Shloka 33

Varṇāśrama Dharma, Ethical Virtues, and Aṣṭāṅga-Yoga Culminating in ‘Ahaṃ Brahma’

Devanagari script

स्वाध्यायः स्यान्मन्त्रजापः प्रणिधानं हरेर्यजिः / आसनं पद्मकाद्युक्तं प्राणायामो मरुज्जयः

Transliteration

svādhyāyaḥ syānmantrajāpaḥ praṇidhānaṃ hareryajiḥ / āsanaṃ padmakādyuktaṃ prāṇāyāmo marujjayaḥ

Translation

स्वाध्यायः स्यान्मन्त्रजापः प्रणिधानं हरेर्यजिः। आसनं पद्मकाद्युक्तं प्राणायामो मरुज्जयः॥

Word by Word

• स्वाध्यायः: self-study; recitation
• स्वाध्यायः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + अध्याय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (स्वस्य अध्यायः/स्वाध्यायः)

• स्यात्: should be
• स्यात्: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• मन्त्रजापः: mantra-repetition
• मन्त्रजापः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + जाप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (मन्त्रस्य जापः)

• प्रणिधानम्: dedication; surrender
• प्रणिधानम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्र-नि-धा (धातु) + ल्युट् (कृदन्त) → प्रणिधान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; भाववाचक-ल्युट्

• हरेः: of Hari
• हरेः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन

• यजिः: worship (of Hari); worshipper
• यजिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज् (धातु) + इन् (कृदन्त) → यजि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; इन्-प्रत्ययान्त कर्तृवाचक (one who worships)

• आसनम्: posture; seat
• आसनम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन

• पद्मकादि: such as padmaka (lotus posture)
• पद्मकादि: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्मक (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (पद्मकः आदिः यस्मात्/यत्र)

• युक्तम्: endowed with; accompanied by
• युक्तम्: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: युज् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त) → युक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि/विशेषण

• प्राणायामः: breath-control
• प्राणायामः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राण (प्रातिपदिक) + आयाम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (प्राणस्य आयामः/नियमनम्)

• मरुज्जयः: conquest of the wind (breath)
• मरुज्जयः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मरुत् (प्रातिपदिक) + जय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (मरुतः जयः)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Integrating svādhyāya and japa with Hari-pranidhāna (surrender) and worship; stabilizing body (āsana) and prāṇa (prāṇāyāma) for spiritual focus.

Vedantic Theme: Bhakti-yoga as mind-purification and one-pointedness (ekāgratā) supporting realization; prāṇa-nirodha aiding citta-vṛtti-śānti.

Application: Daily sequence: brief svādhyāya (scripture), mantra-japa, simple Hari-pūjā, steady seated posture (padmāsana or comfortable equivalent), then gentle regulated breathing under guidance.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.49.34-35 (prāṇāyāma taxonomy: pūraka/kumbhaka/recaka)

Characters & Entities

• Hari (Vishnu)

FAQs

What is the importance of svādhyāya and mantra-japa in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents svādhyāya (sacred self-study) and mantra-japa as core disciplines that steady the mind and purify speech and thought, forming a foundation for worship and inner transformation.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By emphasizing surrender to Hari, correct posture, and mastery of prāṇa, the verse points to inner purification and mental control—qualities that support spiritual clarity and progress toward liberation rather than bondage.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain daily scriptural reading, repeat a chosen mantra with attention, offer actions mentally to Vishnu, sit in a stable posture (e.g., lotus or any steady seat), and practice gentle breath regulation to cultivate self-control and devotion.