Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 24

योगप्रकारनिर्णयः

Classification and Definition of Yoga

Devanagari script

संपूर्णं कुंभवत्तिष्ठेदचलः स तु कुंभक । रेचकाद्यं त्रयमिदं न द्रुतं न विलंबितम्

Transliteration

saṃpūrṇaṃ kuṃbhavattiṣṭhedacalaḥ sa tu kuṃbhaka | recakādyaṃ trayamidaṃ na drutaṃ na vilaṃbitam

Translation

കുടംപോലെ പൂർണ്ണമായി നിറഞ്ഞ നിലയിൽ അചലമായി നില്ക്കുന്നതാണ് ‘കുംഭകം’. രേചകാദിയായ ഈ ത്രയം (രേചകം, പൂരകം, കുംഭകം) അതിവേഗത്തിലും അതിവിലംബത്തിലും ചെയ്യരുത്.

Word by Word

• संपूर्णम्: complete, fully
• संपूर्णम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संपूर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषण (adjectival)

• कुंभवत्: like a pot (steadily)
• कुंभवत्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुंभ + वत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत्-प्रयोगः; वत्-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण; उपमानार्थे (like/as)

• तिष्ठेत्: should remain/stand
• तिष्ठेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अचलः: motionless, steady
• अचलः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अचल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; विशेषण

• सः: he/that
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्यसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विरोध/विशेषार्थक

• कुंभक: O (practitioner of) kumbhaka / O Kumbhaka
• कुंभक: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुंभक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8), एकवचन; संबोधन

• रेचक-आद्यम्: beginning with recaka
• रेचक-आद्यम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रेचक (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (रेचकः आदिः यस्य तत्)

• त्रयम्: the triad (threefold set)
• त्रयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; संख्याशब्द

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

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

• द्रुतम्: too fast
• द्रुतम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्रुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; विशेषण (क्रियाविशेषणवत्)

• न: nor/not
• न: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्यसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध (negation particle)

• विलंबितम्: too slow/delayed
• विलंबितम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विलंबित (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-भाव)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) from √लम्ब्/विलम्ब् (to delay) used adjectivally

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Kumbhaka as ‘pot-like fullness’ is an inner stabilization that supports contemplation; in Siddhānta terms it is an auxiliary that readies the paśu for anugraha through jñāna and mantra.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches disciplined prāṇāyāma—steady kumbhaka performed with balance—so the mind becomes fit for Shiva-dhyāna, leading the bound soul (paśu) toward liberation by the grace of Pati (Shiva).

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

Balanced breath regulation steadies attention, making the practitioner capable of sustained concentration on Saguna Shiva—such as the Linga—without agitation, supporting inner worship (mānasa-pūjā) alongside outer ritual.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice the threefold prāṇāyāma—recaka, pūraka, and kumbhaka—at an even, moderate pace, using steadiness to support japa (e.g., Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and meditation on Shiva.