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Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 21

योगस्वरूप-धारणा-समाधि-वर्णनम् (केशिध्वजोपदेशः)

प्राणायामेन पवनैः प्रत्याहरेण चेन्द्रि यैः । वशीकृतैस्ततः कुर्यात्स्थिरं चेतः शुभाश्रये ॥ २१ ॥

prāṇāyāmena pavanaiḥ pratyāhareṇa cendri yaiḥ | vaśīkṛtaistataḥ kuryātsthiraṃ cetaḥ śubhāśraye || 21 ||

Après avoir maîtrisé les souffles vitaux par le prāṇāyāma et dompté les sens par le pratyāhāra, qu’on rende ensuite l’esprit stable, en le posant sur un appui auspicious et pur.

prāṇāyāmenaby breath-control
prāṇāyāmena:
Karaṇa/Instrument (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootprāṇa + āyāma (प्रातिपदिक)
Formतत्पुरुष (determinative): prāṇa-āyāma; पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)
pavanaiḥby the winds/breaths
pavanaiḥ:
Karaṇa/Instrument (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootpavana (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)
pratyāhareṇaby withdrawal (of senses)
pratyāhareṇa:
Karaṇa/Instrument (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootpratyāhāra (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)
caand
ca:
Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चय (conjunction)
indriyaiḥby the senses
indriyaiḥ:
Karaṇa/Instrument (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootindriya (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)
vaśīkṛtaiḥhaving been brought under control
vaśīkṛtaiḥ:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootvaśī-kṛta (कृदन्त; कृ + उपसर्ग/भाव)
Formभूतकृदन्त (past passive participle) from √kṛ (कृ) with vaśī-; नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural); agrees with indriyaiḥ
tataḥthen
tataḥ:
Kāla/Sequence (काल/क्रम)
TypeIndeclinable
Roottataḥ (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; क्रम/हेतु-अर्थे (then/thereupon)
kuryātshould make
kuryāt:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootkṛ (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद (Parasmaipada), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)
sthiramsteady
sthiram:
Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootsthira (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण of cetaḥ
cetaḥmind
cetaḥ:
Karma/Object (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootcetas (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)
śubhāśrayein the auspicious support (object of meditation)
śubhāśraye:
Adhikaraṇa/Location (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootśubha + āśraya (प्रातिपदिक)
Formकर्मधारय (descriptive): śubha-āśraya ‘auspicious support’; पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन (Singular)

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the Moksha-dharma dialogue)

Vrata: none

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

P
Prana
I
Indriyas

FAQs

It presents a clear inner sequence for liberation: regulate prāṇa, withdraw the senses, and only then stabilize the mind on a pure support—showing that mental steadiness is the fruit of disciplined preparation.

While framed as yogic discipline, “śubhāśraya” can be understood as fixing the mind on a sacred and auspicious refuge—classically, the Lord’s name, form, or qualities—so the same method supports steady Vishnu-bhakti through controlled senses and focused remembrance.

No specific Vedāṅga (like Vyākaraṇa or Jyotiṣa) is taught here; the practical takeaway is yogic technique—prāṇāyāma and pratyāhāra—as preparatory disciplines for meditation and mokṣa.