Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 23

योगप्रकारनिर्णयः

Classification and Definition of Yoga

Devanagari script

नासापुटेनापरेण पूरणात्पूरकं मतम् । न मुंचति न गृह्णाति वायुमंतर्बहिः स्थितम्

Transliteration

nāsāpuṭenāpareṇa pūraṇātpūrakaṃ matam | na muṃcati na gṛhṇāti vāyumaṃtarbahiḥ sthitam

Translation

മറ്റൊരു നാസാപുടത്തിലൂടെ ശ്വാസം നിറയ്ക്കുന്നതാണ് ‘പൂരകം’ എന്നു മതം. യോഗി വായുവിനെ വിടുകയുമില്ല, ബലമായി പിടിക്കുകയുമില്ല; അന്തർബാഹ്യമായി നിലകൊള്ളുന്ന പ്രാണവായുവിനെ സമമായി സ്ഥിരപ്പെടുത്തുന്നു.

Word by Word

• नासापुटेन: by/through the nostril
• नासापुटेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नासापुट (प्रातिपदिक; नासा + पुट)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (नासायाः पुटेन)

• अपरेण: with the other (nostril)
• अपरेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; ‘by the other (one)’

• पूरणात्: from/owing to filling
• पूरणात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूरण (प्रातिपदिक; √पॄ-णिच् भाव)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; हेत्वर्थे (because of/from filling)

• पूरकम्: pūraka (inhalation)
• पूरकम्: Karta (कर्ता/विषयः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूरक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• मतम्: is held/considered
• मतम्: Kriya (क्रिया/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मन् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘is considered’

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• मुञ्चति: releases/lets go
• मुञ्चति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मुच् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• गृह्णाति: takes/grasps
• गृह्णाति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• वायुम्: breath/air
• वायुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• अन्तर्बहिः: inside and outside
• अन्तर्बहिः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्तर् + बहिः (अव्यय-द्वन्द्व)
• Form: अव्यय-द्वन्द्वसमासः; क्रियाविशेषणत्वेन (adverbial): ‘inside and outside’

• स्थितम्: situated/remaining
• स्थितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्था (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त) विशेषण; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; वायुम् इति विशेष्ये

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Shaiva yoga teaching as taught in the Vayu Samhita tradition)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Equanimous prāṇa (neither forced out nor pulled in) symbolizes loosening of pāśa through sattvic steadiness, preparing for Śiva-jñāna.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches disciplined prāṇāyāma: breath is not to be forced, but steadied. In Shaiva understanding, calming prāṇa supports inner stillness, making the mind fit for Shiva-realization and loosening the bonds (pāśa) that obscure the soul (paśu).

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

External worship of the Liṅga is complemented by internal worship: stabilizing prāṇa gathers attention inward, enabling steady dhyāna on Saguna Shiva (with form) and leading toward deeper contemplation of Shiva as the supreme Pati beyond agitation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Alternate-nostril breathing (nāḍī-śodhana style) and gentle pūraka without strain, aiming to keep prāṇa balanced. This can be paired with japa of the Panchākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and calm meditation.