Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 50

योगप्रकारनिर्णयः

Classification and Definition of Yoga

Devanagari script

मनसः प्रथमं स्थैर्यं धारणातः प्रजायते । तस्माद्धीरं मनः कुर्याद्धारणाभ्यासयोगतः

Transliteration

manasaḥ prathamaṃ sthairyaṃ dhāraṇātaḥ prajāyate | tasmāddhīraṃ manaḥ kuryāddhāraṇābhyāsayogataḥ

Translation

La première stabilité de l’esprit naît de la dhāraṇā (concentration en un point). Ainsi, par la discipline d’une pratique répétée de la dhāraṇā, qu’on rende l’esprit ferme et paisible.

Word by Word

• manasaḥ: of the mind
• manasaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• prathamam: first/initial
• prathamam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prathama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; क्रमवाचक विशेषण (first)

• sthairyam: steadiness
• sthairyam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sthairya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (कर्ता), एकवचन

• dhāraṇātaḥ: from/through concentration
• dhāraṇātaḥ: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhāraṇā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (हेतु/अपादान), एकवचन

• prajāyate: arises/is produced
• prajāyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra√jan (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• tasmāt: therefore
• tasmāt: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तस्मात् = therefore/from that

• dhīram: steady/calm
• dhīram: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhīra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘manaḥ’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• manaḥ: mind
• manaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• kuryāt: should make
• kuryāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• dhāraṇābhyāsayogataḥ: from the discipline of practicing dhāraṇā
• dhāraṇābhyāsayogataḥ: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhāraṇā (प्रातिपदिक) + abhyāsa (प्रातिपदिक) + yoga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (योग), पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तृतीय-तत्पुरुष/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषार्थः: ‘धारणायाः अभ्यासस्य योगः’ तस्मात् = by means of the practice-connection of dhāraṇā

Speaker

Suta Goswami

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 teaches that the gateway to inner steadiness begins with dhāraṇā—training the mind to remain fixed. In Shaiva understanding, such steadiness supports purification of the pashu (bound soul) and prepares consciousness for Shiva-oriented contemplation leading toward liberation.

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

Dhāraṇā can be practiced by fixing attention on a Saguna support such as the Shiva Linga, Shiva’s form, or the Panchakshara. This one-pointed focus stabilizes the mind, making worship deeper and more inward, eventually maturing from external ritual into sustained Shiva-remembrance.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It points to repeated dhāraṇā अभ्यास—daily concentration practice—such as holding awareness on the Linga, mentally repeating “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” and maintaining a steady gaze and breath while seated, so the mind becomes dhīra (firm and composed).