Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 25

योगप्रकारनिर्णयः

Classification and Definition of Yoga

Devanagari script

तद्यतः क्रमयोगेन त्वभ्यसेद्योगसाधकः । रेचकादिषु योभ्यासो नाडीशोधनपूर्वकः

Transliteration

tadyataḥ kramayogena tvabhyasedyogasādhakaḥ | recakādiṣu yobhyāso nāḍīśodhanapūrvakaḥ

Translation

Ainsi, le pratiquant de yoga doit s’exercer pas à pas, selon l’ordre juste. La pratique de recaka et des autres techniques du souffle ne doit être entreprise qu’après la purification préalable des nāḍīs (canaux subtils).

Word by Word

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• यतः: therefore/for that reason
• यतः: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यतस् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थे (causal: 'because/therefore')

• क्रमयोगेन: by sequential method
• क्रमयोगेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रमयोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (क्रमेण योगः)

• त्वम्: you
• त्वम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• अभ्यसेत्: should practice
• अभ्यसेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + अस्/अस् (धातु √अस्/अस्य?; here √अस्/अस्य in sense 'to practice' = √अस्? actually from √अस् (to be) not; standard is √अस् (to throw) no; practice verb is √अस् (अस्यति) not; more properly √अस् (अस्यति) with अभि-; traditional: अभ्यस् (धातु √अभ्यस्)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; धातु: √अभ्यस् (अभ्यासे)

• योगसाधकः: a yoga practitioner
• योगसाधकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग + साधक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (योगस्य साधकः)

• रेचकादिषु: in (the practices) such as recaka etc.
• रेचकादिषु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रेचक + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (रेचकः आदिः येषु)

• यः: which/that (practice)
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-सर्वनाम

• अभ्यासः: practice
• अभ्यासः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभ्यास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• नाडीशोधनपूर्वकः: preceded by nāḍī-purification
• नाडीशोधनपूर्वकः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाडीशोधन + पूर्वक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (नाडीशोधनं पूर्वं यस्य)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Vāyavīya teaching to the sages at Naimisharanya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Nāḍī-śodhana as prerequisite underscores gradual purification of the paśu’s psycho-physical apparatus; in Siddhānta, such purification supports the rise of śuddha-adhvan orientation toward Pati.

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that inner purification must precede advanced yogic techniques—discipline and gradual practice prepare the embodied soul (paśu) to loosen bondage (pāśa) and turn toward Shiva (Pati).

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

By purifying the nāḍīs and steadying prāṇa, the mind becomes fit for concentrated devotion (dhyāna) on Saguna Shiva—often supported in the Shiva Purana by Linga-upāsanā as a stable focus for worship.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A structured prāṇāyāma regimen: begin with nāḍī-śodhana (channel purification) and then proceed to recaka (exhalation) and other breath practices in proper sequence, ideally alongside Shiva-oriented japa and meditation.