Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 10

अन्तराय-उपसर्ग-विवेचनम् / Analysis of Yogic Obstacles (Antarāyas) and Upasargas

Devanagari script

प्रतिभा श्रवणं वार्ता दर्शनास्वादवेदनाः । उपसर्गाः षडित्येते व्यये योगस्य सिद्धयः

Transliteration

pratibhā śravaṇaṃ vārtā darśanāsvādavedanāḥ | upasargāḥ ṣaḍityete vyaye yogasya siddhayaḥ

Translation

പ്രതിഭ, ദിവ്യ ശ്രവണം, ദൂരവാർത്തകളുടെ ജ്ഞാനം, ദിവ്യ ദർശനം, ദിവ്യ ആസ്വാദം, സൂക്ഷ്മ സ്പർശവേദന—ഇവ ആറു ഉപസർഗങ്ങൾ; ഇവ ഉദിച്ചാൽ യഥാർത്ഥ യോഗം ക്ഷയിക്കുന്നതിന്റെ സൂചനയാണ് (ശിവൈക്യത്തിൽ നിന്ന് വഴിതെറ്റിക്കാം)।

Word by Word

• pratibhā: intuition/flash of insight
• pratibhā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pratibhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• śravaṇam: supernatural hearing
• śravaṇam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śravaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• vārtā: (supernatural) information/news
• vārtā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vārtā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• darśana-āsvāda-vedanāḥ: visions, tastes, and sensations
• darśana-āsvāda-vedanāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: darśana (प्रातिपदिक) + āsvāda (प्रातिपदिक) + vedanā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvandva (द्वन्द्व) compound (enumerative); Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• upasargāḥ: afflictions/attacks
• upasargāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upasarga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• ṣaṭ: six
• ṣaṭ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ṣaṣ (प्रातिपदिक/संख्या)
• Form: Numeral (संख्या), indeclinable-like in form; here Nominative (प्रथमा) used predicatively with upasargāḥ

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), quotative particle (इति)

• ete: these
• ete: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: etad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• vyaye: in the decline/wasting
• vyaye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vyaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• yogasya: of yoga
• yogasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yoga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• siddhayaḥ: accomplishments/powers
• siddhayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: siddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It warns that certain yogic powers—though impressive—can become distractions (upasargas) that weaken the seeker’s main aim: steadfast absorption in Śiva leading to liberation.

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

It implies that even refined inner experiences should not replace devotion and one-pointed contemplation of Śiva (Saguna worship such as Linga-upāsanā), which stabilizes the mind and keeps the goal as Śiva-realization rather than powers.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Maintain disciplined meditation with Śiva as the sole focus—supported by Shaiva practice such as japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and steady observances—while treating unusual perceptions as passing phenomena, not achievements.