Shloka 42

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

Devanagari script

विषयेषु समासेन प्रत्याहारः प्रकीर्तितः चित्तस्य धारणा प्रोक्ता स्थानबन्धः समासतः

Transliteration

viṣayeṣu samāsena pratyāhāraḥ prakīrtitaḥ cittasya dhāraṇā proktā sthānabandhaḥ samāsataḥ

Translation

വിഷയങ്ങളിൽ നിന്നുള്ള സംക്ഷിപ്തമായ പിൻവലിക്കലിനെയാണ് ‘പ്രത്യാഹാരം’ എന്നു പ്രസ്താവിച്ചിരിക്കുന്നത്. ചിത്തത്തെ ഒരേ സ്ഥാന/ആലമ്പനത്തിൽ ബന്ധിച്ച് സ്ഥിരപ്പെടുത്തുന്നതാണ് ‘ധാരണ’ എന്നു ഉപദേശിക്കുന്നു.

Word by Word

• विषयेषु (viṣayeṣu): in sense-objects

• समासेन (samāsena): briefly, in summary

• प्रत्याहारः (pratyāhāraḥ): withdrawal (of the senses/mind)

• प्रकीर्तितः (prakīrtitaḥ): is proclaimed, is declared

• चित्तस्य (cittasya): of the mind-stuff, of consciousness

• धारणा (dhāraṇā): concentration, holding

• प्रोक्ता (proktā): is taught, is said

• स्थान-बन्धः (sthāna-bandhaḥ): binding to a place/locus, fixation on a point

• समासतः (samāsataḥ): in brief, succinctly

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s Yoga teaching within the Linga Purana tradition)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames Linga-upāsanā as an inner discipline: turning the senses away from objects (pratyāhāra) and fixing the mind on a single sacred locus—classically the Shiva-Linga or Shiva-tattva—through dhāraṇā.

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

By implying a stable, singular locus for dhāraṇā, it points to Shiva as Pati—the unwavering support of consciousness—upon whom the bound pashu can steadily place the mind to loosen pāśa (bondage).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Pāśupata-style yogic practice: pratyāhāra (sense-withdrawal) followed by dhāraṇā (one-pointed fixation), suitable for meditation during Shiva-pūjā and japa focused on the Linga.