्यसेत्: should practice
• अभ्यसेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अभ्यस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• यथा: so that / as
• यथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सम्बन्ध/उपमानार्थक (correlative: ‘so that/as’)

• दृढ-तरा: firmer
• दृढ-तरा: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दृढ (प्रातिपदिक) + तर (तद्धित-प्रत्यय)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तर-प्रत्ययान्त (comparative)

• बुद्धिः: intellect / resolve
• बुद्धिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुद्धि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• अविचाल्या: unshakable
• अविचाल्या: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अविचाल्य (कृदन्त; √चल् (धातु) + ण्यत्/ल्यप्-प्रायः, नञ्-पूर्वक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; नञ्-पूर्वक; भाव्य/योग्यता-अर्थे (not to be shaken)

• भवेत्: may become
• भवेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• तथा: thus / so
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तद्-सम्बन्धी (correlative: ‘thus/so’)

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not jyotirliṅga-linked; Śiva teaches yoga oriented to yama (ethical restraint) and buddhi-sthairya, a direct upāya toward Śiva’s grace and inner clarity.

Significance: General: emphasizes yogic discipline as a Śaiva means for stabilizing intellect, preparing for jñāna and Śiva-anugraha.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that ethical restraint (yama) and disciplined living—especially regulation of food—stabilize the buddhi, making the seeker fit for Shiva-realization and liberation.

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

Steady intellect and self-restraint are presented as prerequisites for effective Saguna worship—such as Linga-puja—because a calm, unwavering mind can sustain mantra, dhyana, and devotion toward Shiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice yama-oriented yoga supported by disciplined diet/fasting (upavasa), then continue with mantra-japa (e.g., Panchakshara) and meditation to keep the mind unwavering.