Shloka 100

Adhyaya 8: Yogasthanas, Ashtanga Yoga, Pranayama-Siddhi, and Shiva-Dhyana leading to Samadhi

Devanagari script

वज्रकोटिप्रभे स्थाने पद्मरागनिभे ऽपि वा नीललोहितबिम्बे वा योगी ध्यानं समभ्यसेत्

Transliteration

vajrakoṭiprabhe sthāne padmarāganibhe 'pi vā nīlalohitabimbe vā yogī dhyānaṃ samabhyaset

Translation

瑜伽行者当恒常修习禅观——或于处所炽耀如亿万金刚之光，或于虚空宛若红宝(padmarāga)之辉，或观尼罗罗希多(Nīlalohita)之圣相——使缚兽(paśu)内转其心，归向超越一切缚索(pāśa)之主宰Pati。

Word by Word

• वज्र-कोटि-प्रभे: shining like millions of vajras (diamond/thunderbolt splendor)

• स्थाने: in a place/region

• पद्मराग-निभे: resembling padmarāga (ruby)

• अपि वा: or else/even

• नील-लोहित-बिम्बे: in the image/form (bimba) of Nīlalohita (the blue-red form of Śiva)

• वा: or

• योगी: the yogin

• ध्यानम्: meditation/contemplation

• समभ्यसेत्: should practice diligently/should cultivate repeatedly

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva’s dhyāna-vidhi within the Purva-Bhaga teaching sequence)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Nīlalohita)

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It shifts worship from outer form alone to inner realization: the devotee visualizes Śiva’s radiance (jyotis) or Śiva’s form (Nīlalohita) so the liṅga becomes a support for focused, liberating contemplation.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

Śiva is indicated as pure effulgence beyond material limitation—experienced as vajra-like brilliance or ruby-like glow—yet also approachable as a compassionate, meditational form (Nīlalohita), the Pati who releases the paśu from pāśa.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A dhyāna-vidhi aligned with Pāśupata orientation: repeated, steady meditation (abhyāsa) using luminous space-visualization or the Nīlalohita icon as the chosen support (ālambana).