Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 10

योगप्रकारनिर्णयः

Classification and Definition of Yoga

Devanagari script

विलीनावयवं विश्वं रूपं संभाव्यते यतः । अभावयोगः संप्रोक्तो ऽनाभासाद्वस्तुनः सतः

Transliteration

vilīnāvayavaṃ viśvaṃ rūpaṃ saṃbhāvyate yataḥ | abhāvayogaḥ saṃprokto 'nābhāsādvastunaḥ sataḥ

Translation

Because the universe—its parts dissolved—can be conceived as a single undifferentiated form, this is declared to be “Abhāva-yoga,” the yoga of absence: the non-appearance of the truly existent Reality. In Śaiva understanding, when names and forms subside, the Pati (Śiva) remains as the ever-real, while the world’s manifest display is unshown.

Word by Word

• विलीन-अवयवम्: having dissolved parts / with parts merged
• विलीन-अवयवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विलीन (कृदन्त, √ली (धातु)) + अवयव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषण (adjectival)

• विश्वम्: the universe
• विश्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• रूपम्: form
• रूपम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• संभाव्यते: is conceived/considered possible
• संभाव्यते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+√भू (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive)

• यतः: because; from which
• यतः: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यतस् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थक (causal) ‘because/from which’

• अभाव-योगः: the union/state of non-manifestation (absence)
• अभाव-योगः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभाव (प्रातिपदिक) + योग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• संप्रोक्तः: has been declared/taught
• संप्रोक्तः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+प्र+√वच् (धातु) → प्रोक्त (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• अनाभासात्: from non-appearance / from non-manifestation
• अनाभासात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनाभास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5), एकवचन; अपादान (ablative)

• वस्तुनः: of the entity/thing
• वस्तुनः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वस्तु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन

• सतः: of the existent/real
• सतः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत् (कृदन्त, √अस् (धातु) शतृ)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (present participle, शतृ); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: laya/pralaya imagery (conceptual dissolution of avayavas into an undifferentiated whole)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It points to a contemplative yoga where the seeker recognizes the withdrawal of all differentiated forms and abides in the ever-existent Reality—Śiva as Pati—beyond appearance and disappearance.

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

The Linga symbolizes the one Reality in which the universe’s forms dissolve; Saguna worship supports the mind until it can intuit the non-manifest (anābhāsa) ground indicated here.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Meditatively withdraw attention from names and forms (pratyāhāra-like inner absorption) while stabilizing devotion through japa of the Panchakshara “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” supported by bhasma and rudrākṣa if one follows Shaiva observances.