Shloka 8

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

Devanagari script

यमस्तु प्रथमः प्रोक्तो द्वितीयो नियमस् तथा तृतीयमासनं प्रोक्तं प्राणायामस्ततः परम्

Transliteration

yamastu prathamaḥ prokto dvitīyo niyamas tathā tṛtīyamāsanaṃ proktaṃ prāṇāyāmastataḥ param

Translation

ຍະມະຖືກປະກາດເປັນອົງທຳອິດ; ນິຍະມະເປັນອົງທີສອງ. ອາສະນະຖືກສອນເປັນອົງທີສາມ, ແລະຕໍ່ຈາກນັ້ນແມ່ນ ປຣານາຍາມະ—ການຄວບຄຸມລົມຫາຍໃຈແຫ່ງຊີວິດ—ເປັນວິໄນຕໍ່ໄປ।

Word by Word

• यमः (yamaḥ): restraint, ethical discipline

• तु (tu): indeed/and

• प्रथमः (prathamaḥ): first

• प्रोक्तः (proktaḥ): declared/taught

• द्वितीयः (dvitīyaḥ): second

• नियमः (niyamaḥ): observance, inner discipline

• तथा (tathā): likewise

• तृतीयम् (tṛtīyam): third

• आसनम् (āsanam): posture/seat

• प्रोक्तम् (proktam): taught

• प्राणायामः (prāṇāyāmaḥ): breath-control, regulation of prāṇa

• ततः (tataḥ): thereafter

• परम् (param): next/then

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Yoga teaching within the Linga Purana’s Shaiva framework)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames Linga-upāsanā as grounded in yogic purity: ethical restraint (yama) and disciplined observance (niyama) stabilize the pashu (individual soul) so worship becomes a means to loosen pāśa (bondage) and turn toward Pati (Śiva).

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

By presenting yoga as a graded path culminating in prāṇa-regulation, it implies Śiva-tattva as the supreme Pati approached through inner purification and steadiness—where mind and prāṇa are aligned for Śiva-realization.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

It highlights the initial limbs of yoga—yama, niyama, āsana, and prāṇāyāma—often treated in Shaiva practice as preparatory disciplines for mantra-japa and focused Linga-dhyāna within Pāśupata-oriented sādhanā.