Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 57

योगप्रकारनिर्णयः

Classification and Definition of Yoga

Devanagari script

एतच्चतुष्टयं ज्ञात्वा योगं युञ्जीत योगवित् । ज्ञानवैराग्यसंपन्नः श्रद्दधानः क्षमान्वितः

Transliteration

etaccatuṣṭayaṃ jñātvā yogaṃ yuñjīta yogavit | jñānavairāgyasaṃpannaḥ śraddadhānaḥ kṣamānvitaḥ

Translation

Ayant compris ce quadruple fondement, le connaisseur du Yoga doit s’adonner à la pratique yogique : pourvu de juste connaissance et de détachement, animé de foi et établi dans la patience.

Word by Word

• एतत्: this
• एतत्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; (चतुष्टयम् विशेषण)

• चतुष्टयम्: set of four
• चतुष्टयम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुर् (संख्या) + टय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘fourfold set’

• ज्ञात्वा: having known
• ज्ञात्वा: Kriya (क्रिया; pūrvakāla)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्ययभाव; पूर्वकालिक क्रिया ‘having known’

• योगम्: yoga
• योगम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• युञ्जीत: should practice
• युञ्जीत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: युज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; ‘should practice/engage’

• योगवित्: knower of yoga
• योगवित्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग (प्रातिपदिक) + विद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपपद-तत्पुरुषः ‘योगं वेत्ति’

• ज्ञान-वैराग्य-संपन्नः: endowed with knowledge and dispassion
• ज्ञान-वैराग्य-संपन्नः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण of योगवित्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक) + वैराग्य (प्रातिपदिक) + संपन्न (कृदन्त; √पद्/पद्? actually √पद् not; here √पद् not; better: √पद् not; ‘सम्+पद्’ PPP संपन्न)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त ‘endowed with’

• श्रद्दधानः: faithful
• श्रद्दधानः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रद्धा (प्रातिपदिक) + धा (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (Present Participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; परस्मैपदी; ‘having faith’

• क्षमा-अन्वितः: endowed with forbearance
• क्षमा-अन्वितः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षमा (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्वित (कृदन्त; √इ/√वि? ‘अनु+इ’ PPP अन्वित)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तृतीया-तत्पुरुषार्थे ‘क्षमा-युक्त’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: No Jyotirliṅga frame; the verse is a sādhaka-qualification (adhikāra) statement for yoga.

Significance: General: emphasizes inner preparedness (jñāna, vairāgya, śraddhā, kṣamā) as the ‘pilgrimage equipment’ for approaching Śiva.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It defines the inner qualifications for Shaiva yoga: one must ground practice in a stable fourfold basis, then proceed with jñāna (clear discernment), vairāgya (detachment), śraddhā (trust in Śiva and the path), and kṣamā (forgiving endurance), which loosen pāśa (bondage) and orient the soul (paśu) toward Pati (Śiva).

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

Linga-worship and Saguna Śiva-upāsanā become transformative when supported by these inner virtues—knowledge and detachment purify intention, faith sustains steady worship, and forbearance removes reactive tendencies—so external pūjā matures into inward yoga directed to Śiva as Pati.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It points to disciplined yoga supported by daily Shaiva sādhanā—japa (especially the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”), meditation on Śiva, and ethical restraint—cultivating forgiveness and detachment as the practical signs of progress.