Shloka 20

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

Devanagari script

प्राणायामा दशाष्टौ च धारणा सा विधीयते / द्वे धारणे स्मृतो योगो योगिभिस्तत्त्वदर्शिभिः

Transliteration

prāṇāyāmā daśāṣṭau ca dhāraṇā sā vidhīyate / dve dhāraṇe smṛto yogo yogibhistattvadarśibhiḥ

Translation

અઢાર પ્રાણાયામ પછી ધારણા કરવી. તત્ત્વદર્શી યોગીઓએ બે ધારણાઓને જ ‘યોગ’ તરીકે સ્મર્યું છે।

Word by Word

• प्राणायामाः: breath-regulations (prāṇāyāmas)
• प्राणायामाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राण (प्रातिपदिक) + आयाम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषः (प्राणस्य आयामः); पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; कर्तृपदम् (संख्याविशेष्य)

• दश: ten
• दश: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दश (संख्यावाचक-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्याशब्दः; विशेषणम् ("ten")

• अष्टौ: eight
• अष्टौ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्टन् (संख्यावाचक-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), बहुवचन; संख्याविशेषणम् ("eight")

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

• धारणा: concentration, dhāraṇā
• धारणा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धारणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्तृपदम्

• सा: that (dhāraṇā)
• सा: Anuvartaka (Correlative/अनुवर्तक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; सर्वनाम; धारणा इत्यस्य अन्वयः

• विधीयते: is prescribed
• विधीयते: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धा (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगः (passive): "is prescribed/ordained"

• द्वे: two
• द्वे: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि (संख्यावाचक-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), द्विवचन; संख्याविशेषणम्

• धारणे: (two) concentrations
• धारणे: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धारणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), द्विवचन; (पाठानुसारं) "two dhāraṇās" इत्यर्थे

• स्मृतः: is regarded (as)
• स्मृतः: Kriya (Predicative/क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्मृत (स्मृ-धातोः क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि क्त; कर्मणि/भावे ("is considered/remembered")

• योगः: yoga
• योगः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्तृ/विषयपदम्

• योगिभिः: by yogis
• योगिभिः: Kartr-karana (Agentive instrument/कर्तृकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; करण/कर्तृकरणे (agent-instrument: "by yogis")

• तत्त्वदर्शिभिः: by those who see reality (truth-seers)
• तत्त्वदर्शिभिः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक) + दर्शिन् (दृश्-धातोः णिनि-प्रत्ययान्त प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषः (तत्त्वं पश्यन्ति इति); पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; योगिभिः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra in the Garuda Purana dialogue frame)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: A procedural sequence: after a set of prāṇāyāmas (eighteen), undertake dhāraṇā; two dhāraṇās are stated as ‘yoga’ by tattva-darśin yogins (a technical yardstick of attainment).

Vedantic Theme: Sādhana-krama (graded means) leading to steadiness of mind, enabling higher contemplation and liberating insight.

Application: Use structured breath practice with consistent counts; then shift to stable concentration; track practice in repeatable units rather than vague effort.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.226.17-19 (āsana, praṇava, guṇa-nirodha, pratyāhāra)

Characters & Entities

• Yogis
• Tattvadarshis

FAQs

What is the importance of prāṇāyāma and dhāraṇā in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents a practical sequence: regulated breath (prāṇāyāma) steadies the vital force, after which concentration (dhāraṇā) becomes possible—forming the core of yogic discipline as recognized by realized yogins.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in Garuda Purana teachings?

By emphasizing inner discipline—breath control and concentration—the verse points to purification of mind and prāṇa, supporting liberation-oriented practice rather than mere external rites.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice measured breath regulation with ethical living, then cultivate focused attention (dhāraṇā) daily—reducing distraction and strengthening clarity for meditation and self-restraint.