Shloka 37

Vāyu-jaya (Prāṇa-vijaya) and Yogic Mastery over Time — वायुजय (प्राणविजय) तथा कालजय

Devanagari script

रेफाग्रं लंबकाग्रं करतलघटनं शुभ्रपद्मस्य बिन्दोस्तेनाकृष्टा सुधेयं पतति परपदे देवतानंदकारी । सारं संसारतारं कृतकलुषतरं कालतारं सतारं येनेदं प्लावितांगं स भवति न मृतः क्षुत्पिपासाविहीनः

Transliteration

rephāgraṃ laṃbakāgraṃ karatalaghaṭanaṃ śubhrapadmasya bindostenākṛṣṭā sudheyaṃ patati parapade devatānaṃdakārī | sāraṃ saṃsāratāraṃ kṛtakaluṣataraṃ kālatāraṃ satāraṃ yenedaṃ plāvitāṃgaṃ sa bhavati na mṛtaḥ kṣutpipāsāvihīnaḥ

Translation

‘ரேப’த்தின் நுனியிலும் தொங்கும் துளியின் நுனியிலும், கரத்தளத்தை வைத்துச் சுத்த வெண்தாமரையின் புள்ளியிலிருந்து அமிர்தம் இழுக்கப்படுகிறது; அந்தச் சுதை பரமபதத்தில் வழிந்து தேவர்களுக்கு ஆனந்தம் தருகிறது. அதுவே சம்சாரத்தைத் தாண்டச் செய்யும் சாரம்; சேர்க்கப்பட்ட மாசை அகற்றும்; காலத்தை வென்று அதற்கும் அப்பால் கொண்டு செல்லும். அதனால் இவ்வுடல் நிரம்பப் பாய்ந்தால், அவன் மரணத்திற்குட்படாதவன் போல—பசி தாகமற்றவன்.

Word by Word

रेफाग्रम्the tip of ‘ra’ (tongue-tip/ra-sound tip)

लम्बकाग्रम्the tip of the uvula/soft palate

करतलघटनम्striking with the palm

शुभ्रपद्मस्यof the white lotus

बिन्दोःof the drop/point

तेनby that/thereby

आकृष्टाdrawn/pulled

सुधेयम्nectar-like essence

पततिfalls/flows

परपदेin the supreme state/place

देवतानन्दकारीcausing joy to the deities

सारम्essence

संसारतारम्that which ferries across saṃsāra

कृतकलुषतरम्making impurity lesser / removing defilement (comparative nuance)

कालतारम्that which ferries across time/death

सतारम्true-saving/ferrying rightly

येनby which

इदम्this

प्लाविताङ्गम्whose body is flooded/filled

सःhe

भवतिbecomes/is

नnot

मृतःdead

क्षुत्पिपासाविहीनःfree from hunger and thirst

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya, within the Umāsaṃhitā’s yogic-philosophical discourse)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Inner ‘tīrtha’ motif: the amṛta/nectar experience is framed as a salvific crossing beyond saṃsāra and kāla, paralleling the fruit promised by Jyotirliṅga-darśana but here via yogic interiorization.

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Transcending kāla (time/death) through amṛta—an inner ‘anti-mṛtyu’ (death-overcoming) state.

Characters & Entities

Shiva

FAQs

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

It praises the inner ‘amṛta’ (nectar) experienced through yogic realization, describing it as the essence that purifies bondage (pāśa) and carries the soul toward the supreme state under Shiva’s grace.

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

Although expressed in yogic imagery, the goal is union with Shiva as Pati (the Lord): Saguna worship (Linga, mantra, devotion) supports purification, while inner yoga culminates in tasting the ‘nectar’ of higher awareness leading beyond saṃsāra.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A meditative discipline involving inner concentration at a subtle ‘lotus’ point and regulated breath (prāṇāyāma/dhāraṇā) to draw forth the amṛta; it is best grounded in Shaiva practice such as Panchakshara japa and purity observances.