Shloka 76

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

Devanagari script

पातकं धारणाभिस्तु प्रत्याहारेण निर्दहेत् विषयान्विषवद्ध्यात्वा ध्यानेनानीश्वरान् गुणान्

Transliteration

pātakaṃ dhāraṇābhistu pratyāhāreṇa nirdahet viṣayānviṣavaddhyātvā dhyānenānīśvarān guṇān

Translation

以“持念”(dhāraṇā)之摄心，能焚除罪垢；以“摄根”(pratyāhāra)之收摄诸根，能尽烧无余。观诸境如毒，以“禅定”(dhyāna)超越自然(prakṛti)之非主宰诸德(guṇa)，则兽魂(paśu)被引离系缚(pāśa)，趋向主宰(Pati)——湿婆(Śiva)。

Word by Word

• पातकम् (pātakam): sin, demerit

• धारणाभिः (dhāraṇābhiḥ): by concentrations, acts of fixing the mind

• तु (tu): indeed

• प्रत्याहारेण (pratyāhāreṇa): by withdrawal of the senses

• निर्दहेत् (nirdahet): should burn up, should incinerate

• विषयान् (viṣayān): sense-objects

• विषवत् (viṣavat): like poison

• ध्यात्वा (dhyātvā): having contemplated

• ध्यानेन (dhyānena): by meditation

• अनीश्वरान् (anīśvarān): non-lordly, not sovereign (dependent)

• गुणान् (guṇān): qualities (sattva, rajas, tamas), constituents of prakṛti

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shaiva yogic discipline within the Linga Purana’s teaching stream)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It shows that true Linga-upāsanā is completed by inner discipline: sense-withdrawal and meditation that purify pāśa (bondage) and make the mind fit to abide in Śiva as Pati.

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

Śiva is implied as the Īśvara (sovereign) beyond the dependent guṇas of prakṛti; meditation that transcends “anīśvara guṇas” turns the paśu away from nature-bound states toward Śiva-tattva.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Aṣṭāṅga-oriented Shaiva practice: dhāraṇā and pratyāhāra for purification, and dhyāna that treats sense-objects as poison and rises beyond the guṇas—key to Pāśupata-style liberation.