Shloka 9

Kapila Describes Bhakti-Saturated Aṣṭāṅga-Yoga and Meditation on the Lord’s Form

Devanagari script

प्राणस्य शोधयेन्मार्गं पूरकुम्भकरेचकै: । प्रतिकूलेन वा चित्तं यथा स्थिरमचञ्चलम् ॥ ९ ॥

Transliteration

prāṇasya śodhayen mārgaṁ pūra-kumbhaka-recakaiḥ pratikūlena vā cittaṁ yathā sthiram acañcalam

Translation

Le yogī doit purifier le passage du prāṇa par pūraka, kumbhaka et recaka : inspirer profondément, retenir, puis expirer; ou bien en ordre inverse. Ainsi le mental devient stable et inébranlable face aux sollicitations extérieures.

Synonyms

• प्राणस्य: of the breath
• प्राणस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• शोधयेत्: should purify
• शोधयेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शुध्/शोधय् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; causative (णिच्) from √शुध् (शौचे) → शोधयति

• मार्गम्: path; channel
• मार्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मार्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• पूरक-कुम्भक-रेचकैः: by inhalation, retention, and exhalation
• पूरक-कुम्भक-रेचकैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूरक (प्रातिपदिक) + कुम्भक (प्रातिपदिक) + रेचक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/instrumental), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व: पूरकैः च कुम्भकैः च रेचकैः च

• प्रतिकूलेन: by the opposite (method)
• प्रतिकूलेन: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रतिकूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसक/पुं, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; here used adverbially/instrumentally ‘by the contrary (method)’

• वा: or
• वा: Samuccaya/Vikalpa (विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक (disjunctive particle)

• चित्तम्: the mind
• चित्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चित्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• यथा: so that; as
• यथा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमान/प्रकारबोधक (comparative/manner adverb)

• स्थिरम्: steady
• स्थिरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्थिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; चित्तम् इति विशेषण

• अचञ्चलम्: unwavering
• अचञ्चलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अचञ्चल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; नञ्-समास: चञ्चल-रहितम्; चित्तम् इति विशेषण

Purport

These breathing exercises are performed to control the mind and fix it on the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Sa vai manaḥ kṛṣṇa-padāravindayoḥ: the devotee Ambarīṣa Mahārāja fixed his mind on the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa twenty-four hours a day. The process of Kṛṣṇa consciousness is to chant Hare Kṛṣṇa and to hear the sound attentively so that the mind is fixed upon the transcendental vibration of Kṛṣṇa’s name, which is nondifferent from Kṛṣṇa the personality. The real purpose of controlling the mind by the prescribed method of clearing the passage of the life air is achieved immediately if one fixes his mind directly on the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa. The haṭha-yoga system, or breathing system, is especially recommended for those who are very absorbed in the concept of bodily existence, but one who can perform the simple process of chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa can fix the mind more easily.

Characters & Entities

• Kapila
• Devahuti

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about pranayama (breath control)?

In Canto 3, Chapter 28, Kapila teaches that the channels of prāṇa can be purified through pūraka (inhalation), kumbhaka (retention), and recaka (exhalation), helping the mind become steady and free from agitation.

Why did Kapila teach this to Devahuti in Bhagavatam Canto 3?

Devahūti sought liberation and devotional perfection; Kapila instructs her in a disciplined meditation process where breath regulation (or counter-methods of mental regulation) supports steadiness of mind for higher spiritual realization.

How can this teaching be applied in modern life for mental stability?

By practicing regulated breathing and mindful counter-techniques when the mind becomes restless, one can reduce agitation and cultivate steadiness—supporting consistent sādhana, clearer focus, and calmer devotion.