Shloka 100

Adhyaya 8: Yogasthanas, Ashtanga Yoga, Pranayama-Siddhi, and Shiva-Dhyana leading to Samadhi

Devanagari script

वज्रकोटिप्रभे स्थाने पद्मरागनिभे ऽपि वा नीललोहितबिम्बे वा योगी ध्यानं समभ्यसेत्

Transliteration

vajrakoṭiprabhe sthāne padmarāganibhe 'pi vā nīlalohitabimbe vā yogī dhyānaṃ samabhyaset

Translation

યોગી સ્થિર થઈ ધ્યાનનો અભ્યાસ કરે—કરોડ વજ્રોની પ્રભા જેવી દીપ્ત જગ્યામાં, અથવા પદ્મરાગ (માણિક) સમાન અરुण તેજમાં, અથવા નીલલોહિતના બિંબ-રૂપ પર।

Word by Word

• वज्र-कोटि-प्रभे: shining like millions of vajras (diamond/thunderbolt splendor)

• स्थाने: in a place/region

• पद्मराग-निभे: resembling padmarāga (ruby)

• अपि वा: or else/even

• नील-लोहित-बिम्बे: in the image/form (bimba) of Nīlalohita (the blue-red form of Śiva)

• वा: or

• योगी: the yogin

• ध्यानम्: meditation/contemplation

• समभ्यसेत्: should practice diligently/should cultivate repeatedly

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s dhyāna-vidhi within the Purva-Bhaga teaching sequence)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Nīlalohita)

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It shifts worship from outer form alone to inner realization: the devotee visualizes Śiva’s radiance (jyotis) or Śiva’s form (Nīlalohita) so the liṅga becomes a support for focused, liberating contemplation.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

Śiva is indicated as pure effulgence beyond material limitation—experienced as vajra-like brilliance or ruby-like glow—yet also approachable as a compassionate, meditational form (Nīlalohita), the Pati who releases the paśu from pāśa.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A dhyāna-vidhi aligned with Pāśupata orientation: repeated, steady meditation (abhyāsa) using luminous space-visualization or the Nīlalohita icon as the chosen support (ālambana).