Shloka 26

Brahma-vidyā through Yoga: Restraint, Pranava Japa, and Samādhi leading to Mokṣa

Devanagari script

सर्वेषामिन्द्रियाणां तु प्रवृतिर्विषयेषु च / निवृत्तिर्मनसस्तस्याः प्रत्याहारः प्रकीर्तितः

Transliteration

sarveṣāmindriyāṇāṃ tu pravṛtirviṣayeṣu ca / nivṛttirmanasastasyāḥ pratyāhāraḥ prakīrtitaḥ

Translation

എല്ലാ ഇന്ദ്രിയങ്ങളും സ്വാഭാവികമായി വിഷയങ്ങളിലേക്കു പ്രവൃത്തിക്കുന്നു; എന്നാൽ മനസ് അവയെ വിഷയങ്ങളിൽ നിന്ന് പിൻവലിക്കുമ്പോൾ, ആ പിൻവലിക്കൽ ‘പ്രത്യാഹാരം’ (ഇന്ദ്രിയ-നിവൃത്തി) എന്നു പ്രസിദ്ധമാണ്.

Word by Word

• sarveṣām: of all
• sarveṣām: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध

• indriyāṇām: of the senses
• indriyāṇām: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: indriya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध

• tu: indeed
• tu: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: विशेषण-अव्यय (particle)

• pravṛttiḥ: engagement/turning forth
• pravṛttiḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pravṛtti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्ता/विषय

• viṣayeṣu: in the objects (of sense)
• viṣayeṣu: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन; अधिकरण

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• nivṛttiḥ: withdrawal/cessation
• nivṛttiḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nivṛtti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्ता/विषय

• manasaḥ: of the mind
• manasaḥ: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध

• tasyāḥ: of that (withdrawal)
• tasyāḥ: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम; सम्बन्ध (निवृत्तेः)

• pratyāhāraḥ: pratyāhāra (withdrawal of senses)
• pratyāhāraḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pratyāhāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्ता/विषय

• prakīrtitaḥ: is declared/said
• prakīrtitaḥ: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra + √kīrt (कीर्त्, धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोगे विधेय

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Pratyāhāra is the deliberate withdrawal of mind from sense-objects, reversing habitual outward flow.

Vedantic Theme: From pravṛtti (extroversion) to nivṛtti (inwardness) enabling discrimination between seer and seen.

Application: During japa/meditation, notice sense-pull; gently return attention to breath/mantra; reduce stimuli and practice short, repeated withdrawals rather than forceful suppression.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.235.27 (method and benefit of gathering senses); Garuda Purana 1.235.28 (dhāraṇā in Brahman after prāṇāyāma)

Characters & Entities

• Indriyas
• Manas

FAQs

What is the importance of pratyāhāra in the Garuda Purana?

This verse defines pratyāhāra as the mind’s withdrawal from sense-objects, making it a key discipline for inner steadiness and further yogic practices like dhāraṇā and dhyāna.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By emphasizing withdrawal from external objects, the verse points to turning awareness inward—reducing attachment-driven impulses that bind the jīva through karma and fostering clarity for spiritual progress.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice brief daily sense-restraint: limit overstimulation, pause before reacting to cravings, and bring attention back to breath or mantra—training the mind to disengage from compulsive sensory pull.