Shloka 21

न्यासवर्णनम् (Nyāsa-varṇanam) — Description of Nyāsa in the Saṃnyāsa Procedure

Devanagari script

निरुद्धप्राण आसीनो मूलेनैव स्वमूलतः । शक्तिमुत्थाप्य तत्तेजः प्रभावात्पिंगलाध्वना

Transliteration

niruddhaprāṇa āsīno mūlenaiva svamūlataḥ | śaktimutthāpya tattejaḥ prabhāvātpiṃgalādhvanā

Translation

ప్రాణాన్ని నియంత్రించి ఆసనంలో కూర్చొని, తన మూలాధారంలో మూలమంత్రంతో స్థిరంగా నిలవాలి. తరువాత అంతఃశక్తిని ఉత్తేజింపజేసి పైకి లేపాలి; ఆ తేజస్సు ప్రభావంతో అది పింగళా నాడి మార్గంగా పైకి సాగుతుంది।

Word by Word

• निरुद्धप्राणः: with restrained breath
• निरुद्धप्राणः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निरुद्ध (कृदन्त, √रुध्) + प्राण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः—‘निरुद्धः प्राणः यस्य सः/निरुद्धः प्राणः’ (one whose breath is restrained / restrained breath)

• आसीनः: seated
• आसीनः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आसीन (कृदन्त, √आस्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त/क्त (past participle) अर्थे—‘आसीनः’ seated

• मूलेन: by/with the root (mūla)
• मूलेन: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; करणकारक-प्रयोगः (instrumental)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक (emphatic)

• स्वमूलतः: from one’s own root
• स्वमूलतः: अपादान (Apādāna/Ablative source)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + मूल (प्रातिपदिक) + तस् (तद्धित/अव्ययीभावार्थ)
• Form: अव्ययीभावसमासः; ‘स्वमूल’ + ‘-तः’ (ablatival adverb) = पञ्चमी-अर्थे अव्यय, ‘from one’s own root/base’

• शक्तिम्: the शक्ति (power/energy)
• शक्तिम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• उत्थाप्य: having raised
• उत्थाप्य: पूर्वकाल (Gerund; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उत्-√स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund) ‘उत्थाप्य’ = having raised/caused to rise; अव्ययभाव (indeclinable verbal)

• तत्: that
• तत्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सर्वनाम; ‘that’ (qualifying ‘तेजः’)

• तेजः: radiance/energy
• तेजः: कर्ता/विषय (Subject/Topic)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• प्रभावात्: from (its) influence
• प्रभावात्: हेतु/अपादान (Cause/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रभाव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/अपादान), एकवचन; हेतौ/कारणे (from/owing to influence)

• पिङ्गलाध्वना: through the Piṅgalā channel/path
• पिङ्गलाध्वना: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument/Means)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पिङ्गला (प्रातिपदिक) + अध्वन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘पिङ्गलायाः अध्वा’ = ‘the path/channel of Piṅgalā’; करणार्थे

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Pārvatī

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shakti

FAQs

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

The verse presents yogic ascent as a disciplined inner offering: restraining prāṇa, stabilizing awareness at the mūlādhāra, and awakening Śakti so consciousness becomes fit for Śiva-realization and release from pāśa (bondage).

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

It complements external Linga-worship by describing its inner counterpart: the devotee internalizes Śiva’s presence through yogic concentration and Śakti’s ascent, making worship both saguna (devotional practice) and a doorway to nirguna realization.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A meditative practice of prāṇāyāma leading to prāṇa-nirodha, steady posture, and focused contemplation at the mūlādhāra to awaken Śakti and guide the inner current through the nāḍīs—ideally supported by japa of Śiva-mantra (e.g., the Pañcākṣarī).