Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 52

योगप्रकारनिर्णयः

Classification and Definition of Yoga

Devanagari script

ध्येयावस्थितचित्तस्य सदृशः प्रत्ययश्च यः । प्रत्ययान्तरनिर्मुक्तः प्रवाहो ध्यानमुच्यते

Transliteration

dhyeyāvasthitacittasya sadṛśaḥ pratyayaśca yaḥ | pratyayāntaranirmuktaḥ pravāho dhyānamucyate

Translation

ధ్యేయవస్తువుపై స్థిరమైన చిత్తమునకు, దానికి సమానరూపమైన జ్ఞానప్రత్యయం కలిగి, ఇతర ఆలోచనల చొరబాటు లేక నిరంతర ప్రవాహంగా కొనసాగితే—అదే ‘ధ్యానం’ అని చెప్పబడుతుంది.

Word by Word

• dhyeya-avasthita-cittasya: of one whose mind is fixed on the object of meditation
• dhyeya-avasthita-cittasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhyeya (प्रातिपदिक) + avasthita (प्रातिपदिक; √sthā धातोः क्त) + citta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष-समासः (ध्येये अवस्थितं चित्तं यस्य/तस्य—here as genitive qualifier)

• sadṛśaḥ: similar/consistent
• sadṛśaḥ: Visheshaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sadṛśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'प्रत्ययः' इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

• pratyayaḥ: cognition/mental modification
• pratyayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pratyaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय

• yaḥ: which/that
• yaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/relative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक-यः (relative pronoun)

• pratyaya-antara-nirmuktaḥ: free from other intervening cognitions
• pratyaya-antara-nirmuktaḥ: Visheshaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pratyaya (प्रातिपदिक) + antara (प्रातिपदिक) + nirmukta (प्रातिपदिक; √muc धातोः क्त, नि-उपसर्ग)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समासः (प्रत्ययान्तरात् निर्मुक्तः)

• pravāhaḥ: a flow/stream
• pravāhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pravāha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• dhyānam: meditation
• dhyānam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhyāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ucyate: is called
• ucyate: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (Passive)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not tied to a Jyotirliṅga; it gives a technical definition: dhyāna is a continuous, homogeneous stream of cognition aligned with the dhyeya.

Significance: Establishes the inner criterion for valid meditation: pratyaya-pravāha without pratyayāntara (intrusive thoughts).

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It defines true meditation as an unbroken stream of Shiva-oriented awareness, where the mind remains aligned with the chosen dhyeya and does not wander into other thought-forms—supporting inner purification and readiness for Shiva-realization (Pati-jñāna) in a Shaiva Siddhanta frame.

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

The Linga (or a Saguna form of Shiva) can serve as the dhyeya; meditation is established when the mind’s cognition repeatedly takes the form of that sacred support without distraction, maturing from external worship (bahir-ārādhana) toward inward worship (antar-ārādhana).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice steady japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) while holding one dhyeya—such as the Shiva-linga—so the mind maintains a continuous, undistracted flow; this aligns well with Shaiva disciplines often paired with bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and rudrāksha as supports to recollection.