Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 22

ध्यानप्रकारनिर्णयः / Determination of the Modes of Meditation

on Śrīkaṇṭha-Śiva

Devanagari script

ध्यानं ज्ञानं च यस्यास्ति तीर्णस्तेन भवार्णवः । ज्ञानं प्रसन्नमेकाग्रमशेषोपाधिवर्जितम्

Transliteration

dhyānaṃ jñānaṃ ca yasyāsti tīrṇastena bhavārṇavaḥ | jñānaṃ prasannamekāgramaśeṣopādhivarjitam

Translation

यस्य ध्यानं च ज्ञानं च विद्यते, तेन भवार्णवः सम्यक्तीर्णः। तत् ज्ञानं प्रसन्नं प्रकाशमयं, एकाग्रं, सर्वोपाधिवर्जितं च।

Word by Word

• ध्यानम्: meditation
• ध्यानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्यान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; nominative/accusative singular (neuter)

• ज्ञानम्: knowledge
• ज्ञानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; nominative/accusative singular (neuter)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय; conjunction ‘and’

• यस्य: whose
• यस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन; genitive singular ‘whose/of whom’

• अस्ति: is/exists
• अस्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (वर्तमान), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; present indicative 3rd sg

• तीर्णः: (he is) crossed over
• तीर्णः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तॄ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; nominative singular masculine ‘having crossed’

• तेन: by him/thereby
• तेन: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3), एकवचन; instrumental singular ‘by him/thereby’

• भव-अर्णवः: the ocean of worldly existence
• भव-अर्णवः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भव (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्णव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive determinative) ‘ocean of saṃsāra’; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; nominative singular masculine

• ज्ञानम्: knowledge
• ज्ञानम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; nominative/accusative singular (neuter)

• प्रसन्नम्: clear/serene
• प्रसन्नम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रसन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; agrees with ‘ज्ञानम्’

• एकाग्रम्: one-pointed
• एकाग्रम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एकाग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास: एकम् + अग्रं → एकाग्र (one-pointed); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; agrees with ‘ज्ञानम्’

• अशेष-उपाधि-वर्जितम्: free from all adjuncts/limitations
• अशेष-उपाधि-वर्जितम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अशेष (प्रातिपदिक) + उपाधि (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्जित (प्रातिपदिक/क्तान्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (determinative): अशेष-उपाधिभिः वर्जितम् ‘devoid of all limiting adjuncts’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; agrees with ‘ज्ञानम्’

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 teaches that liberation is attained when dhyāna (steady Shiva-centered contemplation) is united with jñāna (clear discernment of the Self and Pati, Lord Shiva). Such purified, one-pointed knowledge dissolves bondage and enables crossing saṁsāra.

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

Linga-worship and Saguna Shiva upāsanā steady the mind into ekāgratā (one-pointedness). From that steadiness, knowledge becomes prasanna (clear) and rises beyond upādhis—supporting the seeker’s movement from form-based devotion toward direct realization of Shiva’s highest truth.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is daily Shiva-dhyāna with mantra-japa (especially the Panchākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) to cultivate one-pointedness, supported by Shaiva disciplines like bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa as aids to steadiness and purity of mind.