Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 60

योगप्रकारनिर्णयः

Classification and Definition of Yoga

Devanagari script

ध्यानद्वादशकं यावत्समाधिरभिधीयते । समाधिर्न्नाम योगांगमन्तिमं परिकीर्तितम्

Transliteration

dhyānadvādaśakaṃ yāvatsamādhirabhidhīyate | samādhirnnāma yogāṃgamantimaṃ parikīrtitam

Translation

Jusqu’à la discipline des douze méditations, on enseigne l’état nommé samādhi. Le samādhi—absorption en le Seigneur—est proclamé comme le dernier membre du Yoga.

Word by Word

• ध्यान-द्वादशकम्: the set of twelve meditations
• ध्यान-द्वादशकम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्यान (प्रातिपदिक) + द्वादशक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास: ध्यानानां द्वादशकं (twelvefold set of meditations)

• यावत्: until / up to the extent that
• यावत्: सम्बन्ध (Temporal/limit marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यावत् (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययप्रयोग)
• Form: अव्यय; परिमाण/अवधि-सूचक (until/as far as)

• समाधिः: samādhi
• समाधिः: कर्ता/विषय (Topic/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समाधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• अभिधीयते: is called / is designated
• अभिधीयते: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-√धा (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद; कर्मणि प्रयोग (Passive): 'is called/said'

• समाधिः: samādhi
• समाधिः: कर्ता/विषय (Topic/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समाधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• नाम: namely / indeed
• नाम: सम्बन्ध (Appositive marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle) अर्थे 'indeed/namely'

• योग-अङ्गम्: a limb of yoga
• योग-अङ्गम्: सम्बन्ध/विधेय (Predicate nominative/apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास: योगस्य अङ्गम्

• अन्तिमम्: final / last
• अन्तिमम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्तिम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; योगाङ्गम् इति विशेषण

• परिकीर्तितम्: has been proclaimed
• परिकीर्तितम्: विधेय (Predicate; passive participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि-√कीर्त् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त/PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मणि भाव: 'has been proclaimed'

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not site-linked; doctrinal culmination: samādhi as the final yoga-aṅga oriented to the Lord (Śiva) rather than merely a psychological state.

Significance: General: identifies the telos of practice as Śiva-samāveśa/Śiva-niṣṭhā—liberative absorption that, in Siddhānta terms, matures into Pati’s anugraha and release from pāśa.

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It identifies samādhi as the culminating limb of Yoga—where the mind becomes one-pointed and rests in Shiva—signifying the ripening of meditation into liberating absorption aligned with Shaiva Siddhanta’s goal of release from bondage (pāśa).

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

Meditation in Shaiva practice commonly begins with saguna supports such as the Śiva-liṅga, mantra, and form-contemplation; when that steadiness matures, it culminates in samādhi—deep absorption in Shiva as Pati—beyond distraction and duality.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It points to sustained dhyāna progressing toward samādhi; practically, one may steady the mind through japa of the Panchakshara (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and focused contemplation on Shiva (often with liṅga-dhyāna), letting meditation mature into absorption.