Shloka 28

Brahma-vidyā through Yoga: Restraint, Pranava Japa, and Samādhi leading to Mokṣa

Devanagari script

प्राणायामैर्द्वादशभिर्यावत्कालःकृतो भवेत् / यस्तावत्कालपर्यन्तं मनो ब्रह्मणि धारयेत्

Transliteration

prāṇāyāmairdvādaśabhiryāvatkālaḥkṛto bhavet / yastāvatkālaparyantaṃ mano brahmaṇi dhārayet

Translation

إذا اكتمل مقدار الزمن المساوي لاثني عشر دورةٍ من ضبط النَّفَس (prāṇāyāma)، فعلى المرء طوال ذلك المقدار نفسه أن يثبت الذهن في البراهمان (Brahman)، الحقيقة العليا.

Word by Word

• prāṇāyāmaiḥ: by (means of) prāṇāyāmas
• prāṇāyāmaiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prāṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + āyāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; प्राण-आयामः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष); करण

• dvādaśabhiḥ: with twelve
• dvādaśabhiḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dvādaśa (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन; संख्याविशेषण (प्राणायामैः)

• yāvat: as long as
• yāvat: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yāvat (अव्यय)
• Form: परिमाण/अवधि-अव्यय (correlative: as long as)

• kālaḥ: time/period
• kālaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्ता

• kṛtaḥ: is made/constituted
• kṛtaḥ: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (कृ, धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विधेय (कृतः = made/formed)

• bhavet: should be/become
• bhavet: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (भू, धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• yaḥ: who (he)
• yaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध-सर्वनाम; कर्ता

• tāvat: for that long
• tāvat: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tāvat (अव्यय)
• Form: परिमाण-अव्यय (correlative: that long/so much)

• kāla-paryantam: up to that time/for that duration
• kāla-paryantam: Kriya-vishesana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kāla (प्रातिपदिक) + paryanta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; द्वितीया-एकवचनरूपेण अव्ययवत् (up to the time/for the duration)

• manaḥ: the mind
• manaḥ: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्म

• brahmaṇi: in Brahman
• brahmaṇi: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन; अधिकरण

• dhārayet: should hold/fix (the mind)
• dhārayet: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dhṛ (धृ, धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: After completing a regulated unit of prāṇāyāma (twelve cycles), maintain dhāraṇā—holding mind in Brahman—for the same duration.

Vedantic Theme: Upāsanā leading to steadiness (citta-eka-gratā) as proximate aid to brahma-jñāna; breath as a bridge from gross to subtle.

Application: Structure practice: 12 measured prāṇāyāmas, then equal-time silent fixation on Brahman (or Viṣṇu as Brahman); track duration gently without strain; end with quiet rest.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.235.24-25 (Oṁ/Viṣṇu mantra as supports); Garuda Purana 1.235.26-27 (pratyāhāra prerequisite)

Characters & Entities

• Brahman

FAQs

What is the importance of pranayama in the Garuda Purana?

This verse links regulated breath (prāṇāyāma) with steadiness of mind, prescribing that the practitioner use the measured duration created by breath-control to maintain absorption in Brahman—supporting inner purification and liberation-oriented focus.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By emphasizing Brahman-concentration sustained through disciplined practice, the verse points to a liberation (moksha) approach: stabilizing consciousness in the Absolute rather than remaining bound to restless mental movements that sustain rebirth.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Do a short, consistent routine: complete a set of measured breaths (e.g., 12 calm cycles) and then keep attention steady on a sacred Absolute-focused contemplation (Brahman/Om) for the same length of time.