Shloka 59

न्यासवर्णनम् (Nyāsa-varṇanam) — Description of Nyāsa in the Saṃnyāsa Procedure

Devanagari script

एकाग्रमानसो योगी विमृश्यात्तां च मातृकाम् । पुटितां प्रणवेनाथ न्यसेद्बाह्ये च मातृकाम्

Transliteration

ekāgramānaso yogī vimṛśyāttāṃ ca mātṛkām | puṭitāṃ praṇavenātha nyasedbāhye ca mātṛkām

Translation

瑜伽行者当以一境之心观照彼“母字”(Mātṛkā)，即圣字之母体。继而以“普罗那瓦”(Pranava，Oṁ)将其包裹，并以相应的安置法（nyāsa）亦将此母字外置。

Word by Word

• एकाग्रमानसः: single-pointed in mind
• एकाग्रमानसः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एकाग्र (प्रातिपदिक) + मानस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः—‘एकाग्रं मानसं यस्य’/‘एकाग्रं मानसम्’ (single-pointed mind)

• योगी: the yogin
• योगी: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• विमृश्यात्: should contemplate
• विमृश्यात्: क्रिया (Action/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-√मृश् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘should contemplate/examine’

• ताम्: that (her/it)
• ताम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• मातृकाम्: the mātṛkā (letters/energy)
• मातृकाम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; ‘mātṛkā’ (letters/ मातृका-शक्ति)

• पुटिताम्: enclosed/encased
• पुटिताम्: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पुटित (कृदन्त, √पुट्/√पुटि?; ‘enclosed/covered’)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त—‘wrapped/enclosed’; विशेषण (qualifying ‘मातृकाम्’)

• प्रणवेन: by the praṇava (Oṃ)
• प्रणवेन: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रणव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; करणार्थे

• अथ: then
• अथ: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनन्तरार्थक/आरम्भसूचक (then/now)

• न्यसेत्: should place (perform nyāsa)
• न्यसेत्: क्रिया (Action/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-√अस्/√न्यस् (धातु; ‘to place’, denominative usage in tantra)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘should place/perform nyāsa’

• बाह्ये: externally/outside
• बाह्ये: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाह्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन; ‘externally/outside’ (as locus)

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• मातृकाम्: the mātṛkā
• मातृकाम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Shiva

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Shiva Form: Īśāna

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: Oṃ (praṇava)

Type: gayatri

Shakti Dimension

Shakti Form: Lalitā

Role: teaching

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It teaches that mantra is not merely recited but internalized: the yogin contemplates the divine power of sound (Mātṛkā) and seals it with Oṁ, integrating consciousness, speech, and body toward Śiva-realization (Pati) beyond bondage (pāśa).

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

Nyāsa prepares the practitioner as a fit vessel for Saguna worship—making the body a sacred field for Śiva’s presence—so that external worship (including Linga-pūjā) is supported by inner mantra-śakti and focused awareness.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A mantra-based nyāsa practice: meditate on the Mātṛkā (letters), ‘enclose’ it with the Pranava (Oṁ), and then perform external placement/assignment (bāhya-nyāsa) on the body as part of Shaiva mantra-sādhanā.