Shloka 34

Īśvara-Gītā (continued): Twofold Yoga, Aṣṭāṅga Discipline, Pāśupata Meditation, and the Unity of Nārāyaṇa–Maheśvara

Devanagari script

सगर्भमाहुः सजपमगर्भं विजपं बुधाः / एतद् वै योगिनामुक्तं प्राणायामस्य लक्षणम्

Transliteration

sagarbhamāhuḥ sajapamagarbhaṃ vijapaṃ budhāḥ / etad vai yogināmuktaṃ prāṇāyāmasya lakṣaṇam

Translation

賢者は、マントラの誦持（ジャパ）を伴うプラーナーヤーマを「サガルバ」（種子あり）といい、ジャパを伴わぬものを「アガルバ」（種子なし）という。これこそ、ヨーギーたちが説くプラーナーヤーマの相である。

Word by Word

• sa-garbham: sagarbha (with garbha)
• sa-garbham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: garbha (प्रातिपदिक) with sa- (पूर्वपद)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग) or Masculine used adverbially? Here Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन) agreeing with implied prāṇāyāmaṃ/type; 'with garbha' (सहितार्थ)

• āhuḥ: they say/call
• āhuḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ah (अह् धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन); parasmaipada

• sa-japam: with recitation (japa)
• sa-japam: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: japa (प्रातिपदिक) with sa- (पूर्वपद)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुं), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); 'with japa' (सहितार्थ)

• a-garbham: agarbha (without garbha)
• a-garbham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: garbha (प्रातिपदिक) with a- (नञ्)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुं), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); privative (नञ्-तत्पुरुष)

• vi-japam: without recitation (vijapa)
• vi-japam: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: japa (प्रातिपदिक) with vi- (उपसर्ग/पूर्वपद)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुं), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); vi-japa = 'without/other than japa' (here: 'without japa', traditional term)

• budhāḥ: the wise (people)
• budhāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: budha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन)

• etat: this
• etat: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात): emphasis/assurance

• yoginām: of yogins
• yoginām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yogin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Plural (बहुवचन)

• uktam: is said/taught
• uktam: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (वच् धातु) + ud-; PPP (क्त)
• Form: PPP (क्त-कृदन्त), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with etat

• prāṇāyāmasya: of prāṇāyāma
• prāṇāyāmasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prāṇāyāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन)

• lakṣaṇam: definition/characteristic
• lakṣaṇam: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lakṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Viṣṇu) instructing in the Iśvara Gītā context

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Kūrma (Viṣṇu)
• Yogins
• Prāṇāyāma
• Japa
• Mantra

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

How does this verse explain the nature of the Supreme Self (Atman)?

Indirectly: it frames prāṇāyāma as a yogic discipline that can be linked to mantra (sagarbha) or practiced without mantra (agarbha), indicating that inner realization is supported either by sacred sound and meaning or by bare contemplative regulation—both aimed at steadiness conducive to Self-knowledge.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It distinguishes two modes of prāṇāyāma: sagarbha (breath-regulation joined with japa/mantra) and agarbha (breath-regulation without japa). The verse presents this classification as a standard yogic definition within the Kurma Purana’s Iśvara Gītā teaching stream.

How does this verse depict the relationship between Shiva and Vishnu?

While not naming Śiva explicitly, the teaching aligns with the Purana’s synthesis: a Viṣṇu-form (Kūrma) teaches yoga categories commonly shared across Śaiva-Pāśupata and Vaiṣṇava traditions, presenting yogic method as a unified, non-sectarian discipline.