Shloka 17

Mahāyoga: Detachment from ‘I/Mine’, Aṣṭāṅga Practice, Oṁkāra and Aham-Brahmāsmi Contemplation

Devanagari script

आसनस्थन्तुयुञ्जीत कृत्वा च प्रणवं हृदी / पार्ष्णिभ्यां लिङ्गवृषणौ स्पर्शन्नकाग्रमानसः

Transliteration

āsanasthantuyuñjīta kṛtvā ca praṇavaṃ hṛdī / pārṣṇibhyāṃ liṅgavṛṣaṇau sparśannakāgramānasaḥ

Translation

Sentado firmemente en la postura, comience la disciplina colocando en el corazón la sílaba sagrada Oṁ; con los talones tocando el órgano genital y los testículos, mantenga la mente en un solo punto.

Word by Word

• आसनस्थम्: seated (in a posture)
• आसनस्थम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आसन (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थ (स्था-धातोः क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; 'आसने स्थितम्' इति षष्ठी/सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषः; कर्मपदम् (युञ्जीत इत्यस्य)

• तु: then/but
• तु: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (contrastive particle)

• युञ्जीत: should practice, should engage
• युञ्जीत: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: युज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; "should apply/engage (in yoga)"

• कृत्वा: having done
• कृत्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive): पूर्वक्रिया "having done"

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

• प्रणवम्: the syllable Oṃ (praṇava)
• प्रणवम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रणव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्मपदम् (कृत्वा इत्यस्य)

• हृदि: in the heart
• हृदि: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हृद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; अधिकरणम्

• पार्ष्णिभ्याम्: with (both) heels
• पार्ष्णिभ्याम्: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्ष्णि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), द्विवचन; करणम् ("with the two heels")

• लिङ्गवृषणौ: the penis and the testicles
• लिङ्गवृषणौ: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + वृषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्वसमासः; पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), द्विवचन; कर्मपदम् (स्पर्शन् इत्यस्य)

• स्पर्शन्: touching
• स्पर्शन्: Karta (Agent/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्पृश् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (present participle), पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्तरि ("touching")

• एकाग्रमानसः: with a one-pointed mind
• एकाग्रमानसः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्र (प्रातिपदिक) + मानस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषः (एकाग्रं मानसं यस्य/एकाग्रमानसः); पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्तृविशेषणम्

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Āsana + praṇava-dhāraṇā: stabilize the body and place Oṁ in the heart; maintain ekāgratā (one-pointed mind) with a specific bodily lock-like posture.

Vedantic Theme: Praṇava as brahman-symbol (praṇava-upāsanā) and mind unification as prerequisite for higher knowledge.

Application: Adopt a stable seated posture; use mantra-based attention (Oṁ) centered at the heart; minimize sensory drift by steady gaze and consistent alignment.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.226.18-20 (guṇa-nirodha, pratyāhāra, prāṇāyāma/dhāraṇā)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Pranava (Om)

FAQs

What is the importance of focusing on the Pranava (Om) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents Oṁ as the inner support for concentration—placing the Pranava in the heart steadies awareness and anchors meditation in a sacred sound-symbol.

How does this verse relate to controlling the mind and senses?

By prescribing a stable seated posture, a specific bodily lock/pressure at the pelvic region, and one-pointed attention, the verse outlines a method to restrain distraction and consolidate mental focus.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Sit steadily, breathe calmly, mentally repeat Oṁ with attention at the heart, and cultivate single-task focus—using posture and disciplined attention to reduce impulsive habits and strengthen self-control.