Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 58

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

Devanagari script

दक्षिणं करपृष्ठं तु न्यस्य वामतलोपरि । उन्नाम्य शनकैः पृष्ठमुरो विष्टभ्य चाग्रतः

Transliteration

dakṣiṇaṃ karapṛṣṭhaṃ tu nyasya vāmatalopari | unnāmya śanakaiḥ pṛṣṭhamuro viṣṭabhya cāgrataḥ

Translation

Posant le dos de la main droite sur la paume gauche, qu’il élève lentement le dos du corps, en affermissant solidement la poitrine vers l’avant.

Word by Word

• दक्षिणम्: right
• दक्षिणम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दक्षिण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (करपृष्ठम्)

• करपृष्ठम्: the back of the hand
• करपृष्ठम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर-पृष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक); कर (प्रातिपदिक) + पृष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (करस्य पृष्ठम्)

• तु: but; indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle; emphasis/contrast)

• न्यस्य: having placed
• न्यस्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नि + अस्/स्यन्द्? (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund); √अस् (to place/throw) in sense of ‘to put down’ with उपसर्ग नि-

• वामतलोपरी: upon the left palm
• वामतलोपरी: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वाम-तल-उपरि (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययाधारित); वाम (प्रातिपदिक) + तल (प्रातिपदिक) + उपरि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः; अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः (locative sense: ‘upon the left palm’)

• उन्नाम्य: having raised
• उन्नाम्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उद् + नम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund)

• शनकैः: slowly
• शनकैः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शनक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया-बहुवचनरूपेण अव्ययीभूतम्; manner-adverb (‘slowly’)

• पृष्ठम्: the back
• पृष्ठम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• उरः: the chest
• उरः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन (उरः = उरसम्)

• विष्टभ्य: having propped/supporting
• विष्टभ्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वि + स्तभ् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund)

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

• अग्रतः: in front
• अग्रतः: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अग्रतः (अव्यय)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय; देशवाचक (in front)

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 emphasizes disciplined, gradual bodily control as a support for inner steadiness—preparing the practitioner for focused contemplation on Shiva (Pati) and for loosening the bonds (pāśa) through yogic restraint.

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

Such posture-instructions function as practical aids for steadiness in pūjā and dhyāna; a stable chest and controlled movement help sustain one-pointed attention while worshipping Saguna Shiva (such as the Linga) and progressing toward deeper realization.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A slow, controlled posture adjustment (āsana/anganyāsa-like steadiness) is indicated to stabilize the body for meditation; it can be paired with quiet japa of the Panchakshara—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—to keep attention anchored.