Shloka 98

प्रणवार्थ-शिवतत्त्व-निर्णयः

The Determination of Śiva as the Meaning of Praṇava

Devanagari script

प्रागास्य उपविश्याथ दृढचित्तः स्थिरासनः । यथोक्तविधिना सम्यक्प्राणायामत्रयञ्चरेत्

Transliteration

prāgāsya upaviśyātha dṛḍhacittaḥ sthirāsanaḥ | yathoktavidhinā samyakprāṇāyāmatrayañcaret

Translation

Then, facing east, one should sit down with a resolute mind in a steady posture and—exactly as prescribed—properly perform the threefold regulation of the vital breath (prāṇāyāma).

Word by Word

• prāk: first/beforehand
• prāk: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: prāk (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (indeclinable adverb): ‘before/first’

• āsya: mouth/face
• āsya: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āsya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; ‘mouth/face’

• upaviśya: having sat down
• upaviśya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-√viś (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), ‘having sat down’

• atha: then
• atha: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्धबोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle): ‘then/now’

• dṛḍha-cittaḥ: firm-minded
• dṛḍha-cittaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dṛḍha (प्रातिपदिक) + citta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन; कर्मधारय समास: ‘firm + mind’ = ‘firm-minded’

• sthira-āsanaḥ: steady-seated
• sthira-āsanaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sthira (प्रातिपदिक) + āsana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘steady + seat/posture’ = ‘with steady posture’

• yathā-ukta-vidhinā: by the prescribed method
• yathā-ukta-vidhinā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय) + ukta (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + vidhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (करण), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष समास: ‘as-said method’ → ‘by the prescribed method’; yathā- (indeclinable prefix)

• samyak: properly
• samyak: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: samyak (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb): ‘properly, correctly’

• prāṇāyāma-trayam: the threefold breath-control
• prāṇāyāma-trayam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prāṇāyāma (प्रातिपदिक) + traya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘three (kinds of) prāṇāyāma’

• caret: should practice/perform
• caret: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √car (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s prescribed yogic discipline to the sages of Naimisharanya, as typical of Purāṇic discourse in the Kailāsa-saṃhitā)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames Shaiva sādhana as disciplined inner worship: steady posture, oriented reverently (facing east), and regulated breath to purify the mind so it can rest in Shiva-consciousness (Pati-jñāna) rather than being bound by pasha (limitations).

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

Prāṇāyāma is presented as a preparatory limb that steadies attention for focused Linga-dhyāna and saguna upāsanā; the calmed prāṇa supports one-pointed remembrance of Shiva, allowing outer worship to mature into inner contemplation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Sit facing east in a stable āsana and perform the threefold prāṇāyāma (inhalation–retention–exhalation) exactly as instructed; this is a direct meditative preparation for mantra-japa (such as the Panchākṣarī) and Shiva-dhyāna.