Shloka 9

Devanagari script

अधैर्य्यचित्तो यः कश्चित्समाधिं न च विंदति । तदुपायम्प्रवक्ष्यामि सावधानतया शृणु

Transliteration

adhairyyacitto yaḥ kaścitsamādhiṃ na ca viṃdati | tadupāyampravakṣyāmi sāvadhānatayā śṛṇu

Translation

Whoever, with an unsteady and impatient mind, does not attain samādhi—I shall explain the means for that. Listen with full attentiveness.

Word by Word

• adhairya-cittaḥ: one whose mind is impatient
• adhairya-cittaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: adhairya (प्रातिपदिक) + citta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; karmadhāraya (adhairyaṃ cittaṃ yasya/adhairyacittaḥ)

• yaḥ: who
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; relative pronoun

• kaścit: someone/anyone
• kaścit: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + cit (अव्यय)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; indefinite pronoun

• samādhim: samādhi (meditative absorption)
• samādhim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samādhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: negation particle

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: conjunction; with 'na' = 'nor'

• vindati: finds/attains
• vindati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vid (धातु; √vid ‘to find/know’)
• Form: Laṭ (present), Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; demonstrative pronoun

• upāyam: means/method
• upāyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; apposition to 'tat'

• pravakṣyāmi: I shall explain
• pravakṣyāmi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√vac (धातु)
• Form: Luṭ (periphrastic future), Uttama-puruṣa, Ekavacana

• sāvadhānatayā: with attentiveness
• sāvadhānatayā: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण; manner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sāvadhānatā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana; bhāva-nāma (abstract noun) used adverbially

• śṛṇu: listen
• śṛṇu: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: Loṭ (लोट्, imperative), Madhyama-puruṣa (2nd person), Ekavacana

Speaker

Lord Shiva (teaching in the Kailāsa-saṃhitā discourse on Yoga and liberation)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames samādhi as attainable through a specific upāya (method), and identifies mental restlessness (adhairya) as a key obstacle—implying that grace and practice must be supported by disciplined attention in the Shaiva path.

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

In Shaiva Siddhānta-oriented practice, focusing the mind is commonly supported through Saguna aids—Linga-dhyāna, mantra-japa, and devotion—so the “means” promised here naturally aligns with steady, attentive worship that matures into inner absorption.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The direct instruction is “listen attentively,” pointing to disciplined śravaṇa (receiving teaching) as a yogic practice; in Shaiva usage this is typically paired with mantra-japa (especially the Panchākṣarī, Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and focused meditation to steady an impatient mind.