Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 44

योगप्रकारनिर्णयः

Classification and Definition of Yoga

Devanagari script

तपांसि पापक्षयता यज्ञदानव्रतादयः । प्राणायामस्य तस्यैते कलां नार्हन्ति षोडशीम्

Transliteration

tapāṃsi pāpakṣayatā yajñadānavratādayaḥ | prāṇāyāmasya tasyaite kalāṃ nārhanti ṣoḍaśīm

Translation

Austérités, destruction des péchés, sacrifices, dons, vœux et autres pratiques : tout cela n’égale pas même le seizième de la valeur de ce prāṇāyāma.

Word by Word

• तपांसि: austerities
• तपांसि: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case), बहुवचन

• पापक्षयता: sin-destroying (power/quality)
• पापक्षयता: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाप-क्षयता (प्रातिपदिक); पाप (प्रातिपदिक) + क्षयता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पापस्य क्षयता)

• यज्ञदानव्रतादयः: sacrifices, gifts, vows, etc.
• यज्ञदानव्रतादयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ-दान-व्रत-आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन; समाहार/इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (यज्ञः च दानं च व्रतं च) + आदि-प्रत्ययार्थः

• प्राणायामस्य: of prāṇāyāma (breath-control)
• प्राणायामस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राणायाम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th case), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (प्राणस्य आयामः)

• तस्य: of that (of it)
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, षष्ठी (6th case), एकवचन

• एते: these
• एते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), बहुवचन

• कलाम्: a part; a fraction
• कलाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कला (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• अर्हन्ति: are worthy of; deserve
• अर्हन्ति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्ह् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन

• षोडशीम्: sixteenth
• षोडशीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षोडशी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (कलाम् इति विशेष्यस्य)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

The verse elevates prāṇāyāma as a direct inner discipline that purifies the subtle body and steadies awareness, making it exceptionally potent for removing impurities (mala) and loosening bondage (pāśa) on the path to Shiva-realization.

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

In Shaiva practice, outer worship (including Liṅga-pūjā) becomes deeper when supported by inner purification; prāṇāyāma gathers the mind and prāṇa, enabling steadier dhyāna on Saguna Shiva and more focused mantra-japa, which perfects devotion and leads toward the higher, formless realization.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It recommends disciplined prāṇāyāma as a primary meditative aid—best paired with Shiva-mantra japa (such as the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and a pure, sattvic routine to intensify inner purification.