Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 14

ध्यानप्रकारनिर्णयः / Determination of the Modes of Meditation

on Śrīkaṇṭha-Śiva

Devanagari script

एतच्चतुष्टयं ज्ञात्वा ध्याता ध्यानं समाचरेत् । ज्ञानवैराग्यसंपन्नो नित्यमव्यग्रमानसः

Transliteration

etaccatuṣṭayaṃ jñātvā dhyātā dhyānaṃ samācaret | jñānavairāgyasaṃpanno nityamavyagramānasaḥ

Translation

Ayant compris cet enseignement en quatre points, le méditant doit s’adonner à la méditation avec constance—pourvu de la vraie connaissance et de vairāgya (détachement), et gardant toujours l’esprit sans trouble ni dispersion.

Word by Word

• etat-catuṣṭayam: this set of four
• etat-catuṣṭayam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + catuṣṭaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—‘एतत् चतुष्टयम्’

• jñātvā: having known
• jñātvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Converb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √jñā (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभावः; ‘having known’

• dhyātā: the meditator
• dhyātā: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhyātṛ (प्रातिपदिक; √dhyai ध्यै)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• dhyānam: meditation
• dhyānam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhyāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• samācaret: should practice
• samācaret: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √car (धातु) with prefix sam-ā-
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• jñāna-vairāgya-saṃpannaḥ: endowed with knowledge and dispassion
• jñāna-vairāgya-saṃpannaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: jñāna (प्रातिपदिक) + vairāgya (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃpanna (कृदन्त; √pad पद् with sam-; ‘endowed’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषणम्—‘dhyātā’ इत्यस्य; समासः (ज्ञान-वैराग्ययोः संपन्नः)

• nityam: always
• nityam: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nitya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb: always)

• avyagra-mānasaḥ: with an undistracted mind
• avyagra-mānasaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: avyagra (प्रातिपदिक) + mānasa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—‘अव्यग्रं मानसं यस्य’ इत्यर्थे बहुव्रीह्यर्थच्छाया (but form as karmadhāraya)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s yogic teaching within the Vāyavīyasaṃhitā discourse)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Emphasizes sādhana-catuṣṭaya-like readiness (jñāna + vairāgya + ekāgratā) as the soul’s preparation for Śiva’s liberating grace.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that Shiva-realization is stabilized by a disciplined inner life: first grasp the essential fourfold instruction, then practice dhyāna supported by jñāna (right understanding) and vairāgya (freedom from clinging), with a mind kept steadily one-pointed.

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

In Shaiva practice, Saguna worship (such as Linga-pūjā with mantra and offerings) purifies attention; this verse emphasizes the inner completion of that worship—turning the purified mind toward sustained meditation, where the devotee contemplates Shiva’s presence beyond distraction.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It points to regular dhyāna-abhyāsa (daily meditation) grounded in scriptural understanding and detachment; practically, one may combine Panchākṣarī japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with steady seated meditation, keeping the mind avyagra (free from scattering).