Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 16

Anadhyaya and the Winds: From Vedic Recitation Protocol to Sanatkumara’s Moksha-Upadesha

Devanagari script

पृथक्क्र्म्माणि तेषां तु प्रवक्ष्यामि यथा तथा । प्राणिनां सर्वतो वायुश्चेष्टा वर्तयते पृथक् ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

pṛthakkrmmāṇi teṣāṃ tu pravakṣyāmi yathā tathā | prāṇināṃ sarvato vāyuśceṣṭā vartayate pṛthak || 16 ||

Translation

Nun werde ich der Reihe nach die unterschiedlichen Funktionen jener (Lebenswinde) darlegen. In den Lebewesen setzt der allgegenwärtige Vāyu jede Tätigkeit jeweils gesondert in Bewegung.

Word by Word

• पृथक्: separately
• पृथक्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पृथक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: separately)

• कर्माणि: functions/actions
• कर्माणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Nom/Acc), बहुवचन

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, बहुवचन, सर्वनाम

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), विरोध/विशेष (but/indeed)

• प्रवक्ष्यामि: I shall explain
• प्रवक्ष्यामि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), उत्तम-पुरुष (1st person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद; उपसर्ग ‘प्र’

• यथा: as
• यथा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमान/प्रकार (as/in the manner)

• तथा: so/likewise
• तथा: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार (so/likewise)

• प्राणिनाम्: of living beings
• प्राणिनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राणिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (collective), षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• सर्वतः: from all sides/everywhere
• सर्वतः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देश/दिक्-अर्थ (from all sides/everywhere)

• वायुः: wind/air
• वायुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• चेष्टा: activity/motion
• चेष्टा: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चेष्टा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वर्तयते: causes to function/sets in motion
• वर्तयते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृत् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, आत्मनेपद; णिजन्त (causative sense: ‘causes to proceed/maintains’)

• पृथक्: separately
• पृथक्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पृथक् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (separately)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in Moksha Dharma context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Vayu
• Prana

FAQs

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

It frames Vāyu (prāṇa) as the inner regulator of all embodied activity, preparing the listener for a Moksha-oriented teaching: by understanding and refining prāṇic functions, one steadies the body-mind and supports liberation-focused practice.

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

While not directly naming Vishnu-bhakti, it supports devotion indirectly: disciplined prāṇa and regulated activity help stabilize attention, making japa, smaraṇa, and worship steadier—key supports for sustained bhakti in Narada Purana practice.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

The verse highlights a technical, yoga-aligned analysis of bodily functions (ceṣṭā) driven by vāyu/prāṇa—useful as applied spiritual physiology for sādhana; it aligns with systematic instruction rather than ritual detail, and can complement disciplined recitation and practice.