Shloka 32

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

Devanagari script

मात्राद्वादशको मन्दश्चतुर्विंशतिमात्रिकः / मध्यमः प्राणसंरोधः षट्त्रिंशन्मात्रिकोत्तमः

Transliteration

mātrādvādaśako mandaścaturviṃśatimātrikaḥ / madhyamaḥ prāṇasaṃrodhaḥ ṣaṭtriṃśanmātrikottamaḥ

Translation

ಪ್ರಾಣಸಂರೋಧ (ಪ್ರಾಣಾಯಾಮ) ಮೂರು ಮಟ್ಟದದು: ಮಂದ—ಹನ್ನೆರಡು ಮಾತ್ರೆ, ಮಧ್ಯಮ—ಇಪ್ಪತ್ತ್ನಾಲ್ಕು ಮಾತ್ರೆ, ಉತ್ತಮ—ಮೂವತ್ತಾರು ಮಾತ್ರೆ.

Word by Word

• mātrā-dvādaśakaḥ: (one) of twelve counts (mātrās)
• mātrā-dvādaśakaḥ: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mātrā (प्रातिपदिक) + dvādaśaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); 'of twelve mātrās' (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• mandaḥ: the mild (type)
• mandaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: manda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• caturviṃśati-mātrikaḥ: (one) of twenty-four counts
• caturviṃśati-mātrikaḥ: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: caturviṃśati (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + mātrika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); 'having 24 mātrās'

• madhyamaḥ: the middle (type)
• madhyamaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: madhyama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• prāṇa-saṃrodhaḥ: breath-restraint
• prāṇa-saṃrodhaḥ: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prāṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + saṃrodha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); 'restraint of breath' (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• ṣaṭ-triṃśan-mātrika-uttamaḥ: the best (type), of thirty-six counts
• ṣaṭ-triṃśan-mātrika-uttamaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ṣaṭtriṃśat (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + mātrika (प्रातिपदिक) + uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); karmadhāraya: 'the best which is 36-mātrika'

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) teaching the Ishvara Gita instructions

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Characters & Entities

• Prana (vital breath)
• Pranayama (prana-samrodha)
• Mātrā (time-measure)

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

Indirectly: by prescribing graded prāṇa-saṃrodha, it supports the yogic stilling of mind and senses through regulated breath, a practical aid for abiding in the Self beyond fluctuations.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It highlights prāṇāyāma as prāṇa-saṃrodha measured in mātrās, giving three levels—12 (mild), 24 (middling), 36 (excellent)—a technical guideline used in Pashupata-leaning Ishvara Gita practice to stabilize concentration.

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

By presenting Yoga-shastra instruction within the Ishvara Gita spoken by Lord Kurma (Vishnu) in a Shaiva-tinged framework (Pashupata-oriented discipline), it reflects the Purana’s non-sectarian synthesis: one yogic path serving realization of the one Ishvara.