Shloka 29

Vāyu-jaya (Prāṇa-vijaya) and Yogic Mastery over Time — वायुजय (प्राणविजय) तथा कालजय

Devanagari script

समुन्नतशरीरोऽपि स बद्ध्वा करसंपुटम् । चञ्च्वाकारेण वक्त्रेण पिबन्वायुं शनैश्शनैः

Transliteration

samunnataśarīro'pi sa baddhvā karasaṃpuṭam | cañcvākāreṇa vaktreṇa pibanvāyuṃ śanaiśśanaiḥ

Translation

Keeping his body held upright, he joined his hands into a cupped hollow; then, shaping his mouth like a beak, he slowly and steadily drank in vāyu, the life-breath.

Word by Word

• समुन्नतशरीरः: having an uplifted/raised body
• समुन्नतशरीरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समुन्नत-शरीर (प्रातिपदिक; समुन्नत + शरीर)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (adjectival use)

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात/समुच्चयार्थक (particle; concessive/also/even)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• बद्ध्वा: having bound/closing
• बद्ध्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण; prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: बन्ध् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive, -tvā); पूर्वक्रिया (prior action)

• करसंपुटम्: the hollow/cup of the hands (hand-cavity)
• करसंपुटम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर-संपुट (प्रातिपदिक; कर + संपुट)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• चञ्च्वाकारेण: with a beak-like shape
• चञ्च्वाकारेण: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चञ्चु-आकार (प्रातिपदिक; चञ्चु + आकार)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• वक्त्रेण: with the mouth
• वक्त्रेण: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वक्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• पिबन्: drinking
• पिबन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पा (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (Present active participle/शतृ), परस्मैपदी; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन (agreeing with सः)

• वायुम्: air/breath
• वायुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• शनैः: slowly
• शनैः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शनैः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• शनैः: very slowly/gradually
• शनैः: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शनैः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरुक्ति (reduplication for emphasis)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pashu

Shiva Form: Āghoramūrti

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga narrative; technical yogic instruction (breath-intake) aimed at mastery over prāṇa and hence over mṛtyu’s hold.

Significance: Practice-oriented: emphasizes bodily discipline as a support for inner conquest of fear/death.

Cosmic Context

Cosmic Event: Microcosmic ‘vāyu’ mastery presented as a means to resist Kāla (death/time).

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It depicts disciplined prāṇa-control: the seeker steadies posture and consciously draws in the life-breath, symbolizing inward turning of the senses so the bound soul (paśu) becomes fit to receive Shiva’s liberating grace (Pati-anugraha).

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

In Shaiva practice, outer Linga-worship is supported by inner worship: breath regulation steadies the mind for dhyāna on Saguna Shiva and for recognizing Shiva’s presence within, making pūjā and japa more concentrated and sattvic.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A pranayama-like practice is implied—upright posture, controlled inhalation (slow, steady drawing of vāyu). It can be paired with Panchakshara japa (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) to align breath, mantra, and devotion.