Shloka 113

Adhyaya 8: Yogasthanas, Ashtanga Yoga, Pranayama-Siddhi, and Shiva-Dhyana leading to Samadhi

Devanagari script

आनन्दं ब्रह्मणो विद्वान् साक्षात्समरसे स्थितः धारणा द्वादशायामा ध्यानं द्वादश धारणम्

Transliteration

ānandaṃ brahmaṇo vidvān sākṣātsamarase sthitaḥ dhāraṇā dvādaśāyāmā dhyānaṃ dvādaśa dhāraṇam

Translation

O conhecedor, estabelecido diretamente na essência de um só sabor (não dual), realiza a bem-aventurança (ānanda) de Brahman. Diz-se que a dhāraṇā (concentração) dura doze yāmas, e que o dhyāna (meditação) se define como doze dessas concentrações.

Word by Word

• आनन्दम् (ānandam): bliss

• ब्रह्मणः (brahmaṇaḥ): of Brahman / the Supreme Reality

• विद्वान् (vidvān): the knower, the realized adept

• साक्षात् (sākṣāt): directly, in immediate realization

• समरसे (samarase): in the single taste, homogeneous essence (non-differentiated awareness)

• स्थितः (sthitaḥ): established, abiding

• धारणा (dhāraṇā): concentration, fixing the mind

• द्वादश (dvādaśa): twelve

• आयामा/यामा (yāmā): yāmas, measured watches of time

• ध्यानम् (dhyānam): meditation, continuous contemplation

• द्वादश-धारणम् (dvādaśa-dhāraṇam): consisting of twelve concentrations (i.e., twelve dhāraṇās).

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating yogic definitions within the Linga Purana discourse)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It links outer devotion to inner realization: true Linga-upāsanā culminates in steadiness of mind (dhāraṇā) and sustained contemplation (dhyāna), through which the devotee tastes Brahmānanda—Shiva as the inner Linga (Pati) revealed in consciousness.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

Shiva-tattva is implied as the “one-taste” reality (samarasa) directly realized—beyond fluctuation—where the bound soul (paśu) experiences the bliss of the Supreme by approaching the Lord (Pati) through yogic absorption.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A yogic definition is given: dhyāna is the continuity formed by twelve dhāraṇās, and dhāraṇā is measured as twelve yāmas—emphasizing disciplined, sustained concentration typical of Pāśupata-oriented practice.