Shiva Purana (Books 1 & 7)

इदानीं श्रोतुमिच्छामि योगं परमदुर्लभम् साधिकारं च सांगं च सविधिं सप्रयोजनम्

Now I wish to hear about yoga, which is exceedingly rare, along with its prerequisites, limbs, procedures, and purpose.

यद्यस्ति मरणं पूर्वं योगाद्यनुपमर्दतः सद्यः साधयितुं शक्यं येन स्यान्नात्महा नरः

If death occurs before yoga is accomplished, is there a means by which a man may attain it immediately, without self-destruction?

तच्च तत्कारणं चैव तत्कालकरणानि च तद्भेदतारतम्यं च वक्तुमर्हसि तत्त्वतः

You should explain that, its causes, the times and means of its occurrence, and the gradations and distinctions thereof, in truth.

स्थाने पृष्टं त्वया कृष्ण सर्वप्रश्नार्थवेदिना ततः क्रमेण तत्सर्वं वक्ष्ये शृणु समाहितः

You have rightly asked, O Krishna, as one who knows the meaning of all questions. Therefore, I will explain all this to you in order—listen attentively.

निरुद्धवृत्त्यंतरस्यं शिवे चित्तस्य निश्चला या वृत्तिः स समासेन योगः स खलु पञ्चधा

When the movements of the mind are restrained and the mind becomes motionless within Shiva, that state, in brief, is called yoga, which is indeed of five kinds.

मंत्रयोगःस्पर्शयोगो भावयोगस्तथापरः अभावयोगस्सर्वेभ्यो महायोगः परो मतः

Mantra-yoga, sparsha-yoga, bhava-yoga, and another called abhava-yoga—among them, the supreme is considered to be the great yoga.

मंत्राभ्यासवशेनैव मंत्रवाच्यार्थगोचरः अव्याक्षेपा मनोवृत्तिर्मंत्रयोग उदाहृतः

When, by the practice of mantra, the mind's activity is undistracted and focused on the meaning indicated by the mantra, that is called mantra-yoga.

प्राणायाममुखा सैव स्पर्शे योगोभिधीयते स मंत्रस्पर्शनिर्मुक्तो भावयोगः प्रकीर्तितः

That same yoga, beginning with breath control, is called sparsha-yoga; when freed from mantra and touch, it is known as bhava-yoga.

विलीनावयवं विश्वं रूपं संभाव्यते यतः अभावयोगः संप्रोक्तो ऽनाभासाद्वस्तुनः सतः

When the entire universe, with all its parts, is conceived as dissolved, that is called abhava-yoga, pertaining to the reality that is without appearance.

शिवस्वभाव एवैकश्चिंत्यते निरुपाधिकः यथा शैवमनोवृत्तिर्महायोग इहोच्यते

When only the essential nature of Shiva, without any attributes, is contemplated, then the movement of the mind is said to be Shaiva, and this is called the great yoga here.

दृष्टे तथानुश्रविके विरक्तं विषये मनः यस्य तस्याधिकारोस्ति योगे नान्यस्य कस्यचित्

Only the one whose mind is detached from both what is seen and what is heard has the qualification for yoga, and no one else.

विषयद्वयदोषाणां गुणानामीश्वरस्य च दर्शनादेव सततं विरक्तं जायते मनः

By constantly perceiving the faults of both objects of sense and their qualities, as well as of the Lord, the mind becomes detached.

अष्टांगो वा षडंगो वा सर्वयोगः समासतः यमश्च नियमश्चैव स्वस्तिकाद्यं तथासनम्

All yoga, in summary, is either eightfold or sixfold: yama, niyama, and posture beginning with svastika, and so on.

प्राणायामः प्रत्याहारो धारणा ध्यानमेव च समाधिरिति योगांगान्यष्टावुक्तानि सूरिभिः

Breath control, withdrawal of the senses, concentration, meditation, and absorption—these eight limbs of yoga are declared by the wise.

आसनं प्राणसंरोधः प्रत्याहारोथ धारणा ध्यानं समाधिर्योगस्य षडंगानि समासतः

Posture, restraint of breath, withdrawal of the senses, concentration, meditation, and absorption—these are, in summary, the six limbs of yoga.

