Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 27

योगप्रकारनिर्णयः

Classification and Definition of Yoga

Devanagari script

तच्चतुर्धोपदिष्टं स्यान्मात्रागुणविभागतः । कन्यकस्तु चतुर्धा स्यात्स च द्वादशमात्रकः

Transliteration

taccaturdhopadiṣṭaṃ syānmātrāguṇavibhāgataḥ | kanyakastu caturdhā syātsa ca dvādaśamātrakaḥ

Translation

ആ മന്ത്രരൂപം മാത്രാ-ഗുണ വിഭജനപ്രകാരം ചതുര്വിധമായി ഉപദേശിക്കപ്പെട്ടിരിക്കുന്നു. അതുപോലെ ‘കന്യക’യും ചതുര്വിധം; അത് ദ്വാദശ മാത്രകളാൽ യുക്തമാണ്.

Word by Word

• तत्: that (practice)
• तत्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• चतुर्धा: fourfold
• चतुर्धा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चतुर्धा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (in four parts/ways)

• उपदिष्टम्: is taught
• उपदिष्टम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप + दिश् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; कर्मणि (taught/prescribed)

• स्यात्: should be
• स्यात्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• मात्रा-गुण-विभागतः: according to the division of mātrā-qualities
• मात्रा-गुण-विभागतः: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मात्रा (प्रातिपदिक) + गुण (प्रातिपदिक) + विभाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पञ्चमी-एकवचनान्त रूपेण अव्ययीभाववत्; हेत्वर्थे/आधारार्थे: 'विभागात्' (from division) ; समासः: मात्रागुणयोः विभागः

• कन्यकः: the ‘kanyaka’ (measure/type)
• कन्यकः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कन्यक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

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

• चतुर्धा: fourfold
• चतुर्धा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चतुर्धा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक

• स्यात्: is/should be
• स्यात्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

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

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्यसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय (conjunction)

• द्वादश-मात्रकः: having twelve mātrās
• द्वादश-मात्रकः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वादश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + मात्रक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (द्वादश मात्राः यस्य)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: This is a technical yogic/phonetic (mātrā-guṇa) instruction within the Vāyavīya section, not tied to a temple-origin account.

Significance: Supports sādhana-śuddhi: correct measure (mātrā) and quality (guṇa) in practice stabilizes mind and prāṇa, preparing for Śiva-realization.

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It emphasizes that mantra is not merely sound but a disciplined spiritual method: its power is understood through precise measure (mātrā) and inner quality (guṇa), aligning the practitioner toward Śiva (Pati) and loosening bondage (pāśa).

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

Measured recitation and correct qualitative orientation of mantra support Saguna worship (such as Linga-upāsanā) by stabilizing attention, purifying intention, and making worship an inward union rather than only an outer rite.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It points to mātrā-yukta japa—mantra repetition with regulated timing and mindful articulation—best done with steady breath and focused awareness, as a yogic aid to Shaiva worship.