Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 38

योगप्रकारनिर्णयः

Classification and Definition of Yoga

Devanagari script

समं नयति सर्वांगं समानस्तेन गीयते । उद्गारे नाग आख्यातः कूर्म उन्मीलने स्थितः

Transliteration

samaṃ nayati sarvāṃgaṃ samānastena gīyate | udgāre nāga ākhyātaḥ kūrma unmīlane sthitaḥ

Translation

Le souffle vital qui met tout le corps en équilibre est donc appelé Samāna. Celui qui agit dans le rot est connu sous le nom de Nāga, et Kūrma demeure dans l’acte d’ouvrir les yeux.

Word by Word

• समम्: evenly
• समम्: रीति (Manner/रीति)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय — क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: evenly)

• नयति: leads / carries
• नयति: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नी (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन — Present, Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

• सर्व-अङ्गम्: the whole body
• सर्व-अङ्गम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन — Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; समासः: कर्मधारय (सर्वम् अङ्गम् = the whole body)

• समानः: samāna (a vital air)
• समानः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन — Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular

• तेन: therefore / by that
• तेन: करण/हेतु (Instrument/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), एकवचन — Instrumental (3rd), Singular; सर्वनाम

• गीयते: is sung/said (is called)
• गीयते: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गै (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), कर्मणि प्रयोग (Passive), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन — Present Passive, 3rd person, Singular

• उद्गारे: in belching / in eructation
• उद्गारे: अधिकरण (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उद्गार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन — Masculine, Locative (7th), Singular

• नागः: nāga (a subsidiary vital air)
• नागः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन — Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular

• आख्यातः: is called / is named
• आख्यातः: विधेय (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-ख्या (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय (भूतकृदन्त/PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Past passive participle, Masculine, Nominative Singular

• कूर्मः: kūrma (a subsidiary vital air)
• कूर्मः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कूर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन — Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular

• उन्मीलने: in opening (of the eyes)
• उन्मीलने: अधिकरण (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उन्मीलन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन — Neuter, Locative (7th), Singular

• स्थितः: is situated / remains
• स्थितः: विधेय (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय (भूतकृदन्त/PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Past passive participle, Masculine, Nominative Singular

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s yogic-philosophical teaching in the Vāyavīyasaṃhitā)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: nurturing

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It maps subtle physiological functions to specific prāṇic forces, showing that yogic self-knowledge includes understanding how prāṇa maintains balance; such inner equilibrium supports steadiness of mind for devotion to Pati (Shiva) and progress toward moksha.

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

In Shaiva practice, Linga worship is supported by inner discipline: balancing Samāna and observing the prāṇas steadies attention, making japa and dhyāna on Saguna Shiva (as the Linga) more one-pointed and effective.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is prāṇāyāma with mindful observation of bodily balance and subtle movements (belching, blinking/eye-opening), followed by Panchakshara japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) to anchor prāṇa and mind in Shiva.