Shloka 74

Vishnu-sahasranāma-style Japa: Vishnu as Cosmic Cause and Inner Self

Antaryāmin

Devanagari script

नारायणो महाभागः प्राणस्य पतिरेव च (४४०) / अपानस्य पतिश्चैव व्यानस्य पतिरेव च

Transliteration

nārāyaṇo mahābhāgaḥ prāṇasya patireva ca (440) / apānasya patiścaiva vyānasya patireva ca

Translation

മഹാഭാഗനായ നാരായണൻ തന്നെയാണ് പ്രാണത്തിന്റെ അധിപതി; അവൻ അപാനത്തിന്റെയും സ്വാമി, വ്യാനത്തിന്റെയും അധിപതിയും ആകുന്നു.

Word by Word

• नारायणः: Nārāyaṇa
• नारायणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारायण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• महाभागः: the greatly fortunate/illustrious one
• महाभागः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महाभाग (प्रातिपदिक; महा+भाग)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (महान् भागः/सौभाग्यं यस्य)

• प्राणस्य: of prāṇa (vital breath)
• प्राणस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• पतिः: lord/master
• पतिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

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

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

• अपानस्य: of apāna (downward breath)
• अपानस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• पतिः: lord
• पतिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

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

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

• व्यानस्य: of vyāna (pervading breath)
• व्यानस्य: Sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन

• पतिः: lord
• पतिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

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

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

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (Narayana) speaking to Garuda (Vinata-putra) in instruction

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Nārāyaṇa as the inner ruler (antaryāmin) of prāṇa and its functions (prāṇa, apāna, vyāna).

Vedantic Theme: Antaryāmi-brahma: the one Īśvara pervades and governs all life-breaths; unity behind physiological plurality.

Application: During prāṇāyāma or mindful breathing, contemplate ‘Nārāyaṇaḥ prāṇapatiḥ’ to steady attention and reduce agitation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: subtle body (sūkṣma-śarīra) domain

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.15.75 (continues prāṇa/indriya presiding-lord theme)

Characters & Entities

• Narayana
• Prana
• Apana
• Vyana

FAQs

What is the importance of prāṇa, apāna, and vyāna in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights that the vital airs are not independent forces; they function under Nārāyaṇa’s sovereignty, linking subtle-body physiology to devotion and spiritual order.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By placing the vital airs under Nārāyaṇa’s lordship, it implies that life, movement of breath, and the subtle-body functions that support transition (life to death and beyond) are ultimately governed by the Divine.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate breath-awareness with devotion—seeing prāṇa as sacred—and live with discipline (yama/niyama, prayer, mantra) to align body and mind with dharma.