Shloka 14

Pṛthu Mahārāja’s Renunciation, Austerities, Departure, and the Glory of Hearing His History

Devanagari script

सम्पीड्य पायुं पार्ष्णिभ्यां वायुमुत्सारयञ्छनै: । नाभ्यां कोष्ठेष्ववस्थाप्य हृदुर:कण्ठशीर्षणि ॥ १४ ॥

Transliteration

sampīḍya pāyuṁ pārṣṇibhyāṁ vāyum utsārayañ chanaiḥ nābhyāṁ koṣṭheṣv avasthāpya hṛd-uraḥ-kaṇṭha-śīrṣaṇi

Translation

In a particular yogic sitting posture, Mahārāja Pṛthu blocked the anus with his ankles, pressed his right and left calves, and gradually raised the prāṇa-vāyu upward. He placed it at the navel circle, carried it to the heart and throat, and finally pushed it to the central point between the eyebrows.

Synonyms

• sampīḍya: having pressed
• sampīḍya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-pīḍ (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्), ‘having pressed’

• pāyum: the anus
• pāyum: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāyu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• pārṣṇibhyām: with the two heels
• pārṣṇibhyām: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pārṣṇi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Dual (द्विवचन)

• vāyum: the breath/wind
• vāyum: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāyu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• utsārayan: expelling/forcing upward
• utsārayan: Karta (कर्ता) (as qualifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud-sṛ (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; ‘expelling/raising’

• śanaiḥ: slowly
• śanaiḥ: Sambandha/Avyaya (सम्बन्ध/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: śanaiḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• nābhyām: with/through the two (channels at) navel (i.e., by navel-region control)
• nābhyām: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nābhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Dual (द्विवचन)

• koṣṭheṣu: in the abdominal cavities
• koṣṭheṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: koṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• avasthāpya: having established
• avasthāpya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ava-sthā (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्), ‘having placed/established’

• hṛt-uraḥ-kaṇṭha-śīrṣaṇi: in the heart-chest-throat-head (regions)
• hṛt-uraḥ-kaṇṭha-śīrṣaṇi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hṛd (प्रातिपदिक) + uraḥ (प्रातिपदिक) + kaṇṭha (प्रातिपदिक) + śīrṣan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; द्वन्द्व (samāhāra): ‘in the heart, chest, throat, and head (region)’

Purport

The sitting posture described herein is called muktāsana. In the yoga process, after following the strict regulative principles controlling sleeping, eating and mating, one is allowed to practice the different sitting postures. The ultimate aim of yoga is to enable one to give up this body according to his own free will. One who has attained the ultimate summit of yoga practice can live in the body as long as he likes or, as long as he is not completely perfect, leave the body to go anywhere within or outside the universe. Some yogīs leave their bodies to go to the higher planetary systems and enjoy the material facilities therein. However, intelligent yogīs do not wish to waste their time within this material world at all; they do not care for the material facilities in higher planetary systems, but are interested in going directly to the spiritual sky, back home, back to Godhead.

Characters & Entities

• Pṛthu Mahārāja

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about prāṇāyāma and controlling the life-air?

This verse describes regulated control of prāṇa—gradually directing the vital air upward and fixing it in successive bodily centers—showing the yogic method used for deep meditation and detachment from the body.

Why is Pṛthu Mahārāja described practicing this kind of yoga in Canto 4?

In this chapter Śukadeva explains Pṛthu’s withdrawal from worldly duties and his final spiritual practices; the yogic process illustrates his disciplined renunciation and preparation for liberation.

Practical application of prāṇāyāma and sense-control in modern life according to this shloka?

It emphasizes gradual discipline: regulate habits, steady the breath and mind, and cultivate inner focus—steps that support meditation, self-control, and a more devotional, purposeful life.