Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 8

ध्यानप्रकारनिर्णयः / Determination of the Modes of Meditation

on Śrīkaṇṭha-Śiva

Devanagari script

निराकारात्मसंवित्तिर्ध्यानं निर्विषयं मतम् । निर्बीजं च सबीजं च तदेव ध्यानमुच्यते

Transliteration

nirākārātmasaṃvittirdhyānaṃ nirviṣayaṃ matam | nirbījaṃ ca sabījaṃ ca tadeva dhyānamucyate

Translation

សមាធិគឺជាការយល់ដឹងខាងក្នុងនៃអាត្មា ដោយគ្មានរូបរាង និងគ្មានវត្ថុខាងក្រៅជាប់ចិត្ត។ សមាធិនោះត្រូវបានពោលថាមានពីរប្រភេទ៖ និរពីជ (nirbīja) និង សពិជ (sabīja)។

Word by Word

• nir-ākāra-ātma-saṃvittiḥ: formless self-awareness
• nir-ākāra-ātma-saṃvittiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nirākāra (प्रातिपदिक) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃvitti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष-समासः

• dhyānam: meditation
• dhyānam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhyāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana

• nir-viṣayam: objectless
• nir-viṣayam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nirviṣaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana; विशेषणम् (dhyānam)

• matam: is considered
• matam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mata (√man ‘to think’ धातु; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त)
• Form: Napumsaka, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त-विशेषणम्; अर्थः—‘considered/held’

• nir-bījam: seedless
• nir-bījam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nirbīja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana; विशेषणम् (dhyānam)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययम् (conjunction ‘and’)

• sa-bījam: with seed
• sa-bījam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sabīja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana; विशेषणम् (dhyānam)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्ययम्

• tat: that
• tat: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana; सर्वनाम

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्ययम् (emphatic particle ‘indeed/only’)

• dhyānam: meditation
• dhyānam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhyāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana

• ucyate: is said/called
• ucyate: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (वच् धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (Present/वर्तमान), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; कर्मणि-प्रयोगः (passive voice)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shaiva yogic doctrine to the sages, as typical of the Vāyavīya Saṃhitā discourse)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It defines true dhyāna as objectless, formless inner awareness—pointing to realization of Shiva as the indwelling Self (Pati), beyond mental constructions, and presenting a graded path through supported and unsupported meditation.

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

Sabīja-dhyāna corresponds to meditating with a support—such as the Śiva-liṅga, Shiva’s form, or mantra—purifying the mind; nirbīja-dhyāna culminates in nirākāra awareness where the meditator rests in Shiva beyond form, without abandoning Shiva-bhakti but transcending imagery.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Begin with sabīja practice such as japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with liṅga-dhyāna; as steadiness matures, move toward nirbīja by resting in silent, objectless awareness after japa, maintaining Shaiva devotion and purity disciplines.