Shloka 13

Mahāyoga: Detachment from ‘I/Mine’, Aṣṭāṅga Practice, Oṁkāra and Aham-Brahmāsmi Contemplation

Devanagari script

सन्तोषस्तपसा शान्तिर्वासुदेवार्चनं दमः / आसन पद्मकाद्युक्तं प्राणायामो मरुज्जयः

Transliteration

santoṣastapasā śāntirvāsudevārcanaṃ damaḥ / āsana padmakādyuktaṃ prāṇāyāmo marujjayaḥ

Translation

संतोष, तप, अंतःशांती, वासुदेवाचे अर्चन आणि दम (इंद्रियनिग्रह); पद्मकादी आसने, तसेच प्राणायाम—वायूवर विजय—ही साधना आहे।

Word by Word

• सन्तोषः: contentment
• सन्तोषः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सन्तोष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• तपसा: by austerity
• तपसा: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; साधनार्थ (by austerity)

• शान्तिः: peace
• शान्तिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शान्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• वासुदेव: of Vāsudeva
• वासुदेव: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वासुदेव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; (सम्बन्धः—whose worship)

• अर्चनम्: worship
• अर्चनम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्चन (प्रातिपदिक; √अर्च् (धातु) + ल्युट्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; क्रियानाम (act of worship)

• दमः: self-control
• दमः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• आसनम्: posture/seat
• आसनम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आसन (प्रातिपदिक; √आस् (धातु) + ल्युट्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• पद्मक: lotus(-posture)
• पद्मक: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्मक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; (आद्य-समुच्चयस्य पूर्वपद)

• आदि: and so on
• आदि: Sambandha (Etc./सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आदि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समाहारार्थ (etc.)

• युक्तम्: accompanied by/combined with
• युक्तम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युक्त (कृदन्त; √युज् (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; आसनस्य विशेषणम् (endowed/combined)

• प्राणायामः: breath regulation
• प्राणायामः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राणायाम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; प्राण + आयाम (breath-control)

• मरुत्: of wind/breath
• मरुत्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मरुत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन; (मरुतः = प्राणस्य)

• जयः: conquest/mastery
• जयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Niyamas and yogic supports: santoṣa, tapas, śānti, Vāsudeva worship, dama; plus āsana (padmaka etc.) and prāṇāyāma (marut-jaya) as integrated discipline.

Vedantic Theme: Bhakti and yoga as mind-purifiers leading to one-pointedness (ekāgratā) and fitness for Self-knowledge; harmonizing devotion with psycho-physical practice.

Application: Build a daily sādhanā stack: contentment + measured austerity + inner quiet; worship Vāsudeva; practice self-restraint, stable posture, and breath regulation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.226: sequence from yama/niyama to āsana and prāṇāyāma; Vāsudeva-arcana as devotional anchor.

Characters & Entities

• Vasudeva

FAQs

What is the importance of prāṇāyāma (marut-jaya) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents prāṇāyāma as “marut-jaya,” mastery over the vital winds, indicating disciplined breath-control as a key practice for inner steadiness and purification.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana narrative?

By emphasizing worship of Vāsudeva, restraint (dama), and yogic discipline, the verse points to inner purification as the supportive path that prepares one for a higher post-death trajectory and spiritual freedom.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate contentment, practice basic sense-restraint, include simple Viṣṇu worship, and add a steady seated posture with gentle breath regulation as a daily routine.