Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 32

ध्यानप्रकारनिर्णयः / Determination of the Modes of Meditation

on Śrīkaṇṭha-Śiva

Devanagari script

दृष्ट्वा नरेन्द्रभवने तद्वदत्रापि कर्मिणः । यद्यंतरा विपद्यंते ज्ञानयोगार्थमुद्यतः

Transliteration

dṛṣṭvā narendrabhavane tadvadatrāpi karmiṇaḥ | yadyaṃtarā vipadyaṃte jñānayogārthamudyataḥ

Translation

Comme on l’a vu dans le palais du roi, il en va de même ici : ceux qui sont liés à l’action (karma), même s’ils s’élancent vers le but du yoga de la connaissance, peuvent rencontrer des obstacles en chemin.

Word by Word

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यबन्त), from √dṛś; indeclinable verbal form (avyayībhāva-kriyā)

• narendra-bhavane: in the king’s palace
• narendra-bhavane: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: narendra (प्रातिपदिक) + bhavana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष): ‘narendrasya bhavanam’

• tadvat: likewise
• tadvat: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tadvat (प्रातिपदिक/अव्यय-प्रयोग)
• Form: Indeclinable adverb (अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण)

• atra: here
• atra: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देश-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atra (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable adverb of place (देशवाचक-अव्यय)

• api: also
• api: Sambandha-nipāta (सम्बन्ध-निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable particle (निपात), additive/emphatic

• karmiṇaḥ: doers/agents (those engaged in action)
• karmiṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; agent-noun ‘karmī’ (कर्मिन्)

• yadi: if
• yadi: Vākya-sambandha (वाक्यसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yadi (अव्यय)
• Form: Conditional particle (शर्त-निपात)

• antarā: in the meantime
• antarā: Kāla/avasthā-viśeṣaṇa (काल/अवस्था-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: antarā (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable adverb (अव्यय) meaning ‘in between/meanwhile’

• vipadyante: they fall into calamity
• vipadyante: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi + pad (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural; Ātmanepada; from √pad with prefix vi-; meaning ‘to fall into misfortune/perish’

• jñāna-yoga-artham: for the purpose of the yoga of knowledge
• jñāna-yoga-artham: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jñāna (प्रातिपदिक) + yoga (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; तत्पुरुष (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष) chain: ‘jñānasya yogasya arthaḥ’ → purpose of jñāna-yoga

• udyatāḥ: striving/intent
• udyatāḥ: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृ-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ud + yam (धातु) → udyata (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), used adjectivally; Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; agrees with karmiṇaḥ

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

FAQs

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

It warns that even sincere seekers of liberating knowledge can be obstructed by intervening conditions (pāśa)—habits, duties, and attachments—so steadiness, discernment, and reliance on Shiva’s grace are essential for jñāna-yoga to mature into liberation.

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

When inner obstacles arise, Saguna Shiva worship—especially Linga-upāsanā with mantra and devotion—stabilizes the mind and purifies karma, making the seeker fit for the rise of Shiva-knowledge (jñāna) that culminates in recognizing Pati beyond bonds.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Adopt steady japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with daily Shiva remembrance; keep disciplined conduct and detachment to prevent ‘antarāya’ (hindrances) from derailing the pursuit of jñāna-yoga.