Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 31
मन्त्रसिद्ध्यर्थं गुरुपूजा–आज्ञा–पौरश्चर्यविधिः / Guru-Authorization, Offerings, and Puraścaraṇa for Mantra-Siddhi
चत्वारिंशत्समावृत्तीः प्राणानायम्य संस्मरेत् । मंत्रं मंत्रार्थविद्धीमानशक्तः शक्तितो जपेत् । पञ्चकं त्रिकमेकं वा प्राणायामं समाचरेत् । अगर्भं वा सगर्भं वा सगर्भस्तत्र शस्यते
catvāriṃśatsamāvṛttīḥ prāṇānāyamya saṃsmaret | maṃtraṃ maṃtrārthaviddhīmānaśaktaḥ śaktito japet | pañcakaṃ trikamekaṃ vā prāṇāyāmaṃ samācaret | agarbhaṃ vā sagarbhaṃ vā sagarbhastatra śasyate
Après avoir réglé le souffle vital en quarante cycles mesurés, on doit se souvenir (du Seigneur). Doué d’intelligence et connaissant le sens du mantra, même celui qui n’en a pas toute la capacité doit le répéter selon sa force. On peut pratiquer le prāṇāyāma par séries de cinq, de trois, ou même d’une seule. Qu’il soit sans mantra (agarbha) ou avec mantra (sagarbha), ici le sagarbha est tout particulièrement recommandé.
Suta Goswami (narrating the Vayu Samhita teachings to the sages at Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Significance: Frames disciplined prāṇāyāma and mantra-artha-jñāna as means for the bound soul to become fit for Śiva’s liberating grace.
Role: teaching
FAQs
It teaches that prāṇāyāma should support remembrance of Shiva, and that mantra-japa becomes more fruitful when done with understanding (mantrārtha) and in a disciplined, capacity-appropriate way—aligning the bound soul (paśu) toward the Lord (Pati) by loosening the bonds (pāśa) of distraction.
By commending sagarbha (mantra-joined) prāṇāyāma, the verse emphasizes Saguna-oriented upāsanā: the practitioner unites breath with Shiva’s mantra and remembrance, making inner worship a direct support to Linga-devotion and mantra-based Shaiva practice.
Practice prāṇāyāma in counted rounds (even 1, 3, or 5 sets), then perform mantra-japa according to one’s strength—preferably sagarbha prāṇāyāma (breath-control joined with mantra), with attention to the mantra’s meaning.