Shloka 90

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

Devanagari script

तमः प्रच्छाद्य रजसा रजः सत्त्वेन छादयेत् ततः सत्त्वस्थितो भूत्वा शिवध्यानं समभ्यसेत्

Transliteration

tamaḥ pracchādya rajasā rajaḥ sattvena chādayet tataḥ sattvasthito bhūtvā śivadhyānaṃ samabhyaset

Translation

Vele o tamas com o rajas e, em seguida, cubra o rajas com o sattva. Estabelecido no sattva, pratique com diligência a meditação em Śiva—o Pati que liberta o paśu do pāśa.

Word by Word

• तमः (tamaḥ): tamas, inertia/dullness

• प्रच्छाद्य (pracchādya): having covered/veiled

• रजसा (rajasā): by rajas, by the force of activity

• रजः (rajaḥ): rajas, restlessness/passion

• सत्त्वेन (sattvena): by sattva, by clarity/purity

• छादयेत् (chādayet): one should cover/overcome

• ततः (tataḥ): then/thereafter

• सत्त्वस्थितो (sattvasthitaḥ): established in sattva

• भूत्वा (bhūtvā): having become

• शिवध्यानम् (śivadhyānam): meditation on Śiva

• समभ्यसेत् (samabhyaset): one should practice earnestly/assiduously.

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the teaching on Śiva-dhyāna to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It establishes inner guṇa-śuddhi as the prerequisite for true Liṅga-upāsanā: the devotee refines the mind into sattva so that worship and contemplation can become a direct means for loosening pāśa (bondage) and turning toward Pati, Śiva.

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

Śiva is implied as the supreme Pati who is fit to be contemplated when the mind is clarified; meditation on Śiva is presented as the culminating practice once obscuring guṇas are subordinated, aligning the paśu toward liberation rather than worldly agitation.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A yogic method of guṇa-transformation leading to Śiva-dhyāna: first overcome tamas through disciplined activity (rajas), then refine rajas into sattva, and finally meditate steadily on Śiva—an inner discipline consistent with Pāśupata-oriented practice.