Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 6

ध्यानप्रकारनिर्णयः / Determination of the Modes of Meditation

on Śrīkaṇṭha-Śiva

Devanagari script

तेन निर्विषया बुद्धिः केवलेह प्रवर्तते । तस्मात्सविषयं ध्यानं बालार्ककिरणाश्रयम्

Transliteration

tena nirviṣayā buddhiḥ kevaleha pravartate | tasmātsaviṣayaṃ dhyānaṃ bālārkakiraṇāśrayam

Translation

Par cette discipline subtile, l’intellect se libère des objets et, ici même, ne se meut que dans la pure conscience. C’est pourquoi il faut pratiquer la méditation avec objet, en prenant appui sur quelque chose de perceptible, tel le rayon du soleil à peine levé.

Word by Word

• tena: by that/therefore
• tena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter/Masculine (नपुंसक/पुं), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• nir-viṣayā: objectless
• nir-viṣayā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nir (उपसर्ग) + viṣaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying buddhiḥ

• buddhiḥ: intellect
• buddhiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: buddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• kevala: only, merely
• kevala: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kevala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); used adverbially with iha: 'only here/merely here'

• iha: here
• iha: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iha (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (देशवाचक अव्यय)

• pravartate: proceeds/functions
• pravartate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra+√vṛt (वृत् धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद)

• tasmāt: therefore/from that
• tasmāt: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter/Masculine (नपुंसक/पुं), Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• sa-viṣayam: with an object
• sa-viṣayam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (उपसर्ग/सह) + viṣaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); qualifying dhyānam

• dhyānam: meditation
• dhyānam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhyāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• bāla-arka-kiraṇa-āśrayam: supported by the rays of the rising sun
• bāla-arka-kiraṇa-āśrayam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bāla (प्रातिपदिक) + arka (प्रातिपदिक) + kiraṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + āśraya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa (multi-member): 'having as support the rays of the young sun' qualifying dhyānam

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Vāyavīya teachings to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches the Shaiva yogic progression: begin with supported (saviṣaya) contemplation to stabilize the mind, and through practice the buddhi becomes nirviṣaya—resting in pure awareness—opening the way to Shiva-realization and liberation.

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

The verse endorses a practical entry-point: meditation with a tangible support. In Shaiva Siddhanta, Saguna supports—like the Shiva Linga, Shiva’s form, or mantra—purify and concentrate the mind, which then matures toward subtler, objectless absorption.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests supported meditation (ālambana-dhyāna), exemplified by focusing on a luminous object like sun-rays; in Shaiva practice, the same principle applies to japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), Linga-dhyāna, or focusing on sacred ash (Tripuṇḍra) as a contemplative aid.