Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 33
श्रद्धामाहात्म्यं तथा देवीप्रश्नः
The Greatness of Śraddhā and Devī’s Question to Śiva
मदुक्तेनैव मार्गेण मय्यवस्थितचेतसः । वृत्त्यंतरनिरोधो यो योग इत्यभिधीयते । अश्वमेधगणाच्छ्रेष्ठं देवि चित्तप्रसाधनम् । मुक्तिदं च तथा ह्येतद्दुष्प्राप्यं विषयैषिणाम्
maduktenaiva mārgeṇa mayyavasthitacetasaḥ | vṛttyaṃtaranirodho yo yoga ityabhidhīyate | aśvamedhagaṇācchreṣṭhaṃ devi cittaprasādhanam | muktidaṃ ca tathā hyetadduṣprāpyaṃ viṣayaiṣiṇām
ผู้ที่ดำเนินตามหนทางที่เรากล่าวสอนไว้ และตั้งจิตมั่นอยู่ในเรา การระงับความแปรปรวนอื่น ๆ ของจิตนั้น เรียกว่า “โยคะ” โอ้เทวี สิ่งนี้ประเสริฐยิ่งกว่าพิธีอัศวเมธนับมาก ทำให้จิตผ่องใสสงบ และประทานโมกษะ แต่ผู้ไล่ตามอารมณ์ทางประสาทสัมผัสยากจะบรรลุได้.
Lord Shiva
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Significance: Internal pilgrimage: citta-prasādana through mayy-avasthita-cetas (mind fixed in Śiva) is praised as surpassing external sacrificial merit.
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: teaching
FAQs
It defines Yoga as restraining mental modifications while fixing the mind in Śiva (Pati), presenting inner discipline as superior to external merit and as a direct means to mokṣa—aligning with Shaiva Siddhānta’s emphasis on purification and grace-oriented liberation.
The verse points to worship that culminates in contemplation: devotion to Saguna Śiva (including Linga worship) matures into steady one-pointedness where the mind abides in Śiva, and that inner absorption becomes the core of Yoga leading toward liberation.
A meditative practice of dhyāna and mental restraint—keeping awareness anchored in Śiva (often supported by japa such as the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”)—while reducing distraction toward sense-objects.