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Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 5

ध्यानप्रकारनिर्णयः / Determination of the Modes of Meditation

on Śrīkaṇṭha-Śiva

तत्र निर्विषयं ध्यानं नास्तीत्येव सतां मतम् । बुद्धेर्हि सन्ततिः काचिद्ध्यानमित्यभिधीयते

tatra nirviṣayaṃ dhyānaṃ nāstītyeva satāṃ matam | buddherhi santatiḥ kāciddhyānamityabhidhīyate

En esto, la opinión de los sabios es que no existe una meditación absolutamente sin objeto. Pues la meditación se describe como un cierto fluir continuo del intelecto (buddhi).

tatrathere/in that context
tatra:
Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण)
TypeIndeclinable
Roottatra (अव्यय)
FormAdverb (देशवाचक अव्यय)
nir-viṣayamobjectless
nir-viṣayam:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootnir (उपसर्ग) + viṣaya (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying dhyānam
dhyānammeditation
dhyānam:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootdhyāna (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)
nanot
na:
Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootna (अव्यय)
FormNegation particle (निषेधार्थक अव्यय)
astiexists
asti:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√as (अस् धातु)
FormPresent (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)
itithus
iti:
Vākyārtha-marker (उद्धरणचिह्न)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootiti (अव्यय)
FormQuotative particle (इति-प्रयोग)
evaindeed/only
eva:
Avadhāraṇa (अवधारण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rooteva (अव्यय)
FormEmphatic particle (अवधारणार्थक अव्यय)
satāmof the good/wise
satām:
Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootsat (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)
matamopinion, view
matam:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootmata (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)
buddheḥof the intellect
buddheḥ:
Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootbuddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)
hifor/indeed
hi:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
TypeIndeclinable
Roothi (अव्यय)
FormParticle (निपात): causal/emphatic
santatiḥcontinuity, stream
santatiḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootsantati (प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)
kācitsome
kācit:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootkācid (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying santatiḥ
dhyānammeditation
dhyānam:
Pratipādya (प्रत्यय/नामकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootdhyāna (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)
itias
iti:
Vākyārtha-marker (उद्धरणचिह्न)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootiti (अव्यय)
FormQuotative particle (इति-प्रयोग)
abhidhīyateis called/denoted
abhidhīyate:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootabhi+√dhā (धा धातु)
FormPresent (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); Passive voice (कर्मणि प्रयोग)

Suta Goswami

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

S
Shiva

FAQs

It defines dhyāna as an unbroken stream of awareness (buddhi-santati), emphasizing that genuine meditation is not blankness but steady, clarified cognition oriented toward the highest truth—ultimately Shiva as Pati.

Since meditation requires a support, devotees commonly take the Shiva-Linga, Shiva’s form, or the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) as an ālambana (meditative basis), which stabilizes the buddhi and gradually refines it toward subtler realization.

Practice mantra-japa (especially the Panchakshara) with steady one-pointed contemplation, using a clear support such as the Shiva-Linga or Shiva’s name-form; keep the mind in a continuous, uninterrupted remembrance rather than seeking a void.