Shloka 54

न्यासवर्णनम् (Nyāsa-varṇanam) — Description of Nyāsa in the Saṃnyāsa Procedure

Devanagari script

शोषदाहप्लवान्कुर्याद्रेचकादि क्रमेण तु । सषोडशचतुष्षष्टिद्वात्रिंशद्गणनायुतैः

Transliteration

śoṣadāhaplavānkuryādrecakādi krameṇa tu | saṣoḍaśacatuṣṣaṣṭidvātriṃśadgaṇanāyutaiḥ

Translation

Then, following the proper sequence beginning with recaka (exhalation), one should perform the three inner operations—śoṣa (drying), dāha (heating/burning), and plāva (flooding/immersion)—in measured counts of sixteen, sixty-four, and thirty-two repetitions.

Word by Word

• शोष-दाह-प्लवान्: drying, burning, and floating (effects)
• शोष-दाह-प्लवान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शोष (प्रातिपदिक) + दाह (प्रातिपदिक) + प्लव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचनस्य अर्थे एकवचनरूपम् (collective); समासः—द्वन्द्वः (शोषश्च दाहश्च प्लवश्च)

• कुर्यात्: should do/perform
• कुर्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• रेचक-आदि: starting with recaka (exhalation) etc.
• रेचक-आदि: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रेचक (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन (indeclinable-like usage as ‘etc.’); समासः—तत्पुरुषः (रेचकः आदिः यस्य)

• क्रमेण: in order, sequentially
• क्रमेण: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-विभक्त्यन्तं क्रियाविशेषणवत् (Instrumental used adverbially); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण/विरोधार्थक (but/indeed)

• स-षोडश-चतुः-षष्टि-द्वात्रिंशत्-गणना-युतैः: with counts of 16, 64, and 32 (as prescribed)
• स-षोडश-चतुः-षष्टि-द्वात्रिंशत्-गणना-युतैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स (अव्यय) + षोडश (प्रातिपदिक) + चतुः (प्रातिपदिक) + षष्टि (प्रातिपदिक) + द्वात्रिंशत् (प्रातिपदिक) + गणना (प्रातिपदिक) + युत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), बहुवचन; समासबहुलः संख्याविशेषणसमूहः; ‘स’ = सह (with) अव्यय; युतैः = युत (युक्त) तृतीया बहुवचन

Speaker

Lord Shiva

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 prescribes a Shaiva yogic purification: by regulated breath and inner processes (drying, burning, and flooding), the aspirant refines the pasha-bound tendencies and steadies awareness toward Pati (Shiva), supporting liberation-oriented meditation.

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

In Shaiva Siddhanta, disciplined yoga complements Saguna worship: pranayama and inner purification make the mind fit for Linga-dhyana and mantra-japa, allowing devotion to mature into steady contemplation of Shiva.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A pranayama-based meditation: proceed in order starting with recaka (exhalation), applying the inner practices of śoṣa, dāha, and plāva with counted repetitions (16/64/32), as a regulated method of purification and concentration.