Shloka 39

Devanagari script

एकं भद्रासनादीनां समास्थाय गुणैर् युतः यमाख्यैर् नियमाख्यैश् च युञ्जीत नियतो यतिः

Transliteration

ekaṃ bhadrāsanādīnāṃ samāsthāya guṇair yutaḥ yamākhyair niyamākhyaiś ca yuñjīta niyato yatiḥ

Translation

Having firmly assumed one posture—such as bhadrāsana and the like—endowed with the virtues called yama and niyama, the disciplined ascetic should apply himself to Yoga with unwavering restraint.

Word by Word

• एकम्: one (single)
• एकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (आसनम् अध्याहृतम्)

• भद्रासनादीनाम्: of (postures) such as bhadrāsana
• भद्रासनादीनाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भद्रासन+आदि (प्रातिपदिक); समासः: भद्रासन + आदि
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन; 'आदि' अन्तसमासः

• समास्थाय: having assumed (taken)
• समास्थाय: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+आ+स्था (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभावकृदन्त (gerund), अव्यय

• गुणैः: with qualities
• गुणैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन

• युतः: endowed (with)
• युतः: Karta (Subject-qualifier/कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (यतिः)

• यमाख्यैः: called yamas
• यमाख्यैः: Karana (Instrument-qualifier/करणविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यम+आख्य (प्रातिपदिक); समासः: यम + आख्य
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (गुणैः)

• नियमाख्यैः: called niyamas
• नियमाख्यैः: Karana (Instrument-qualifier/करणविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नियम+आख्य (प्रातिपदिक); समासः: नियम + आख्य
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (गुणैः)

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

• युञ्जीत: should apply/engage (in yoga)
• युञ्जीत: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: युज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• नियतः: disciplined
• नियतः: Karta (Subject-qualifier/कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नियत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (यतिः)

• यतिः: the ascetic
• यतिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Practical yoga method: posture and the grounding role of yama-niyama

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: compassionate

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: After establishing a stable posture such as bhadrāsana, the disciplined ascetic should engage yoga grounded in yama and niyama with firm restraint.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Choose one comfortable seated posture for daily practice, keep the spine steady, and treat ethical observances as the ‘non-negotiable’ base of meditation.

Vishishtadvaita: Yoga is presented as integrated sādhana—outer conduct stabilizes inner contemplation—supporting the Vishishtadvaita view of embodied discipline as serviceable to God-realization.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Parāśara
• Maitreya
• Vishnu

FAQs

What is the significance of yama and niyama in the Vishnu Purana’s yoga teaching?

This verse presents yama and niyama as the practical moral and devotional disciplines that stabilize the practitioner, making meditation fit for realizing liberation through devotion and contemplation of Vishnu.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the role of āsana in spiritual practice?

Parāśara frames āsana as choosing and firmly holding a single steady posture (like bhadrāsana), so the body becomes settled and the mind can be yoked to disciplined practice through yama and niyama.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Even in a technical yoga instruction, the Vishnu Purana’s moksha framework treats disciplined practice as a means to inner steadiness that culminates in realization of Vishnu as the supreme reality and final refuge.