Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 20

Anadhyaya and the Winds: From Vedic Recitation Protocol to Sanatkumara’s Moksha-Upadesha

Devanagari script

अंतर्देहेषु चोदानं यं वदंति मनीषिणः । यश्चतुर्भ्यः समुद्रेभ्यो वायुर्द्धारयते जलम् ॥ २० ॥

Transliteration

aṃtardeheṣu codānaṃ yaṃ vadaṃti manīṣiṇaḥ | yaścaturbhyaḥ samudrebhyo vāyurddhārayate jalam || 20 ||

Translation

ນັກປັນຍາກ່າວວ່າ «ອຸດານະ» ແມ່ນແຮງກະຕຸ້ນພາຍໃນທີ່ເຄື່ອນໄຫວໃນສັດຜູ້ມີກາຍ; ແລະລົມວາຍຸນັ້ນເອງ ເປັນຜູ້ຮັກສາແລະຄ້ຳຈຸນນ້ຳທີ່ຖືກດຶງມາຈາກມະຫາສະໝຸດທັງສີ່.

Word by Word

• अन्तर्देहेषु: within bodies
• अन्तर्देहेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्तर् + देह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास (locative adverbial) ‘देहेषु अन्तर्’; पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• उदानम्: Udāna (vital air)
• उदानम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उदान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; प्राण-विशेष

• यम्: whom/which
• यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक

• वदन्ति: say/call
• वदन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वद् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• मनीषिणः: the sages/wise ones
• मनीषिणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनीषिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; सम्बन्धसूचक

• चतुर्भ्यः: from the four
• चतुर्भ्यः: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: त्रिलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी/पञ्चमी (4th/5th), बहुवचन; संख्याविशेषण

• समुद्रेभ्यः: from the oceans
• समुद्रेभ्यः: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th), बहुवचन

• वायुः: wind
• वायुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• धारयते: holds
• धारयते: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘holds/supports’

• जलम्: water
• जलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada in the Moksha-Dharma dialogue)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Vayu

FAQs

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

It links the microcosm and macrocosm: the same Vāyu-principle that functions as udāna within the body is presented as the cosmic force that sustains the world’s waters, encouraging contemplation of one underlying reality supporting life and the universe.

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

By pointing to a single sustaining divine order behind inner life-breath and cosmic stability, it supports bhakti as reverent recognition of the Lord’s governance through Vāyu/prāṇa—turning awareness of breath and life into remembrance and surrender.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It most directly reflects yogic/prāṇic doctrine used in disciplined practice (breath-awareness and control of vital winds). While not a technical Vedāṅga lesson, it complements śikṣā-style attention to breath and regulation as a practical aid to study, recitation, and meditation.