Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 4

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

Devanagari script

प्रमादो नाम योगस्य साधना नाम भावना । इदं वेत्युभयाक्रान्तं विज्ञानं स्थानसंशयः

Transliteration

pramādo nāma yogasya sādhanā nāma bhāvanā | idaṃ vetyubhayākrāntaṃ vijñānaṃ sthānasaṃśayaḥ

Translation

യോഗത്തിൽ പ്രമാദം മഹാദോഷം എന്നു വിളിക്കപ്പെടുന്നു; സാധനയുടെ പേര് ‘ഭാവന’ (നിയമിത ധ്യാനം) ആകുന്നു. എന്നാൽ ‘ഇത്’ ‘അത്’ എന്ന ഇരുവിധ ധാരണകളാൽ പിടിക്കപ്പെട്ട വിജ്ഞാനം, യഥാർത്ഥ ആധാരസ്ഥാനത്തെക്കുറിച്ച് സംശയമുള്ള അനിശ്ചിതജ്ഞാനമായിത്തന്നെ നിലനിൽക്കും.

Word by Word

• प्रमादः: negligence, heedlessness
• प्रमादः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रमाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• नाम: called; namely
• नाम: निपात (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; नाम-निपात (quotative/definitional particle: 'called')

• योगस्य: of yoga
• योगस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• साधना: practice, means
• साधना: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• नाम: called; namely
• नाम: निपात (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नाम (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; नाम-निपात (definitional particle)

• भावना: contemplation, cultivation
• भावना: समानााधिकरण (Apposition/समानााधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भावना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• इदम्: this
• इदम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• इति: thus
• इति: निपात (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; इति-निपात (quotative marker)

• उभय-आक्रान्तम्: overpowered by both (sides)
• उभय-आक्रान्तम्: विशेषण (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उभय (प्रातिपदिक) + आ-√क्रम् (धातु) → आक्रान्त (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (उभयेन आक्रान्तम् = overpowered by both); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP)

• विज्ञानम्: discriminative knowledge
• विज्ञानम्: विशेष्य (That described/विशेष्य)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन

• स्थान-संशयः: doubt about the proper place/position
• स्थान-संशयः: कर्ता (Predicate nominal/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थान (प्रातिपदिक) + संशय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (स्थानस्य संशयः = doubt regarding the place/position)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It warns that pramāda (carelessness) derails yoga, while steady bhāvanā (cultivated contemplation) supports it; yet true liberating knowledge must rise beyond wavering dual notions into clear certainty rooted in Shiva as Pati (the supreme ground).

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

Linga-worship trains the mind in one-pointed bhāvanā; when devotion stabilizes, the seeker moves from fluctuating “this/that” concepts to firm recognition of Shiva as the underlying reality, with the Linga serving as a focused support (ālambana) for that certainty.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Avoid pramāda by daily, disciplined japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with focused bhāvanā; support the practice with Shaiva observances like Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa to sustain steadiness and reduce mental doubt.