Shloka 9

नारद–शुक संवादः (Nārada–Śuka Dialogue): Tyāga, Saṃyama, and Vyakta–Avyakta Viveka

Devanagari script

धारणं चैव मनस: प्राणायामश्न्‌ पार्थिव । एकाग्रता च मनस: प्राणायामस्तथैव च

Transliteration

yājñavalkya uvāca | dhāraṇaṃ caiva manasaḥ prāṇāyāmaś ca pārthiva | ekāgratā ca manasaḥ prāṇāyāmas tathaiva ca ||

Translation

ଯାଜ୍ଞବଲ୍କ୍ୟ କହିଲେ—ହେ ପୃଥ୍ୱୀନାଥ! କୌଣସି ବିଶେଷ ଦେଶ/ଆଶ୍ରୟରେ ମନକୁ ସ୍ଥାପନ କରିବାକୁ ‘ଧାରଣା’ କୁହାଯାଏ। ସେହି ଧାରଣା ସହିତ କରାଯାଇଥିବା ପ୍ରାଣାୟାମ ସଗୁଣ; ଏବଂ କୌଣସି ବିଶେଷ ସ୍ଥାନ କିମ୍ବା ବିଷୟର ଆଶ୍ରୟ ନ ନେଇ ମନକୁ ନିର୍ବୀଜ ସମାଧିରେ ଏକାଗ୍ର କରୁଥିବା ପ୍ରାଣାୟାମକୁ ନିର୍ଗୁଣ ବୋଲି କୁହାଯାଏ।

Word by Word

• धारणम्: concentration/holding (of the mind)
• धारणम्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धारण (धृ)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• एव: indeed/just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• मनसः: of the mind
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस्
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• प्राणायामः: breath-control (prāṇāyāma)
• प्राणायामः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राणायाम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पार्थिव: O king/earth-lord
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थिव
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• एकाग्रता: one-pointedness
• एकाग्रता: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: एकाग्रता
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• मनसः: of the mind
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस्
• Form: Neuter, Genitive, Singular

• प्राणायामः: breath-control (prāṇāyāma)
• प्राणायामः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राणायाम
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तथा: thus/likewise
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• एव: indeed/just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• पृथ्वीनाथ: O lord of the earth (king)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पृथ्वीनाथ
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

Speaker

याज़्ञवल्क्य उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Yājñavalkya
• Pārthiva (the king addressed)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse distinguishes two modes of yogic practice: (1) dhāraṇā—fixing the mind on a specific locus/object—paired with prāṇāyāma as a supported, ‘saguṇa’ discipline; and (2) an unsupported, objectless gathering of the mind into nirbīja samādhi, described as ‘nirguṇa’ prāṇāyāma.

What is happening in the narrative?

In the Śānti Parva’s instruction on peace and liberation, the sage Yājñavalkya addresses a king and explains technical distinctions in yogic concentration and breath-discipline, guiding the ruler toward inner mastery rather than outward power.