Yogic zones (aṣṭāṅgayoga-nirūpaṇa) - Verse 31
Linga Purana (GRETIL / Wisdomlib) · 1 · Verse 8.31
Sanskrit Original
जपः शिवप्रणीधानं पद्मकाद्यं तथासनम। बाह्यमाभ्यन्तरं प्रोक्तं शौचमाभ्यन्तरं वरम।।
japaḥ śivapraṇīdhānaṃ padmakādyaṃ tathāsanam| bāhyamābhyantaraṃ proktaṃ śaucamābhyantaraṃ varam||
Sūta said: Thus the restraints (yamas) are succinctly mentioned. I shall now tell you the observances (niyamas). They are ten in number: (1) cleanliness (śauca), (2) sacrifice (ijyā), (3) penance (tapas), (4) charitable gift (dāna), (5) study of the Vedas (svādhyāya) (6) restraint on the organs of generation (upasthanigraha), (7) holy rites (vrata), (8) fast (upavāsa), silence (mauna), and holy bath (snāna). According to some, observances (niyama) mean (1) absence of craving (anīhā), (2) cleanliness (śauca), (3) satisfaction (tuṣṭi), (4) penance (tapas), (5) muttering of Śiva’s mantra (japa), (6) meditation on Śiva and (7) postures such as padmaka. Of these cleanliness is twofold: (1) external and (2) internal. Of the two the internal is superior to the external.