Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 19

योगप्रकारनिर्णयः

Classification and Definition of Yoga

Devanagari script

इति पञ्चप्रभेदस्स्यान्नियमः स्वांशभेदतः । स्वस्तिकं पद्ममध्येंदुं वीरं योगं प्रसाधितम्

Transliteration

iti pañcaprabhedassyānniyamaḥ svāṃśabhedataḥ | svastikaṃ padmamadhyeṃduṃ vīraṃ yogaṃ prasādhitam

Translation

Ainsi, l’observance appelée Niyama est dite comporter cinq formes distinctes, selon la différenciation de ses propres aspects. Ce sont : Svastika, Padma-madhyendu (la lune au centre du lotus), Vīra, et la discipline du Yoga pleinement accomplie.

Word by Word

• इति: thus; so
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; इति-शब्दः (quotative particle/marker of conclusion)

• पञ्च-प्रभेदः: fivefold division
• पञ्च-प्रभेदः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pañca (संख्या/अव्यय) + prabheda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (numeral determinative)

• स्यात्: would be; should be
• स्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• नियमः: rule; observance
• नियमः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niyama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• स्व-अंश-भेदतः: from the division of one’s own parts
• स्व-अंश-भेदतः: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + aṃśa (प्रातिपदिक) + bheda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb) ‘-तः’; तत्पुरुष-समासः; अर्थः: ‘स्वस्य अंशस्य भेदात्’ (from the division of one’s own parts)

• स्वस्तिकम्: svastika (posture/mark)
• स्वस्तिकम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: svastika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• पद्म-मध्य-इन्दुम्: the ‘moon-in-the-lotus-center’ (a posture/formation)
• पद्म-मध्य-इन्दुम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: padma (प्रातिपदिक) + madhya (प्रातिपदिक) + indu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (पद्मस्य मध्ये इन्दुः)

• वीरम्: vīra (hero) posture
• वीरम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• योगम्: yoga (union/discipline)
• योगम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yoga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• प्रसाधितम्: prepared; arranged
• प्रसाधितम्: Karma (कर्म/Object qualifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-sādh (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे ‘prepared/arranged’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Naṭarāja

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga narrative; it classifies niyama into five ‘types/aspects’ and names meditative/disciplinary modes (svastika, padma-madhyendu, vīra, yoga).

Significance: Encourages disciplined stabilization (sthiti) of body-mind as a prerequisite for Śiva-yoga; supports gradual loosening of pāśa through regulated observance.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames niyama (disciplined observance) as a structured, multi-mode practice—an inner purification that supports Shaiva yoga and steadies the seeker toward Shiva-realization.

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

By emphasizing niyama and yoga as foundations, it points to worship that is not only external (offerings to the Linga) but also internal—purifying conduct and meditation so devotion becomes fit to receive Shiva’s grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A yogic method is indicated, including a meditative visualization like “the moon in the lotus’s center” (padma-madhyendu), along with steadfast disciplines (vīra) and regulated observances (niyama) to perfect practice.