Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 32

Devanagari script

पद्माख्यमासनं कृत्वा रेचकं पूरकं तथा । कुंभकं च सुखासीनः प्राणायामं त्रिधाऽभ्यसेत्

Transliteration

padmākhyamāsanaṃ kṛtvā recakaṃ pūrakaṃ tathā | kuṃbhakaṃ ca sukhāsīnaḥ prāṇāyāmaṃ tridhā'bhyaset

Translation

ਪਦਮ ਨਾਮਕ ਆਸਨ ਧਾਰਨ ਕਰਕੇ, ਸੁਖ ਨਾਲ ਬੈਠਿਆ ਹੋਇਆ, ਪ੍ਰਾਣਾਯਾਮ ਨੂੰ ਤਿੰਨ ਢੰਗਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਅਭਿਆਸ ਕਰੇ—ਰੇਚਕ (ਉਛਾਸ ਛੱਡਣਾ), ਪੂਰਕ (ਉਛਾਸ ਭਰਨਾ) ਅਤੇ ਕੁੰਭਕ (ਰੋਕਣਾ)।

Word by Word

• पद्म: lotus
• पद्म: Sambandha (Name-element/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, समासपूर्वपद; एकवचन-प्रातिपदिक (stem form in compound)

• आख्यम्: called ‘padma’
• आख्यम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—पद्म-आख्य (named ‘padma’)

• आसनम्: posture/seat
• आसनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• कृत्वा: having done/made
• कृत्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु) → कृत्वा (कृदन्त, त्वा)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive)

• रेचकम्: exhalation (recaka)
• रेचकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रेचक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• पूरकम्: inhalation (pūraka)
• पूरकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूरक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तथा: likewise/also
• तथा: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय/प्रकारवाचक (adverb: ‘also/likewise’)

• कुंभकम्: retention (kumbhaka)
• कुंभकम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुंभक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

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

• सुखासीनः: sitting comfortably
• सुखासीनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुख + आसीन (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (सुखः आसीनः = comfortably seated)

• प्राणायामम्: prāṇāyāma
• प्राणायामम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राण + आयाम (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः

• त्रिधा: in three ways
• त्रिधा: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: त्रिधा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारवाचक (adverb: ‘in three ways’)

• अभ्यसेत्: should practice
• अभ्यसेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + अस् (धातु) (अभ्यस्-धात्वादेशः)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) (deduced)

Visual Art Cues

Scene: A yogin in perfect padmāsana on a kusa mat, with three subtle breath-arcs: outward (recaka), inward (pūraka), and a still circle at the heart/nostrils (kumbhaka); calm shrine ambience.

Characters & Entities

• Padmāsana
• Recaka
• Pūraka
• Kumbhaka

FAQs

What is the primary spiritual lesson of this shloka?

Correct posture and calm steadiness support the threefold regulation of breath, forming a disciplined path of inner purification.

Which specific holy site (Tirtha) is glorified here?

No sacred place is referenced; the verse is practical yoga instruction.

What ritualistic prescription is mentioned?

Practise prāṇāyāma seated in padmāsana, using recaka (exhale), pūraka (inhale), and kumbhaka (retain).