Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 10

ध्यानप्रकारनिर्णयः / Determination of the Modes of Meditation

on Śrīkaṇṭha-Śiva

Devanagari script

अंते निर्विषयं कुर्यान्निर्बीजं सर्वसिद्धये । प्राणायामेन सिध्यंति देव्याः शांत्यादयः क्रमात्

Transliteration

aṃte nirviṣayaṃ kuryānnirbījaṃ sarvasiddhaye | prāṇāyāmena sidhyaṃti devyāḥ śāṃtyādayaḥ kramāt

Translation

最终，应令心归于无所缘境，并修无种三昧（nirbīja），以成就一切灵性圆满。由调息（prāṇāyāma）之力，诸天圣成就——先从内在寂安起——依次渐渐圆成。

Word by Word

• ante: at the end
• ante: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: anta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Locative singular used adverbially (सप्तमी-एकवचन)

• nir-viṣayam: objectless (meditation)
• nir-viṣayam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nir (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + viṣaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; ‘free from object’

• kuryāt: should do/make
• kuryāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Optative (विधिलिङ्), Parasmaipada; 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• nir-bījam: seedless
• nir-bījam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nir (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + bīja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; agrees with (dhyānam implied); ‘seedless’

• sarva-siddhaye: for complete success/attainments
• sarva-siddhaye: Sampradāna/Prayojana (सम्प्रदान/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + siddhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular; ‘for all attainments’

• prāṇāyāmena: by prāṇāyāma
• prāṇāyāmena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prāṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + āyāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; ‘by breath-control’

• sidhyanti: are accomplished
• sidhyanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sidh (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), Parasmaipada; 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

• devyāḥ: (the) goddesses/powers
• devyāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: devī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (Vedic/epic variant for devyaḥ)

• śānti-ādayaḥ: peace etc.
• śānti-ādayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śānti (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; ‘peace and the rest’ (ādayaḥ as ‘etc.’)

• kramāt: in sequence
• kramāt: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: krama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular; adverbial use ‘in order’

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Vāyavīya teaching to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Sadāśiva

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It presents a Shaiva-yogic progression: purification through prāṇāyāma culminates in nirviṣaya awareness and nirbīja absorption, where the soul becomes fit for Shiva’s grace and liberation, with peace (śānti) arising first and higher perfections following in order.

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

In Shaiva practice, devotion to Saguna Shiva (such as Linga worship with mantra) steadies the mind; this verse points to the contemplative culmination where supports fall away (nirbīja), leading from form-supported worship to inward, objectless absorption oriented to Pati (Shiva).

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It recommends prāṇāyāma as a disciplined meditation aid, leading step-by-step to mental objectlessness and seedless samādhi; it implies steady breath regulation alongside Shaiva japa/inner contemplation rather than external ritual alone.