Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 51

योगप्रकारनिर्णयः

Classification and Definition of Yoga

Devanagari script

ध्यै चिंतायां स्मृतो धातुः शिवचिंता मुहुर्मुहुः । अव्याक्षिप्तेन मनसा ध्यानं नाम तदुच्यते

Transliteration

dhyai ciṃtāyāṃ smṛto dhātuḥ śivaciṃtā muhurmuhuḥ | avyākṣiptena manasā dhyānaṃ nāma taducyate

Translation

Ang ugat na pandiwang “dhyai” ay sinasabing nangangahulugang ‘magnilay’. Ang paulit-ulit na pagninilay kay Śiva, na may isip na hindi nalilihis, ang siyang tinatawag na dhyāna (pagmumuni).

Word by Word

• dhyai: the root ‘dhyai’ (to meditate)
• dhyai: Vishaya (विषय/term defined)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dhyai (धातु)
• Form: धातु-निर्देशरूपेण अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः; धातुनाम (verbal root citation form)

• cintāyām: in the sense of thinking
• cintāyām: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cintā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन

• smṛtaḥ: is said/remembered (as)
• smṛtaḥ: Kriya (क्रिया/statement)
• Type: Verb
• Root: smṛ (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (Past Passive Participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'धातुः' इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

• dhātuḥ: a verbal root
• dhātuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhātu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• śiva-cintā: contemplation of Śiva
• śiva-cintā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक) + cintā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: शिवस्य चिन्ता)

• muhuḥ: again and again
• muhuḥ: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: muhuḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time/frequency)

• muhuḥ: repeatedly
• muhuḥ: Kriya-visheshaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: muhuḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: पुनरुक्ति (reduplication for emphasis), कालवाचक-अव्यय

• a-vyākṣiptena: with (a mind) not distracted
• a-vyākṣiptena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a- (नञ्) + vyākṣipta (प्रातिपदिक; √kṣip धातोः क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन; नञ्-समासभावः (negated: 'not distracted')

• manasā: by/with the mind
• manasā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

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

• nāma: called/namely
• nāma: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/definition marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nāma (अव्यय)
• Form: नामार्थक-अव्यय (quotative/definitional particle: 'called')

• tat: that
• tat: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; 'द्यानम्' इत्यस्य पुनर्निर्देशः

• ucyate: is said/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

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It defines dhyāna as unwavering, repeated Śiva-smṛti (remembrance/contemplation of Śiva). In Shaiva Siddhānta terms, this steady turning of awareness toward Pati (Śiva) weakens pāśa (bondage) and purifies the pashu (individual soul) toward liberation.

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

For most practitioners, the mind becomes “avyākṣipta” (undistracted) by taking a concrete support: Saguna Śiva—especially the Śiva-liṅga—so contemplation repeatedly returns to Śiva’s presence, qualities, and grace, rather than wandering among objects.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Practice focused Śiva-dhyāna: sit steadily, reduce distraction, and repeatedly return the mind to Śiva—commonly supported by japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and, where applicable, worship aids like vibhūti (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa to sustain remembrance.