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
میرے ہی بتائے ہوئے راستے پر چل کر، مجھ میں ثابت دل ہو کر، ذہن کی دوسری تبدیلیوں کا جو روکنا ہے اُسے ‘یوگ’ کہا جاتا ہے۔ اے دیوی، یہ بے شمار اشومیدھ یگیوں سے بھی افضل ہے؛ چِت کو صاف و پرسکون کرتا ہے اور موکش عطا کرتا ہے۔ مگر جو لوگ موضوعاتِ حِس کے پیچھے بھاگتے ہیں اُن کے لیے یہ دشوار ہے۔
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.