पृथग्लक्षणमेतेषां शिवशास्त्रे समीरितम् शिवागमेषु चान्येषु विशेषात्कामिकादिषु

The distinct characteristics of these have been taught in the Shiva scriptures, and also in other Shaiva texts, especially in the Kamika and similar Agamas.

योगशास्त्रेष्वपि तथा पुराणेष्वपि केषु च अहिंसा सत्यमस्तेयं ब्रह्मचर्यापरिग्रहः यम इत्युच्यते सद्भिः पञ्चावयवयोगतः

Likewise, in the yoga scriptures and in some Purāṇas, non-violence, truthfulness, non-stealing, celibacy, and non-possessiveness—these five, in their respective forms, are called yama by the virtuous.

शौचं तुष्टिस्तपश्चैव जपः प्रणिधिरेव च इति पञ्चप्रभेदस्स्यान्नियमः स्वांशभेदतः

Purity, contentment, austerity, recitation, and devotion—these five, in their own divisions, are said to be niyama.

स्वस्तिकं पद्ममध्येंदुं वीरं योगं प्रसाधितम् पर्यंकं च यथेष्टं च प्रोक्तमासनमष्टधा

Svastika, lotus, half-moon, hero, accomplished yoga, paryanka, and as desired—these eight are said to be the postures.

प्राणः स्वदेहजो वायुस्तस्यायामो निरोधनम् तद्रोचकं पूरकं च कुंभकं च त्रिधोच्यते

The breath, which arises in one's own body, its regulation is called restraint. That is said to be of three kinds: shining (rocaka), filling (puraka), and retention (kumbhaka).

नासिकापुटमंगुल्या पीड्यैकमपरेण तु औदरं रेचयेद्वायुं तथायं रेचकः स्मृतः

By pressing one nostril with a finger, and then exhaling the air from the belly through the other, this is known as recaka (exhalation).

बाह्येन मरुता देहं दृतिवत्परिपूरयेत् नासापुटेनापरेण पूरणात्पूरकं मतम्

With the external breath, one should fill the body firmly; through the other nostril, after the inhalation, what is called pūraka is accomplished.

न मुंचति न गृह्णाति वायुमंतर्बहिः स्थितम् संपूर्णं कुंभवत्तिष्ठेदचलः स तु कुंभक

He neither releases nor draws in the air, which remains within and without; staying full like a pot, unmoving—this is called kumbhaka.

रेचकाद्यं त्रयमिदं न द्रुतं न विलंबितम् तद्यतः क्रमयोगेन त्वभ्यसेद्योगसाधकः

This triad, beginning with recaka, should be neither hasty nor delayed; thus, by gradual practice, the yogin should train.

रेचकादिषु योभ्यासो नाडीशोधनपूर्वकः स्वेच्छोत्क्रमणपर्यंतः प्रोक्तो योगानुशासने

Practice in recaka and the others is preceded by purification of the channels, and continues up to the limit of one's own will, as taught in the discipline of yoga.

कन्यकादिक्रमवशात्प्राणायामनिरोधनम् तच्चतुर्धोपदिष्टं स्यान्मात्रागुणविभागतः

According to the sequence beginning with kanyaka, the restraint of breath is taught in four ways, distinguished by the measure and quality.

कन्यकस्तु चतुर्धा स्यात्स च द्वादशमात्रकः मध्यमस्तु द्विरुद्धातश्चतुर्विंशतिमात्रकः

Kanyaka is fourfold and consists of twelve measures; madhyama is twice restrained and consists of twenty-four measures.

उत्तमस्तु त्रिरुद्धातः षड्विंशन्मात्रकः परः स्वेदकंपादिजनकः प्राणायामस्तदुत्तरः

Uttama is restrained three times and consists of twenty-six measures; the highest, following that, is the prāṇāyāma which produces sweating, trembling, and other effects.

आनंदोद्भवरोमांचनेत्राश्रूणां विमोचनम् जल्पभ्रमणमूर्छाद्यं जायते योगिनः परम्

Joy, hair standing on end, release of tears from the eyes, babbling, dizziness, fainting, and other states arise in the supreme yogin.