Shloka 6

Bhojana-vidhi and Nitya-karman: Directions for Eating, Prāṇa-Oblations, Sandhyā, and Conduct Leading to Apavarga

Devanagari script

स्वाहाप्रणवसंयुक्तां प्राणायाद्याहुतिं ततः / अपानाय ततो हुत्वा व्यानाय तदनन्तरम्

Transliteration

svāhāpraṇavasaṃyuktāṃ prāṇāyādyāhutiṃ tataḥ / apānāya tato hutvā vyānāya tadanantaram

Translation

അതിനുശേഷം ഓംകാരവും “സ്വാഹാ”യും ചേർന്ന ആദ്യ ആഹുതി പ്രാണനു അർപ്പിക്കണം; പിന്നെ അപാനനു, തുടർന്ന് വ്യാനനു ആഹുതി നൽകണം।

Word by Word

• स्वाहा-प्रणव-संयुक्ताम्: joined with ‘svāhā’ and the praṇava (oṃ)
• स्वाहा-प्रणव-संयुक्ताम्: कर्मविशेषण (Object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वाहा + प्रणव + संयुक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (adjective) to आहुतिम्

• प्राणाय: for (the prāṇa) vital breath
• प्राणाय: सम्प्रदान (Sampradāna/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), चतुर्थी विभक्ति (Dative/4th), एकवचन (Singular)

• आद्य-आहुतिम्: the first oblation
• आद्य-आहुतिम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आद्य + आहुति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), द्वितीया विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: कालाधिकरण (Temporal adverb/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्यय-प्रयोग (adverb) ‘thereafter/then’

• अपानाय: for apāna
• अपानाय: सम्प्रदान (Sampradāna/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), चतुर्थी विभक्ति (Dative/4th), एकवचन (Singular)

• ततः: then
• ततः: कालाधिकरण (Temporal adverb/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रम/अनुक्रम (sequence marker)

• हुत्वा: having offered
• हुत्वा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial to implied main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हु (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), ‘having offered’

• व्यानाय: for vyāna
• व्यानाय: सम्प्रदान (Sampradāna/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), चतुर्थी विभक्ति (Dative/4th), एकवचन (Singular)

• तत्-अनन्तरम्: immediately after that
• तत्-अनन्तरम्: कालाधिकरण (Temporal adverb/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत् + अनन्तर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव समास; अव्ययवत् प्रयोग (adverb)

Speaker

Lord Kūrma (Vishnu) instructing the sages in ritual-yoga discipline

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Prana
• Apana
• Vyana
• Pranava (Om)
• Svaha

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

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

By treating the vital winds (prāṇa, apāna, vyāna) as worthy of disciplined offering through Oṃ and svāhā, the verse implies that inner life-force is to be sanctified and aligned—an inward yajña pointing to the indwelling Self as the true altar and witness.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It highlights prāṇāyāma integrated with homa: sequentially “offering” attention and mantra to prāṇa, apāna, and vyāna. This reflects a Kurma Purana style of yoga where breath-regulation becomes an internal sacrifice (antar-yajña) supported by praṇava (Oṃ).

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

Though Vishnu as Lord Kūrma teaches, the method resonates with Śaiva-Pāśupata inner-sacrifice discipline—showing the Purana’s non-sectarian stance where yogic-yajña principles are shared across Shaiva and Vaishnava streams.