Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 32

Devanagari script

पद्माख्यमासनं कृत्वा रेचकं पूरकं तथा । कुंभकं च सुखासीनः प्राणायामं त्रिधाऽभ्यसेत्

Transliteration

padmākhyamāsanaṃ kṛtvā recakaṃ pūrakaṃ tathā | kuṃbhakaṃ ca sukhāsīnaḥ prāṇāyāmaṃ tridhā'bhyaset

Translation

Nachdem man die Asana namens Padma (Lotus) eingenommen hat und bequem sitzt, soll man Prāṇāyāma dreifach üben: Recaka (Ausatmung), Pūraka (Einatmung) und Kumbhaka (Atemhalten).

Word by Word

• पद्म: lotus
• पद्म: Sambandha (Name-element/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, समासपूर्वपद; एकवचन-प्रातिपदिक (stem form in compound)

• आख्यम्: called ‘padma’
• आख्यम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—पद्म-आख्य (named ‘padma’)

• आसनम्: posture/seat
• आसनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कृत्वा: having done/made
• कृत्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कृत्वा (कृदन्त, त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive)

• रेचकम्: exhalation (recaka)
• रेचकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रेचक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• पूरकम्: inhalation (pūraka)
• पूरकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूरक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तथा: likewise/also
• तथा: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय/प्रकारवाचक (adverb: ‘also/likewise’)

• कुंभकम्: retention (kumbhaka)
• कुंभकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुंभक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

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

• सुखासीनः: sitting comfortably
• सुखासीनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुख + आसीन (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (सुखः आसीनः = comfortably seated)

• प्राणायामम्: prāṇāyāma
• प्राणायामम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राण + आयाम (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः

• त्रिधा: in three ways
• त्रिधा: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: त्रिधा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारवाचक (adverb: ‘in three ways’)

• अभ्यसेत्: should practice
• अभ्यसेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + अस् (धातु) (अभ्यस्-धात्वादेशः)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) (deduced)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A yogin in perfect padmāsana on a kusa mat, with three subtle breath-arcs: outward (recaka), inward (pūraka), and a still circle at the heart/nostrils (kumbhaka); calm shrine ambience.

Characters & Entities

• Padmāsana
• Recaka
• Pūraka
• Kumbhaka

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Correct posture and calm steadiness support the threefold regulation of breath, forming a disciplined path of inner purification.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No sacred place is referenced; the verse is practical yoga instruction.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Practise prāṇāyāma seated in padmāsana, using recaka (exhale), pūraka (inhale), and kumbhaka (retain).