Shloka 50

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

Devanagari script

भ्रमणं स्वेदजन्या सा संविन्मूर्छा भवेद्यदा तदोत्तमोत्तमः प्रोक्तः प्राणायामः सुशोभनः

Transliteration

bhramaṇaṃ svedajanyā sā saṃvinmūrchā bhavedyadā tadottamottamaḥ proktaḥ prāṇāyāmaḥ suśobhanaḥ

Translation

അഭ്യാസജന്യമായ ഭ്രമണവും വിയർപ്പും കൂടെ ബോധത്തിന്റെ മൂർച്ചാസദൃശ അവസ്ഥ വരുമ്പോൾ, ആ പ്രാണായാമം ‘ഉത്തമോത്തമം’—അത്യുത്തമം—എന്നും അത്യന്തം ശോഭനമെന്നും പ്രസ്താവിക്കുന്നു।

Word by Word

• भ्रमणम्: dizziness/whirling sensation

• स्वेदजन्या: born of sweat (sveda) / sweat-induced

• सा: that (state)

• संवित्: awareness/consciousness

• मूर्छा: swoon/fainting-like absorption

• भवेत्: arises/occurs

• यदा: when

• तदा: then

• उत्तमोत्तमः: the best of the best

• प्रोक्तः: declared/taught

• प्राणायामः: breath-restraint/prāṇic regulation

• सुशोभनः: very splendid/radiant/auspicious

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Linga Purana’s yogic teaching to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames prāṇāyāma as an internal limb of Shiva-upāsanā: refining prāṇa and mind so the pashu becomes fit for Linga-centered contemplation, moving from outer ritual toward inner union with Pati (Shiva).

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

By pointing to a consciousness-swoon (saṃvinmūrchā), it implies that the highest approach to Shiva is through intensified awareness that transcends ordinary mentation—where the soul tastes a still, radiant state aligned with Shiva’s pure consciousness.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Prāṇāyāma in the Pāśupata-oriented discipline—where strong physiological signs (sweat, dizziness) and altered awareness are treated as markers of intensified breath-restraint and inward absorption.