Shloka 17

Vāyu-jaya (Prāṇa-vijaya) and Yogic Mastery over Time — वायुजय (प्राणविजय) तथा कालजय

Devanagari script

वह्निगतं भ्रूमध्ये प्रकाशते यस्त्वतंद्रितो योगी । दीपहीनध्वांत पश्येन्न्यूनमसंशयं लोके

Transliteration

vahnigataṃ bhrūmadhye prakāśate yastvataṃdrito yogī | dīpahīnadhvāṃta paśyennyūnamasaṃśayaṃ loke

Translation

For the vigilant yogin, free from heedlessness, the fire abiding in the space between the eyebrows shines forth. Without doubt, in this world he beholds even lamp-less darkness as though it were diminished.

Word by Word

• वह्नि-गतम्: gone into/located in fire
• वह्नि-गतम्: विशेषण (qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वह्नि (प्रातिपदिक) + गत (√गम् धातु, क्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष: वह्नौ गतम् = gone into fire), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (of implied ज्योतिः/प्रकाशः)

• भ्रू-मध्ये: in the middle of the eyebrows
• भ्रू-मध्ये: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रू (प्रातिपदिक) + मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषसमास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: भ्रुवोः मध्ये), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case/Locative), एकवचन

• प्रकाशते: shines/appears
• प्रकाशते: क्रिया (मुख्यक्रिया/Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√काश् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present Indicative), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; धातु: √काश् (to shine/appear) with उपसर्ग प्र

• यः: who
• यः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (relative pronoun)

• तु: indeed
• तु: निपात
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle) — but/indeed

• अतन्द्रितः: unwearied, vigilant
• अतन्द्रितः: कर्ता-विशेषण (qualifier of योगी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अतन्द्रित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; नञ्-तत्पुरुष/उपपद-निषेध: a-tandrā (without sloth)

• योगी: the yogi
• योगी: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• दीप-हीन-ध्वान्तम्: darkness without a lamp (pitch-dark)
• दीप-हीन-ध्वान्तम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दीप (प्रातिपदिक) + हीन (प्रातिपदिक) + ध्वान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समास: (दीपहीनम्) कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष + ध्वान्तम् (तत्पुरुष: दीपहीनं ध्वान्तम्), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• पश्येत्: would see/should see
• पश्येत्: क्रिया (मुख्यक्रिया/Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दृश् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; धातु: √दृश् (to see)

• न्यूनम्: less (than that)
• न्यूनम्: क्रियाविशेषण (manner/degree)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: न्यून (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (adverbial accusative): less/deficiently

• असंशयम्: undoubtedly
• असंशयम्: क्रियाविशेषण (certainty)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: असंशय (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययवत्)
• Form: अव्ययीभाववत् नपुंसक-द्वितीया एकवचन used adverbially; अर्थ: without doubt

• लोके: in the world
• लोके: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Shiva (teaching Umā/Parvatī in the Umāsaṃhitā’s yogic-philosophical discourse)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Internal jyotis (ājñā-darśana) is framed as a sign of yogic maturation; it functions as an inward ‘tīrtha’ where darkness (avidyā) is experientially attenuated.

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Parvati

FAQs

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

It teaches that when the yogin awakens the inner fire/light at the brow-center through steady discipline, perception is transformed—ignorance (darkness) is weakened, pointing to Shiva’s illuminating grace that loosens pāśa (bondage) for the paśu (soul).

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

The Linga is the outer support for concentrating on Shiva, while this verse describes the inner counterpart: devotion and yogic absorption refine awareness until Shiva’s light becomes evident within, moving the seeker from external support (saguṇa upāsanā) toward direct inner realization under Pati’s guidance.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Focused dhyāna at the bhrūmadhya (between the eyebrows) with vigilant steadiness—ideally supported by Shaiva practice such as Panchākṣarī japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and calm breath regulation—so the inner light (vahni) becomes steady and clarifies awareness.