Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 47

योगप्रकारनिर्णयः

Classification and Definition of Yoga

Devanagari script

तस्मात्सुखार्थी मतिमाञ्ज्ञानवैराग्यमास्थितः । इंद्रियाश्वान्निगृह्याशु स्वात्मनात्मानमुद्धरेत्

Transliteration

tasmātsukhārthī matimāñjñānavairāgyamāsthitaḥ | iṃdriyāśvānnigṛhyāśu svātmanātmānamuddharet

Translation

Ainsi, l’homme intelligent qui cherche la vraie félicité doit se réfugier dans la connaissance spirituelle et le vairāgya (détachement). Réfrénant promptement les sens semblables à des chevaux, qu’il élève l’âme individuelle par la puissance du Soi suprême demeurant en lui.

Word by Word

• तस्मात्: therefore/from that
• तस्मात्: Apadana (अपादान/Source)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव/तद्धित-प्रयोगवत् अव्यय; अपादानार्थक (ablatival adverb)

• सुखार्थी: one who seeks happiness
• सुखार्थी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख + अर्थिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समासः: सुखस्य अर्थी (desirer of happiness); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• मतिमान्: intelligent
• मतिमान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मतिमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (of सुखार्थी)

• ज्ञानवैराग्यम्: knowledge and dispassion
• ज्ञानवैराग्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान + वैराग्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समासः (इतरेतर): ज्ञानं च वैराग्यं च; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (collective)

• आस्थितः: having adopted/resorted to
• आस्थितः: Karta (कर्ता; participial predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + स्था (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्तः—क्त (past active/PPP in sense of ‘having resorted to’); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तरि प्रयोगः

• इन्द्रियाश्वान्: the sense-horses
• इन्द्रियाश्वान्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्रिय + अश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समासः: इन्द्रियाणि अश्वा इव (senses as horses); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• निगृह्य: having restrained
• निगृह्य: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया/Absolutive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्तः—ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund): ‘having restrained’

• आशु: quickly
• आशु: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आशु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: quickly)

• स्वात्मना: by one’s own self
• स्वात्मना: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समासः: स्वः आत्मा; पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; करण (instrumental)

• आत्मानम्: the self
• आत्मानम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• उद्धरेत्: should uplift/rescue
• उद्धरेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद् + हृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

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

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that lasting bliss is gained not by sense-indulgence but by jñāna (right insight) and vairāgya (detachment). By mastering the senses, the seeker elevates the bound self toward liberation under Shiva’s truth.

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

Linga/Saguna Shiva worship disciplines the senses and turns attention inward. Such worship supports jñāna-vairāgya, helping the devotee move from external craving to inner steadiness where Shiva is realized as the indwelling Lord (Pati).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Sense-restraint supported by daily japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and meditation on Shiva within. The practical takeaway is to rein in distractions promptly and stabilize the mind in Shiva-oriented remembrance.