Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 46

योगप्रकारनिर्णयः

Classification and Definition of Yoga

Devanagari script

नमःपूर्वाणींद्रियाणि स्वर्गं नरकमेव च । निगृहीतनिसृष्टानि स्वर्गाय नरकाय च

Transliteration

namaḥpūrvāṇīṃdriyāṇi svargaṃ narakameva ca | nigṛhītanisṛṣṭāni svargāya narakāya ca

Translation

മുൻ ഇന്ദ്രിയങ്ങൾക്ക് നമസ്കാരം; സ്വർഗത്തിനും നരകത്തിനും നമസ്കാരം. ഇന്ദ്രിയങ്ങൾ നിയന്ത്രിതമായാൽ സ്വർഗ്ഗകാരണം, വിട്ടുവിട്ടാൽ നരകകാരണം ആകുന്നു.

Word by Word

• नमःपूर्वाणि: preceded by ‘namaḥ’ (salutation)
• नमःपूर्वाणि: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नमः + पूर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समासः: नमः पूर्वं येषाम् (those preceded by ‘namaḥ’); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (of इन्द्रियाणि)

• इन्द्रियाणि: the senses
• इन्द्रियाणि: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन

• स्वर्गम्: heaven
• स्वर्गम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• नरकम्: hell
• नरकम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नरक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण-निपात (particle of emphasis)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction)

• निगृहीतनिसृष्टानि: restrained and released
• निगृहीतनिसृष्टानि: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि + ग्रह् (धातु) + नि + सृज् (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त-द्वन्द्व-समासः: निगृहीतानि च निसृष्टानि च; उभयत्र क्त (past passive participle); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (of इन्द्रियाणि)

• स्वर्गाय: for heaven
• स्वर्गाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Dative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्वर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; सम्प्रदान (dative)

• नरकाय: for hell
• नरकाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/Dative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नरक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/चतुर्थी), एकवचन; सम्प्रदान (dative)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

FAQs

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

It teaches that the same indriyas (senses) become either liberating supports or binding fetters: disciplined under dharma and Shiva-oriented awareness they elevate; when uncontrolled they drag the jiva into suffering and lower states.

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

Linga-worship in the Shiva Purana is paired with inner purity—sense-restraint, truthfulness, and devotion. Saguna Shiva worship is most fruitful when the senses are gathered and offered back to Shiva rather than scattered into craving.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice indriya-nigraha through japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), steady dhyana on Shiva, and vrata-style restraint (especially on Mahashivratri), supported by sattvic conduct.