Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 16
योगस्वरूप-धारणा-समाधि-वर्णनम् (केशिध्वजोपदेशः)
प्राणाख्यमवलंबस्थमभ्यासात्कुरुते तु यत् । प्राणायामः स विज्ञेयः सबीजोऽबीज एव च ॥ १६ ॥
prāṇākhyamavalaṃbasthamabhyāsātkurute tu yat | prāṇāyāmaḥ sa vijñeyaḥ sabījo'bīja eva ca || 16 ||
Die Übung, durch die man mittels wiederholter Praxis den Lebenshauch (prāṇa) regelt, während man auf seiner rechten Grundlage ruht, soll als prāṇāyāma erkannt werden; und sie ist zweifach: «mit Samen» (sabīja) und «ohne Samen» (abīja).
Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in Moksha-dharma context)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
It defines prāṇāyāma as a disciplined, repeatable yogic practice for mastering prāṇa, and it frames it as a sādhanā with two meditative modes—supported (sabīja) and supportless (abīja)—aimed toward inner steadiness conducive to mokṣa.
While the verse is primarily yogic, its distinction of sabīja practice naturally accommodates bhakti-oriented supports (such as mantra and the Lord’s form/name) as the ‘seed’ that steadies the mind through regulated breath.
No specific Vedāṅga is taught in this line; instead it highlights practical yoga methodology—systematic repetition (abhyāsa) and technical classification (sabīja/abīja) used in Narada Purana’s mokṣa-dharma instruction.