Shloka 82

ध्यानयज्ञः, संसार-विष-निरूपणम्, पाशुपतयोगः, परा-अपरा विद्या, चतुर्वस्था-विचारः (अध्यायः ८६)

Devanagari script

वायवो नाडिमध्यस्था वाहकाश् च चतुर्दश प्राणो व्यानस्त्वपानश् च उदानश् च समानकः

Transliteration

vāyavo nāḍimadhyasthā vāhakāś ca caturdaśa prāṇo vyānastvapānaś ca udānaś ca samānakaḥ

Translation

നാഡികളുടെ മദ്ധ്യത്തിൽ പ്രാണവായുക്കൾ വസിക്കുന്നു; അവയെ പതിനാലു ‘വാഹകർ’ എന്നു പറയുന്നു—പ്രാണൻ, വ്യാനൻ, അപാനൻ, ഉദാനൻ, സമാനൻ।

Word by Word

• वायवः (vāyavaḥ): vital airs

• नाडि-मध्य-स्थाः (nāḍi-madhya-sthāḥ): situated within the nāḍīs (subtle channels)

• वाहकाः (vāhakāḥ): carriers/conveyors

• चतुर्दश (caturdaśa): fourteen

• प्राणः (prāṇaḥ): prāṇa-vāyu (inward/upward life-breath)

• व्यानः (vyānaḥ): vyāna-vāyu (pervasive distributing breath)

• तु (tu): and/indeed

• अपानः (apānaḥ): apāna-vāyu (downward eliminating breath)

• च (ca): and

• उदानः (udānaḥ): udāna-vāyu (ascending breath linked with speech/exit)

• समानकः (samānakaḥ): samāna-vāyu (equalizing digestive breath)

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Purana to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It frames Linga-worship as inner discipline: purifying the nāḍīs and governing prāṇa supports steadiness of mind, making the devotee fit for Śiva-upāsanā where Pati (Śiva) is realized beyond pasha (bondage).

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

By detailing the prāṇic system that sustains embodied life (pashu), the verse implies Śiva as Pati—the transcendent Lord who can regulate, purify, and ultimately liberate the soul from pasha through yogic insight and grace.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Prāṇa-oriented yoga (prāṇāyāma and nāḍī-śuddhi) is implied—mastery of prāṇa, apāna, vyāna, udāna, and samāna as part of Pāśupata-style inner practice supporting mantra and meditation on the Liṅga.