Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 34

योगप्रकारनिर्णयः

Classification and Definition of Yoga

Devanagari script

तस्मात्सगर्भं कुर्वन्ति योगिनः प्राणसंयमम् । प्राणस्य विजयादेव जीयंते देह १ आयवः

Transliteration

tasmātsagarbhaṃ kurvanti yoginaḥ prāṇasaṃyamam | prāṇasya vijayādeva jīyaṃte deha 1 āyavaḥ

Translation

C’est pourquoi les yogin pratiquent la maîtrise du prāṇa avec soutien (sa-garbha). En vérité, par la seule conquête du souffle vital, les éléments constitutifs du corps sont maintenus et préservés.

Word by Word

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu/Reason (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तस्मात् इति तद्धित-निपातवत् अव्ययप्रयोगः; अर्थे: ‘therefore/from that (reason)’ (ablatival sense)

• सगर्भम्: with retention/with ‘seed’ (sagarbha)
• सगर्भम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स-गर्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; उपसर्गसदृश ‘स-’ (with) + गर्भ; विशेषणम्

• कुर्वन्ति: they do/perform
• कुर्वन्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन

• योगिनः: yogins
• योगिनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• प्राणसंयमम्: restraint of prāṇa (breath)
• प्राणसंयमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राण + संयम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (प्राणस्य संयमः)

• प्राणस्य: of prāṇa
• प्राणस्य: Sambandha/Genitive (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन

• विजयात्: from victory (over it)
• विजयात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विजय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; अपादानार्थे (from/through victory)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha/Emphasis (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक (emphatic)

• जीयन्ते: are conquered/are mastered
• जीयन्ते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जि (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन; कर्मणि/भावे प्रयोगः (passive/middle sense)

• देहायवः: the bodily lifespans/vitalities
• देहायवः: Karta/Subject (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देह + आयु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (देहस्य आयवः/आयुषः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

FAQs

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

The verse teaches that mastery over prāṇa stabilizes the body and mind, making the seeker fit for higher Shaiva contemplation—moving from disciplined practice toward Shiva-realization (Pati-jñāna) and liberation.

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

In Shaiva practice, prāṇa-saṃyama supports steady dhyāna and mantra-japa directed to Saguna Shiva (often through Linga worship). Breath-mastery helps the mind rest in Shiva’s form and presence without distraction.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It points to disciplined prāṇāyāma (supported/sagarbha practice) as an aid to Shiva-upāsanā—typically paired with mantra-japa such as the Panchakshara and sustained meditation.