Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 7

ध्यानप्रकारनिर्णयः / Determination of the Modes of Meditation

on Śrīkaṇṭha-Śiva

Devanagari script

सूक्ष्माश्रयं निर्विषयं नापरं परमार्थतः । यद्वा सविषयं ध्यानं तत्साकारसमाश्रयम्

Transliteration

sūkṣmāśrayaṃ nirviṣayaṃ nāparaṃ paramārthataḥ | yadvā saviṣayaṃ dhyānaṃ tatsākārasamāśrayam

Translation

സൂക്ഷ്മാശ്രയവും വിഷയരഹിതവുമായ ധ്യാനം പരമാർത്ഥത്തിൽ സ്വയം പരമതത്ത്വം തന്നെയാണ്; വിഷയസഹിത ധ്യാനം സാകാര ആശ്രയത്തെ ആശ്രയിക്കുന്നു।

Word by Word

• sūkṣma-āśrayam: having a subtle support / resting on the subtle
• sūkṣma-āśrayam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sūkṣma (प्रातिपदिक) + āśraya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana; तत्पुरुष-समासः (विशेषण-विशेष्यभावः)

• nir-viṣayam: objectless
• nir-viṣayam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nirviṣaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; उपसर्ग-पूर्वक-विशेषणम्

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्ययम् (negative particle)

• aparam: other; different
• aparam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: apara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; विशेषणम्

• paramārthataḥ: in the ultimate sense
• paramārthataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: paramārtha (प्रातिपदिक) + tas (तस्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: तसिल्/तस्-प्रत्ययान्त-अव्ययम्; अर्थे—‘in reality/ultimately’

• yad: if/when; that which
• yad: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभावे/सम्बन्धे प्रयुक्तं यद् (correlative ‘if/when/that which’)

• vā: or
• vā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vā (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्ययम् (disjunctive particle ‘or’)

• sa-viṣayam: with an object
• sa-viṣayam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saviṣaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana; विशेषणम्

• dhyānam: meditation
• dhyānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhyāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā (2nd), Ekavacana

• tat: that
• tat: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Ekavacana; सर्वनाम-विशेषणम्

• sākāra-samāśrayam: having support in a form (with form as its basis)
• sākāra-samāśrayam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sākāra (प्रातिपदिक) + samāśraya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Prathamā (1st), Ekavacana; तत्पुरुष-समासः (विशेषण-विशेष्यभावः)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It distinguishes two valid modes of Shaiva meditation: object-free absorption in the subtle (pointing to the Supreme Reality) and object-based contemplation supported by a manifest form—both guiding the seeker from practice toward realization.

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

Object-based meditation aligns with saguna supports such as the Shiva Linga, a murti, or a chosen visualization of Shiva; these provide a concrete basis for dhyana that can mature into subtler, object-free contemplation.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It suggests dhyana with a support (e.g., Linga-focused contemplation with mantra like Om Namaḥ Śivāya) for most practitioners, and progressively refining attention toward subtle, object-free meditation as steadiness and purity increase.