Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 32

योगप्रकारनिर्णयः

Classification and Definition of Yoga

Devanagari script

नाडीविशुद्धिपूर्वं तु प्राणायामं समाचरेत् । अगर्भश्च सगर्भश्च प्राणायामो द्विधा स्मृतः

Transliteration

nāḍīviśuddhipūrvaṃ tu prāṇāyāmaṃ samācaret | agarbhaśca sagarbhaśca prāṇāyāmo dvidhā smṛtaḥ

Translation

Sau khi thanh lọc các nāḍī (kinh mạch vi tế) trước, hành giả mới nên thực hành prāṇāyāma. Prāṇāyāma theo truyền thống được ghi nhớ có hai loại: vô chủng (a-garbha, không có “hạt giống” thần chú) và hữu chủng (sa-garbha, có “hạt giống” thần chú).

Word by Word

• nāḍī-viśuddhi-pūrvam: with nāḍī-purification first
• nāḍī-viśuddhi-pūrvam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nāḍī (प्रातिपदिक) + viśuddhi (प्रातिपदिक) + pūrva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; adverbial accusative; tatpuruṣa: nāḍīnāṃ viśuddhiḥ pūrvā yasya (preceded by purification of nāḍīs)

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), contrast/emphasis

• prāṇāyāmam: prāṇāyāma (breath-control)
• prāṇāyāmam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prāṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + āyāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; tatpuruṣa: prāṇasya āyāmaḥ (extension/regulation of breath)

• samācaret: should practice
• samācaret: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam + ā + car (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्/optative), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

• agarbhaḥ: without ‘garbha’ (without retention/seed)
• agarbhaḥ: Viṣaya/Prakāra (विषय/प्रकार)
• Type: Noun
• Root: a-garbha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)

• sagarbhaḥ: with ‘garbha’ (with retention/seed)
• sagarbhaḥ: Viṣaya/Prakāra (विषय/प्रकार)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sa-garbha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)

• prāṇāyāmaḥ: prāṇāyāma
• prāṇāyāmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prāṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + āyāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• dvidhā: in two ways
• dvidhā: Prakāra (प्रकार)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: dvidhā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (प्रकारवाचक अव्यय)

• smṛtaḥ: is said/considered
• smṛtaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: smṛ (धातु)
• Form: Kta participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; passive sense ‘is considered’

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti

Shakti Dimension

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It places yogic discipline within a Shaiva soteriology: purification of the inner channels prepares the practitioner for steady prāṇa, which supports mantra-japa and Shiva-oriented meditation leading toward liberation (moksha).

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

Sagarbha prāṇāyāma implies breath practice joined with a mantra-seed—classically the Shiva-mantra—so the body-breath becomes an aid to Saguna Shiva worship (japa, dhyāna, and inner linga-bhāvanā), stabilizing devotion and concentration.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

Begin with nāḍī-śuddhi (channel-cleansing) and then practice prāṇāyāma in either a silent form (agarbha) or mantra-linked form (sagarbha), ideally aligned with Shiva-japa such as the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya).