Adhyaya 8: Yogasthanas, Ashtanga Yoga, Pranayama-Siddhi, and Shiva-Dhyana leading to Samadhi
व्रतोपवासमौनं च स्नानं च नियमा दश नियमः स्यादनीहा च शौचं तुष्टिस्तपस् तथा
vratopavāsamaunaṃ ca snānaṃ ca niyamā daśa niyamaḥ syādanīhā ca śaucaṃ tuṣṭistapas tathā
Mười niyama được nói là: giữ giới nguyện (vrata), nhịn ăn (upavāsa), im lặng (mauna), tắm gội nghi lễ (snāna), vô cầu—anīhā (không khát vọng), thanh tịnh (śauca), mãn túc nội tâm (tuṣṭi), và khổ hạnh (tapas). Những kỷ luật ấy làm cho paśu được an định, sẵn sàng cho bhakti hướng về Pati, Śiva.
Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages at Naimisharanya)
It lists core niyamas—vows, fasting, silence, bathing, purity, contentment, and austerity—that purify the paśu (individual soul) and make Linga-pūjā effective by reducing pasha (bondage) and stabilizing devotion to Pati (Śiva).
Śiva is implied as Pati—the liberating Lord—approached not merely by external rite but through inner disciplines (śauca, tuṣṭi, anīhā, tapas) that align the practitioner’s consciousness with Shiva-tattva.
A niyama-based regimen aligned with Pāśupata discipline: vrata and upavāsa (ritual restraint), mauna (mind-control), snāna and śauca (purification), and tapas (austerity) as preparatory practice for Shaiva worship and yoga.