Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 49

योगप्रकारनिर्णयः

Classification and Definition of Yoga

Devanagari script

कालं कंचावधीकृत्य स्थाने ऽवस्थापितं मनः । न तु प्रच्यवते लक्ष्याद्धारणा स्यान्न चान्यथा

Transliteration

kālaṃ kaṃcāvadhīkṛtya sthāne 'vasthāpitaṃ manaḥ | na tu pracyavate lakṣyāddhāraṇā syānna cānyathā

Translation

Après avoir contenu le cours du temps (c’est-à-dire l’oscillation de l’esprit) et établi l’esprit fermement en son lieu propre, lorsqu’il ne dévie pas de l’objet choisi de contemplation, cela seul est dhāraṇā, et non autrement.

Word by Word

• kālam: time
• kālam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• kaṃcit: some (certain)
• kaṃcit: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaścit (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अनिश्चित-सर्वनाम (indefinite pronoun)

• avadhīkṛtya: having fixed (as a limit)
• avadhīkṛtya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ava√dhā + √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund), पूर्वकाले; ‘अवधीकृत्य’ = having fixed/limited

• sthāne: in the place
• sthāne: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sthāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• avasthāpitam: placed/established
• avasthāpitam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ava√sthā + √āp (धातु)
• Form: कर्मणि-भूतकृदन्त, क्त-प्रत्यय (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘placed/established’

• manaḥ: mind
• manaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

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

• tu: but
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विरोध/विशेषार्थक (but/indeed)

• pracyavate: deviates/moves away
• pracyavate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra√cyu (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• lakṣyāt: from the target
• lakṣyāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान), एकवचन

• dhāraṇā: concentration (dhāraṇā)
• dhāraṇā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhāraṇā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

• syāt: would be/should be
• syāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• anyathā: otherwise
• anyathā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: anyathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of manner)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It defines dhāraṇā as unwavering steadiness of mind on a single aim, a key yogic discipline that prepares the seeker for deeper Shaiva realization of Pati (Shiva) beyond mental fluctuation.

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

Dharana can be practiced by fixing the mind on a Saguna support such as the Shiva-linga, Shiva’s form, or the Panchakshara; the verse emphasizes not letting attention slip from that chosen lakṣya.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is one-pointed japa and inner fixation—e.g., steady repetition of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” while holding attention on the linga or on Shiva in the heart—without drifting to other thoughts.