Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 26

Devanagari script

एवं संसाध्य नियमान्संयमांश्च विचक्षणः । प्राणायामाय संदध्यान्नान्यथा योगसाधकः

Transliteration

evaṃ saṃsādhya niyamānsaṃyamāṃśca vicakṣaṇaḥ | prāṇāyāmāya saṃdadhyānnānyathā yogasādhakaḥ

Translation

Thus, having properly accomplished the niyamas and restraints, the discerning seeker should apply himself to prāṇāyāma—there is no other way for one who would accomplish yoga.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus, in this manner
• एवम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (adverb of manner)

• संसाध्य: having accomplished
• संसाध्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + साध् (धातु) → संसाध्य (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); पूर्वकालिक-क्रिया (having accomplished)

• नियमान्: observances, restraints (niyamas)
• नियमान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नियम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), बहुवचन

• संयमान्: controls, disciplines (saṃyamas)
• संयमान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संयम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

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

• विचक्षणः: a discerning person
• विचक्षणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विचक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्तृपदम्

• प्राणायामाय: for prāṇāyāma (breath-control)
• प्राणायामाय: Sampradāna (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राण + आयाम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th case), एकवचन; सम्प्रदान (dative: for the sake of)

• संदध्यात्: should apply/engage (himself)
• संदध्यात्: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + धा (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध (negation particle)

• अन्यथा: otherwise
• अन्यथा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारान्तरवाचक (adverb: otherwise)

• योगसाधकः: a practitioner of yoga
• योगसाधकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग + साधक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘योगं साधयति’ इति (agent noun)

Speaker

Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) (deduced from Māheśvarakhaṇḍa narrative style)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A practitioner in a clean hermitage performs seated breath practice, but the foreground shows symbols of niyama: water pot (śauca), simple food (mitāhāra), scripture (svādhyāya), and a guru’s staff indicating guidance.

Characters & Entities

• Prāṇāyāma

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Prāṇāyāma should be undertaken only after establishing yama and niyama; ethical discipline is the gateway to yoga.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No site is mentioned; this is a practice-oriented instruction within purāṇic dharma.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

It prescribes prāṇāyāma as the next step, contingent upon prior completion of restraints and observances.