Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 18

योगप्रकारनिर्णयः

Classification and Definition of Yoga

Devanagari script

यम इत्युच्यते सद्भिः पञ्चावयवयोगतः । शौचं तुष्टिस्तपश्चैव जपः प्रणिधिरेव च

Transliteration

yama ityucyate sadbhiḥ pañcāvayavayogataḥ | śaucaṃ tuṣṭistapaścaiva japaḥ praṇidhireva ca

Translation

บัณฑิตผู้ประพฤติดีกล่าวว่า ‘ยมะ’ มีองค์ห้าประการ คือ ศौจ (ความบริสุทธิ์), ตุษฏิ (ความสันโดษ), ตปัส (ตบะ), ชปะ (สาธยายมนต์) และปรณิธาน (การน้อมมอบตน) แด่พระศิวะผู้เป็นเจ้า।

Word by Word

• यमः: (this is) ‘yama’/restraint
• यमः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्ता (subject of ucyate)

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quotative)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उद्धरण/इत्यर्थक निपात (quotative particle: thus)

• उच्यते: is called
• उच्यते: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (present/लट्), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive: is called)

• सद्भिः: by the good (people)
• सद्भिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; कर्तृ (agent in passive: by the good/wise)

• पञ्चावयवयोगतः: because it consists of five parts
• पञ्चावयवयोगतः: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पञ्च + अवयव + योगतस् (प्रातिपदिक/अव्यय-निष्पन्न)
• Form: अव्यय; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त (ablatival adverb: ‘because of/from’); समासः—तत्पुरुष (पञ्चानाम् अवयवानाम् योगः तस्मात्)

• शौचम्: purity
• शौचम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शौच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; सूचीकरणे पदम् (item in list)

• तुष्टिः: contentment
• तुष्टिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तुष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; सूचीकरणे पदम्

• तपः: austerity
• तपः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; सूचीकरणे पदम्

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connecting)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (and)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक निपात (particle: indeed/just)

• जपः: recitation (japa)
• जपः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; सूचीकरणे पदम्

• प्रणिधिः: dedication/surrender
• प्रणिधिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रणिधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; सूचीकरणे पदम्

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक निपात (indeed)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connecting)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (and)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It defines yama as a fivefold inner discipline—purity, contentment, austerity, mantra-japa, and surrender—showing that liberation in Shaiva teaching is grounded in ethical refinement and steady God-orientation toward Shiva (Pati).

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

These five practices support Saguna Shiva worship: śauca prepares the devotee for pūjā, tapas strengthens resolve, japa sustains remembrance of Shiva (often via the Panchakshara), and praṇidhāna culminates in offering the self to the Lord worshipped as the Linga.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The verse explicitly recommends japa and praṇidhāna—regular repetition of a Shiva-mantra (such as “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with heartfelt surrender—supported by śauca and tapas as daily disciplines.