Shloka 19

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

Devanagari script

इन्द्रियाणीन्द्रियार्थेभ्यः प्राणादीनम्न एव च / निगृह्य समवायेन प्रत्याहार मुपक्रमेत्

Transliteration

indriyāṇīndriyārthebhyaḥ prāṇādīnamna eva ca / nigṛhya samavāyena pratyāhāra mupakramet

Translation

ਇੰਦ੍ਰੀਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਉਹਨਾਂ ਦੇ ਵਿਸ਼ਿਆਂ ਤੋਂ, ਅਤੇ ਪ੍ਰਾਣ ਆਦਿ ਜੀਵ-ਵਾਯੂਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਵੀ ਨਿਯਮ ਨਾਲ ਨਿਗ੍ਰਹ ਕਰਕੇ; ਸਮਨਵਿਤ ਇਕਾਗ੍ਰਤਾ ਨਾਲ ਪ੍ਰਤਿਆਹਾਰ ਦਾ ਅਭਿਆਸ ਸ਼ੁਰੂ ਕਰੇ।

Word by Word

• इन्द्रियाणि: the senses
• इन्द्रियाणि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन; कर्मपदम् (निगृह्य इत्यस्य)

• इन्द्रियार्थेभ्यः: from the objects of the senses
• इन्द्रियार्थेभ्यः: Apadana (Source/अपा दान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्रिय (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषः (इन्द्रियाणाम् अर्थाः); पुंलिङ्गे, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), बहुवचन; अपादानम् ("from sense-objects")

• प्राणादीन्: prāṇa and the rest (vital functions)
• प्राणादीन्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राण (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषः (प्राणः आदिः येषाम्); पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन; कर्मपदम् (निगृह्य इत्यस्य)

• नम्नः: subdued, made compliant
• नम्नः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नम्र/नम्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्तृविशेषणम् ("bent/subdued")

• एव: indeed, only
• एव: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (restrictive particle)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• निगृह्य: having restrained
• निगृह्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund) उपसर्ग-नि; "having restrained"

• समवायेन: by integration, by close conjunction
• समवायेन: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समवाय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; करणम् ("by conjunction/collective integration")

• प्रत्याहारम्: withdrawal (of senses), pratyāhāra
• प्रत्याहारम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रत्याहार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्मपदम् (उपक्रमेत् इत्यस्य)

• उपक्रमेत्: should commence
• उपक्रमेत्: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्रम् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; उपसर्ग-उप; "should begin"

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Pratyāhāra begins with two restraints: (1) indriya-nigraha (senses from objects) and (2) prāṇa-niyama (regulating vital forces), done with samavāya (integrated coordination).

Vedantic Theme: Turning from viṣaya-vṛtti to antar-mukhatā (inward-facing mind) as preparation for dhāraṇā/dhyāna.

Application: Reduce sensory inputs; practice breath regulation; coordinate attention so senses, breath, and mind move as one system toward inward stability.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.226.20 (prāṇāyāma count; dhāraṇā)

Characters & Entities

• Prana
• Indriyas

FAQs

What is the importance of pratyāhāra in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents pratyāhāra as a foundational inner discipline: first restraining the senses and steadying prāṇa, then beginning withdrawal so the mind can turn inward for higher practice.

How does this verse explain control of the senses and prāṇa?

It links sense-restraint (turning away from objects) with prāṇa-regulation, stating that both must be integrated (samavāya) to properly initiate pratyāhāra.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Reduce sensory overload, practice steady breathing (prāṇāyāma or calm regulated breath), and intentionally draw attention inward before meditation or prayer.