Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 17

योगस्वरूप-धारणा-समाधि-वर्णनम् (केशिध्वजोपदेशः)

Devanagari script

परस्परेणाभिभवं प्राणापानौ यदानिलौ । कुरुतः सद्विधानेन तृतीयः संयमात्तयोः ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

paraspareṇābhibhavaṃ prāṇāpānau yadānilau | kurutaḥ sadvidhānena tṛtīyaḥ saṃyamāttayoḥ || 17 ||

Translation

ശരിയായ വിധാനത്തോടെ നിയന്ത്രിതമായ പ്രാണനും അപാനനും പരസ്പരം ഒരുമേകനെ ദമിപ്പിക്കുകയും അതിക്രമിക്കുകയും ചെയ്യുമ്പോൾ, അവ രണ്ടിന്റെയും സംയമത്തിൽ നിന്ന് മൂന്നാമൊരു വായു-ചലനം ഉദ്ഭവിക്കുന്നു।

Word by Word

• परस्परेण: mutually/with each other
• परस्परेण: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument; ‘mutually’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परस्पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (अव्ययवत् प्रयोगः), तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular)

• अभिभवम्: overpowering
• अभिभवम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभिभव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)

• प्राण-अपानौ: prāṇa and apāna
• प्राण-अपानौ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राण + अपान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास: प्राणापानौ; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन (Dual)

• यदा: when
• यदा: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (temporal adverb: when)

• अनिलौ: the two winds
• अनिलौ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), द्विवचन (Dual); apposition to प्राणापानौ

• कुरुतः: do/produce
• कुरुतः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), द्विवचन (Dual)

• सद्-विधानेन: by proper procedure
• सद्-विधानेन: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक) + विधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास: सद्विधान = ‘proper method’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन (Singular)

• तृतीयः: the third
• तृतीयः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तृतीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (qualifying an implied ‘प्राणायामः/संयमः’)

• संयमात्: from restraint
• संयमात्: Hetu (हेतु/Cause)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संयम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन (Singular)

• तयोः: of those two
• तयोः: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), द्विवचन (Dual)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Narada
• Sanatkumara

FAQs

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

It points to inner mastery: when prāṇa and apāna are regulated so they balance and restrain each other, the practitioner gains a subtler, steadier current of energy—supporting concentration and the mokṣa-oriented yogic path.

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

While the verse is primarily yogic, it supports bhakti indirectly: steadied breath and senses make the mind fit for sustained remembrance (smaraṇa) of the Lord and for disciplined worship without distraction.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It highlights disciplined method (vidhi) and regulation (saṃyama) central to yogic practice; though not a Vedāṅga like Vyākaraṇa directly, it reflects technical procedural precision akin to Vedic vidhi in ritual and practice.