Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 120

Mokṣopāya: Bhakti-rooted Jñāna and the Aṣṭāṅga Yoga of Viṣṇu-Meditation

Devanagari script

रेचकः पूरकश्चैव कुंभकः शून्यकस्तथा । एवं चतुर्विधः प्रोक्तः प्राणायामो मनीषिभिः ॥ २० ॥

Transliteration

recakaḥ pūrakaścaiva kuṃbhakaḥ śūnyakastathā | evaṃ caturvidhaḥ proktaḥ prāṇāyāmo manīṣibhiḥ || 20 ||

Translation

Expiration (recaka), inspiration (pūraka), rétention (kuṃbhaka) et pause vide (śūnyaka) : ainsi les sages déclarent-ils le prāṇāyāma quadruple.

Word by Word

• रेचकः: exhalation (recaka)
• रेचकः: Karta (कर्ता/Enumerated item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रेचक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• पूरकः: inhalation (pūraka)
• पूरकः: Karta (कर्ता/Enumerated item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूरक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

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

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-अव्यय (indeed/just)

• कुंभकः: retention (kumbhaka)
• कुंभकः: Karta (कर्ता/Enumerated item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुम्भक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• शून्यकः: emptiness-phase (śūnyaka)
• शून्यकः: Karta (कर्ता/Enumerated item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शून्यक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तथा: also; likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/प्रकार-अव्यय (and also/likewise)

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकार-अव्यय (thus)

• चतुर्विधः: fourfold
• चतुर्विधः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (संख्या) + विध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (चत्वारो विधा यस्य)

• प्रोक्तः: is said
• प्रोक्तः: Karta (कर्ता/Predicate adjective)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + वच् (धातु) → प्रोक्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘प्राणायामः’ इत्यस्य विशेषण

• प्राणायामः: prāṇāyāma
• प्राणायामः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राण (प्रातिपदिक) + आयाम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (प्राणस्य आयामः)

• मनीषिभिः: by sages; by the wise
• मनीषिभिः: Karana (करण/Instrumental agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनीषिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in a yogic/disciplinary context)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: none

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in Narada Purana?

It codifies prāṇāyāma as a precise fourfold discipline, indicating that mastery of breath-regulation is a foundational inner practice for steadiness of mind and progress toward liberation.

How does this verse explain the path of devotion (Bhakti)?

While the verse is technical and yogic, it supports bhakti indirectly: regulated breath stabilizes attention and purity, making japa, remembrance of the Lord, and devotional meditation more focused and uninterrupted.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights applied yogic discipline (a śāstric auxiliary practice used alongside dharma and mantra-japa), giving clear operational categories—exhale, inhale, retain, and the empty pause—useful for structured sādhanā.