Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 43

Devanagari script

यथा तोयार्थिनस्तोयं पत्रनालादिभिः शनैः । आपिबेयुस्तथा वायुं योगी नयति साधितम्

Transliteration

yathā toyārthinastoyaṃ patranālādibhiḥ śanaiḥ | āpibeyustathā vāyuṃ yogī nayati sādhitam

Translation

Wie jene, die Wasser suchen, es langsam durch Blattröhrchen und dergleichen schlürfen, so lenkt der Yogi, nachdem er die Methode gemeistert hat, sanft den Lebenshauch (Prāṇa/Vāyu) und nimmt ihn in sich auf.

Word by Word

• यथा: just as
• यथा: Kriya-visheshana (Correlative/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमान/प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय

• तोय-अर्थिनः: those desiring water
• तोय-अर्थिनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तोय (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (तोयम् अर्थयते इति/तोयस्य अर्थी); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• तोयम्: water
• तोयम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तोय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• पत्र-नाल-आदिभिः: with leaves, tubes, and the like
• पत्र-नाल-आदिभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + नाल (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समाहार/इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व-समास (पत्रनालादि-समूह); पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक-सम्भव, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; करणवाचक

• शनैः: slowly
• शनैः: Kriya-visheshana (Manner/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शनैः (अव्यय)
• Form: रीत्यर्थक-अव्यय (adverb: slowly, gradually)

• आपिबेयुः: would/should drink
• आपिबेयुः: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + पा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Kriya-visheshana (Correlative/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: तदनुरूप-अव्यय (so, likewise)

• वायुम्: air, breath
• वायुम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• योगी: the yogin
• योगी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• नयति: leads, directs
• नयति: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नी (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• साधितम्: mastered, controlled
• साधितम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: साध् (धातु) → साधित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय (past participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘वायुम्’ इति विशेषणम्

Speaker

Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) to the sages (deduced)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A yogin beside a small water vessel; a seeker sips water through a leaf-tube, paralleled by the yogin’s subtle inhalation shown as a fine stream of air; emphasis on gentleness and precision.

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Breath mastery is attained through gentle, gradual control—never by force—like slowly sipping water.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No tīrtha is referenced; the verse is a technical metaphor for yogic practice.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

The practical rule is slow, measured regulation of vāyu (breath), indicating a non-violent pranayama approach.