Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 54

अन्तराय-उपसर्ग-विवेचनम् / Analysis of Yogic Obstacles (Antarāyas) and Upasargas

Devanagari script

आसनं मृदुलं रम्यं विपुलं सुसमं शुचि । पद्मकस्वस्तिकादीनामभ्यसेदासनेषु च

Transliteration

āsanaṃ mṛdulaṃ ramyaṃ vipulaṃ susamaṃ śuci | padmakasvastikādīnāmabhyasedāsaneṣu ca

Translation

Qu’on prépare un siège doux, agréable, ample, bien égal et pur ; et sur ce siège qu’on s’exerce aux postures telles que Padmaka (le lotus), Svastika, et autres semblables.

Word by Word

• āsanam: a seat/posture
• āsanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āsana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• mṛdulam: soft
• mṛdulam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mṛdula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘āsanam’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• ramyam: pleasant
• ramyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ramya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘āsanam’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• vipulam: spacious/large
• vipulam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vipula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘āsanam’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• su-samam: very even
• su-samam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su (अव्यय-उपसर्गवत्) + sama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘सु समम्’ = very even/level

• śuci: clean/pure
• śuci: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śuci (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘āsanam’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• padmaka-svastika-ādīnām: of (postures) like padmaka, svastika, etc.
• padmaka-svastika-ādīnām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: padmaka (प्रातिपदिक) + svastika (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (आदि-शब्दान्त), षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (padmaka + svastika) + ādi: ‘of (postures) like padmaka and svastika etc.’

• abhyaset: should practice
• abhyaset: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi√as (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• āsaneṣu: in postures/seats
• āsaneṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āsana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), बहुवचन

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

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s yogic and ritual disciplines as taught in the Vāyavīyasaṃhitā)

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 outer purity and steadiness—symbolized by a clean, even, comfortable seat—support inner steadiness, making the mind fit for Shaiva dhyāna and liberation-oriented practice under Pati (Shiva).

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

A stable, pure seat is part of proper upāsanā: it helps the devotee sit steadily for japa, dhyāna, and mental worship of Saguna Shiva (including Linga contemplation), so attention remains fixed on Shiva rather than bodily discomfort.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Prepare a clean, level, comfortable āsana and practice seated postures like Padmāsana/Padmaka and Svastikāsana to support mantra-japa (such as the Panchākṣarī) and meditation.