Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 26

Jīva–Ātman Inquiry; Kṣetrajña Doctrine; Karma-based Varṇa; Four Āśramas and Sannyāsa Discipline

Devanagari script

वायुसंधारणो ह्यग्निर्नश्यत्युच्छ्वासनिग्रहात् । तस्मिन्नष्टे शरीराग्नौ ततो देहमचेतनम् ॥ २६ ॥

Transliteration

vāyusaṃdhāraṇo hyagnirnaśyatyucchvāsanigrahāt | tasminnaṣṭe śarīrāgnau tato dehamacetanam || 26 ||

Translation

Das Körperfeuer (die Verdauungskraft) wird vom Lebenswind getragen; doch es erlischt, wenn der Ausatem gewaltsam zurückgehalten wird. Ist dieses Körperfeuer erloschen, wird der Leib danach bewusstlos, ohne Empfindung.

Word by Word

• vāyu-saṃdhāraṇaḥ: (one) that sustains air
• vāyu-saṃdhāraṇaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण/adjective of agniḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vāyu + saṃdhāraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (singular); समासः—तत्पुरुष (वायोः संधारणः = vāyu-saṃdhāraṇaḥ)

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अवधारणार्थ (indeed)

• agniḥ: fire
• agniḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: agni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• naśyati: perishes
• naśyati: Kriya (क्रिया/verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: naś (नश् धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada)

• ucchvāsa-nigrahāt: from restraint of exhalation
• ucchvāsa-nigrahāt: Hetu (हेतु/कारण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ucchvāsa + nigraha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), पञ्चमी विभक्ति (Ablative/5th), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (उच्छ्वासस्य निग्रहः)

• tasmin: when/wherein that (fire)
• tasmin: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसक (m/n), सप्तमी विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन (singular)

• naṣṭe: having perished/when destroyed
• naṣṭe: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण of tasmin)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: naṣṭa (नश् धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय/कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), सप्तमी विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन; पुं/नपुंसक (agreeing with tasmin)

• śarīra-agnau: in the bodily fire
• śarīra-agnau: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śarīra + agni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (शरीरस्य अग्निः)

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb), क्रम/परिणामार्थ (thereupon/then)

• deham: the body
• deham: Karma (कर्म/object; implied ‘(becomes)’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• acetanam: insentient
• acetanam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण of deham)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: acetaná (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; देहम् इति विशेष्यस्य विशेषणम्

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in Moksha-dharma context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

FAQs

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

It teaches that prāṇa (vital air) supports the body’s inner fire and thus the functioning of embodied life; reckless breath-restraint can collapse vitality, so yogic practice must preserve the body as an instrument for mokṣa.

How does this verse explain the path of devotion (Bhakti)?

By warning against harmful austerities, it implies that sādhana should be sattvic and sustainable so one can continue nāma-smaraṇa and worship; devotion is supported by a healthy, steady life-force rather than extreme self-injury.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

While not a direct Vedāṅga lesson, it reflects applied yogic physiology used in Dharma/Moksha teachings—guiding disciplined breath practice (prāṇāyāma) with awareness of agni and bodily stability.