Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 66

योगप्रकारनिर्णयः

Classification and Definition of Yoga

Devanagari script

तथा समाधिनिष्ठो ऽपि तस्मान्न विचलेत्सुधीः । एवमभ्यसतश्चारं योगिनो योगमुत्तमम्

Transliteration

tathā samādhiniṣṭho 'pi tasmānna vicaletsudhīḥ | evamabhyasataścāraṃ yogino yogamuttamam

Translation

ଏହେତୁ ସମାଧିନିଷ୍ଠ ହୋଇଥିଲେ ମଧ୍ୟ ସୁଧୀ ଯୋଗୀ ସେହି (ଶିବନିଷ୍ଠା)ରୁ ବିଚଳିତ ହେବା ଉଚିତ ନୁହେଁ। ଏଭଳି ସୁଚାରୁ ଓ ନିରନ୍ତର ଅଭ୍ୟାସ କରୁଥିବା ଯୋଗୀ ଉତ୍ତମ ଯୋଗ ପାଏ—ସମସ୍ତ ବନ୍ଧନରୁ ମୁକ୍ତିଦାତା ପତି-ପରମେଶ୍ୱରରେ ଦୃଢ ନିବାସ।

Word by Word

• tathā: so/likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारार्थक-अव्यय (thus/so)

• samādhi-niṣṭhaḥ: steadfast in samādhi
• samādhi-niṣṭhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: samādhi (प्रातिपदिक) + niṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषार्थे प्रचलितः: ‘समाधौ निष्ठा यस्य/समाधिनिष्ठः’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• api: even/also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-कारार्थक-अव्यय (even/also)

• tasmāt: therefore/from that (reason)
• tasmāt: Apādāna (अपादान/source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (Ablative), एकवचन

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• vicalet: should waver/move away
• vicalet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi√cal (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• sudhīḥ: the wise person
• sudhīḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: su-dhī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय: ‘सु (उत्तमा) धिः यस्य’/‘सु-धिः’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• evam: thus
• evam: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: evam (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारार्थक-अव्यय

• abhyasataḥ: of (one) practicing
• abhyasataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/genitive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi√as (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान-कृदन्त (present active participle): ‘अभ्यसत्’; षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन (of one who practices)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/conjunctive)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय

• āram: fully/sufficiently
• āram: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: āram (अव्यय)
• Form: पर्याप्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (enough/sufficiently; intensifier)

• yoginaḥ: of the yogin
• yoginaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yogin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन

• yogam: yoga
• yogam: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yoga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• uttamam: supreme
• uttamam: Karma (कर्म/object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘yogam’)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that even advanced absorption (samādhi) must be protected by unwavering steadiness; through continuous practice the yogin reaches the highest Yoga—abidance in Śiva, the liberating Lord (Pati) who cuts the bonds (pāśa) of the soul (paśu).

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

The verse emphasizes constancy in contemplation; in Shaiva practice this steadiness is supported by focused worship—such as Linga-dhyāna and devotion to Saguna Śiva—until the mind becomes unwavering and fit for supreme union.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Steady daily abhyāsa: seated meditation with one-pointed Śiva-dhyāna, supported by japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and disciplined conduct that prevents the mind from wavering.