Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 8

Dīkṣā, Mantra-Types, Mantra-Doṣas, and Qualifications of Ācārya–Śiṣya

Devanagari script

बोधमायांति चाग्नेयाः श्वसने पिंगलाश्रिते । सौम्याश्चैव प्रबुध्यंते वामे वहति मारुतेः ॥ ८ ॥

Transliteration

bodhamāyāṃti cāgneyāḥ śvasane piṃgalāśrite | saumyāścaiva prabudhyaṃte vāme vahati māruteḥ || 8 ||

Translation

Wenn der Atem durch den Piṅgalā-Kanal strömt, erwachen die feurigen (āgneya) Strömungen; und wenn der Prāṇa links fließt, werden die sanften, mondhaften (saumya) Strömungen erweckt.

Word by Word

• बोधम्: awakening/awareness
• बोधम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बोध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• आयान्ति: come/attain
• आयान्ति: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-या (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• आग्नेयाः: Agni-type (fiery)
• आग्नेयाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आग्नेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (those of Agni/fire-type)

• श्वसने: in the breath
• श्वसने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्वसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• पिङ्गल-आश्रिते: situated in Piṅgalā
• पिङ्गल-आश्रिते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पिङ्गल (प्रातिपदिक) + आश्रित (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (सप्तमी/अधिकरण-सम्बन्ध), ‘पिङ्गलायाम् आश्रिते’ (located in Piṅgalā nāḍī)

• सौम्याः: Saumya-type (lunar)
• सौम्याः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सौम्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारण (emphatic particle)

• प्रबुध्यन्ते: awaken
• प्रबुध्यन्ते: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-बुध् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• वामे: on the left
• वामे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वाम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; दिशाविशेषण (on the left)

• वहति: flows/blows
• वहति: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वह् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• मारुतेः: of the wind (prāṇa)
• मारुतेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मारुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada within the Vedāṅga/technical instruction section)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Agni
• Marut (Vayu/Prana)
• Pingala
• Ida (implied by 'vāme')

FAQs

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

It links inner spiritual states to the direction of prāṇa: right-channel (Piṅgalā) flow intensifies heat and dynamism, while left-side flow supports calm, cooling, and sattvic steadiness—useful for disciplined practice and self-knowledge.

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

Though technical, it supports bhakti-sādhana by showing how regulating breath and balancing inner energies can stabilize the mind, making japa, kīrtana, and remembrance of the Lord more focused and undistracted.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

A technical (śāstra) insight aligned with Vedāṅga-style instruction: observation of breath flow and nāḍī dominance (left/right) and its effects on bodily heat/coolness and mental readiness—applied in pranayama and disciplined daily practice.