Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 125

Mokṣopāya: Bhakti-rooted Jñāna and the Aṣṭāṅga Yoga of Viṣṇu-Meditation

Devanagari script

स्वदेहपूरितं वायं निगृह्य न विमृंचति । संपूर्णकुंभवत्तिष्टेत्कुम्भकः स हि विश्रुतः ॥ २५ ॥

Transliteration

svadehapūritaṃ vāyaṃ nigṛhya na vimṛṃcati | saṃpūrṇakuṃbhavattiṣṭetkumbhakaḥ sa hi viśrutaḥ || 25 ||

Translation

സ്വദേഹത്തിൽ നിറഞ്ഞ വായുവിനെ നിയന്ത്രിച്ച് വിട്ടുകളയാതെ ഇരിക്കണം. പൂർണ്ണമായി നിറഞ്ഞ കുംഭംപോലെ സ്ഥിരമായി നിലകൊള്ളുന്നതാണ് ‘കുംഭക’ എന്നു പ്രസിദ്ധം.

Word by Word

• स्व-देह-पूरितम्: filled in one’s own body
• स्व-देह-पूरितम्: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + देह (प्रातिपदिक) + पूरित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √पॄ + क्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (determinative; ‘स्वस्य देहस्य पूरितम्’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifies वायुम्)

• वायुम्: the breath/air
• वायुम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• निगृह्य: having restrained
• निगृह्य: पूर्वक्रिया (Gerundial action/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययवत्; पूर्वक्रिया (having restrained)

• न: not
• न: सम्बन्ध (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-निपात (negation particle)

• विमृंचति: releases/lets go
• विमृंचति: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + मृच् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• संपूर्ण-कुंभ-वत्: like a full pot
• संपूर्ण-कुंभ-वत्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: संपूर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + कुंभ (प्रातिपदिक) + वत् (तद्धित-प्रत्यय)
• Form: उपमानार्थे अव्ययप्रयोगः; ‘संपूर्णकुंभ’ इति तत्पुरुष-समास + वत् (like); क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial)

• तिष्ठेत्: should remain/stand
• तिष्ठेत्: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• कुम्भकः: kumbhaka (breath retention)
• कुम्भकः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुम्भक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• सः: that (it)
• सः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• हि: indeed/for
• हि: सम्बन्ध (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थक/निश्चयार्थक-निपात (indeed/for)

• विश्रुतः: is renowned
• विश्रुतः: विधेय (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + श्रु (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (past passive participle/क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘प्रसिद्धः’ (well-known)

Speaker

Sanatkumāra (teaching Nārada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

FAQs

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

It defines kumbhaka (breath-retention) as steady holding of prāṇa after inhalation, emphasizing inner steadiness and control of vital force as a direct aid to purification and yogic concentration.

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

While the verse is primarily yogic, it supports bhakti indirectly: steadied prāṇa stabilizes the mind, making sustained remembrance (smaraṇa) and focused worship of Bhagavān easier and less distracted.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

It aligns with Śikṣā (phonetics/breath discipline) and yogic praxis by stressing regulated breath control—useful for steadiness in mantra-japa, correct recitation, and sustained ritual attention.