Shloka 139

Devanagari script

विषमस्थ: शरीरेषु समश्न प्राणिनामिह । स वायुर्विषमस्थेषु प्राणोडपान: शरीरिषु,वे प्राणियोंके शरीरोंमें विषम संख्यावाले पाँच प्राणोंके साथ निवास करते हुए सदा समभावसे स्थित रहते हैं। विषम परिस्थितियोंमें पड़े हुए समस्त देहधारियोंके भीतर वे ही प्राणवायु और अपानवायुके रूपमें विराजमान हैं

Transliteration

viṣamasthaḥ śarīreṣu samaśn prāṇinām iha | sa vāyur viṣamasthēṣu prāṇo 'pānaḥ śarīriṣu ||

Translation

Vyāsa sprach: In den Körpern der Lebewesen bleibt jener Lebenswind, obgleich er inmitten ungleicher und wechselnder Bedingungen weilt, gleichmäßig im Gleichgewicht. In allen Verkörperten, die in widrige oder unregelmäßige Zustände geraten, leuchtet eben dieselbe Kraft als prāṇa und apāna auf—sie erhält das Leben durch ausgewogenes inneres Wirken, selbst wenn das Äußere aus der Balance geraten ist.

Word by Word

विषमस्थःsituated in unequal/irregular (places/conditions)

शरीरेषुin bodies

समश्नeats/consumes equally; partakes evenly

प्राणिनाम्of living beings

इहhere

सःhe/that (one)

वायुःwind; vital air

विषमस्थेषुin those situated in unequal/irregular conditions

प्राणःprāṇa (in-breath; vital air)

अपानःapāna (down-breath; vital air)

शरीरिषुin embodied beings

Speaker

व्यास उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vyāsa

vāyu (vital wind)

prāṇa

apāna

śarīra (body)

prāṇin (living beings)

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Even when embodied life is marked by inequality, disturbance, or adverse circumstances (viṣama), the vital principle (vāyu) functions with an underlying balance, manifesting as prāṇa and apāna. The ethical-philosophical point is steadiness: inner regulation and equanimity can persist despite outer disorder.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vyāsa is explaining a subtle physiological-spiritual doctrine within the epic discourse: the same life-wind pervades all embodied beings and operates as the fundamental vital motions (prāṇa and apāna), emphasizing a universal principle sustaining life amid the turmoil of the war narrative.