Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 22

योगप्रकारनिर्णयः

Classification and Definition of Yoga

Devanagari script

औदरं रेचयेद्वायुं तथायं रेचकः स्मृतः । बाह्येन मरुता देहं दृतिवत्परिपूरयेत्

Transliteration

audaraṃ recayedvāyuṃ tathāyaṃ recakaḥ smṛtaḥ | bāhyena marutā dehaṃ dṛtivatparipūrayet

Translation

จงระบายลมออกจากท้อง นั่นแลเรียกว่า ‘เรจกะ’ (การหายใจออก) แล้วจงเติมกายให้เต็มด้วยลมภายนอก ดุจหีบลมช่างตีเหล็ก.

Word by Word

• औदरम्: abdominal (in the belly region)
• औदरम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: औदर (प्रातिपदिक; उदर-सम्बन्धी)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणं (वायुम् इति)

• रेचयेत्: should expel/empty
• रेचयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रिच् (धातु; रेचयति)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• वायुम्: air/breath
• वायुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• तथा: thus
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb): thus/in that manner

• अयम्: this
• अयम्: Karta (कर्ता/निर्देशः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• रेचकः: recaka (exhalation)
• रेचकः: Karta (कर्ता/विषयः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रेचक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• स्मृतः: is regarded (as)
• स्मृतः: Kriya (क्रिया/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle, क्त); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘is considered/remembered (as)’

• बाह्येन: external
• बाह्येन: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बाह्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; विशेषणं (मरुता इति)

• मरुता: with the wind/breath
• मरुता: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मरुत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• देहम्: the body
• देहम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• दृतिवत्: like a bellows
• दृतिवत्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: दृति + वत् (प्रातिपदिक; उपमा)
• Form: उपमावाचक-अव्यय (indeclinable in -वत् used adverbially): ‘like a bellows/bag’

• परिपूरयेत्: should fill completely
• परिपूरयेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पॄ (धातु; पूरयति) उपसर्गः परि-
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; उपसर्गयुक्त

Speaker

Suta Goswami (continuing the Vāyavīya teaching on yogic discipline as transmitted in the Shiva Purana tradition)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Significance: Prāṇa mastery is framed as a sādhana that refines the paśu’s instrument (body-mind) so it can receive higher Śaiva knowledge and grace.

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It frames breath-discipline as a Shaiva means of inner purification: regulating vāyu steadies the mind and loosens pāśa (bondage), preparing the seeker (paśu) for grace-oriented realization of Pati, Shiva.

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

Prāṇāyāma supports Saguna Shiva worship by making japa, dhyāna, and Linga-upāsanā steady; a purified breath and mind become fit instruments for devotion that culminates in Shiva’s liberating grace.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical prāṇāyāma instruction: perform recaka (expelling abdominal air) and then fill with external air (puraka), like a bellows—ideally alongside Shiva-japa (e.g., Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and meditative focus.