Shloka 22

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

Devanagari script

दूरश्रवण विज्ञानमदृश्यं बहुरूपधृक् । सतताभ्यासयोगेन खेचरत्वं प्रजायते

Transliteration

dūraśravaṇa vijñānamadṛśyaṃ bahurūpadhṛk | satatābhyāsayogena khecaratvaṃ prajāyate

Translation

Through the yoga of constant practice, one gains the powers of hearing from afar, subtle knowledge, becoming unseen, assuming many forms, and the siddhi of moving through the sky (khecaratva).

Word by Word

• दूरश्रवणम्: hearing at a distance
• दूरश्रवणम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दूर + श्रवण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• विज्ञानम्: knowledge/discernment
• विज्ञानम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वि + ज्ञा (धातु) → विज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• अदृश्यम्: invisible
• अदृश्यम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + दृश्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषण (विज्ञानस्य/दूरश्रवणस्य)

• बहुरूपधृक्: bearing many forms
• बहुरूपधृक्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु + रूप + धृ (धातु) → धृक् (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; वर्तमानकृदन्त (present participial agent, क्विप्-प्रत्ययान्त), विशेषण

• सतताभ्यासयोगेन: by the yoga of constant practice
• सतताभ्यासयोगेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सतत + अभ्यास + योग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; साधन (means)

• खेचरत्वम्: the state of moving in the sky (khecara-hood)
• खेचरत्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खेचर + त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• प्रजायते: is produced/arises
• प्रजायते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + जन् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

Speaker

Lord Shiva (teaching Umā/Parvati on yoga and siddhis)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a sthala/jyotirliṅga passage; it belongs to Śiva’s upadeśa on yogic attainments (siddhi) arising from sustained abhyāsa.

Significance: General teaching: siddhis may arise through practice, but are ancillary to liberation; a cautionary subtext in Śaiva Siddhānta where powers can reinforce āṇava/māyīya bondage if clung to.

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 disciplined, continuous yogic practice can generate extraordinary siddhis, yet in a Shaiva Siddhanta lens these are secondary effects—meant to steady the mind for devotion to Pati (Shiva) and liberation, not for egoic display.

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

Abhyasa-yoga becomes fruitful when oriented to Saguna Shiva—meditating on Shiva’s form and Linga as the accessible support for concentration—so that powers do not distract from surrender and inner purity.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse points to sustained meditation and yogic discipline (abhyasa); in Shiva Purana practice this is commonly supported by japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and steady dhyana on Shiva, while maintaining restraint and humility.