Kurma Purana — Uttara Bhaga, Shloka 30

Īśvara-Gītā (continued): Twofold Yoga, Aṣṭāṅga Discipline, Pāśupata Meditation, and the Unity of Nārāyaṇa–Maheśvara

Devanagari script

यमाः सनियमाः प्रोक्ताः प्राणायामं निबोधत / प्राणः स्वदेहजो वायुरायामस्तन्निरोधनम्

Transliteration

yamāḥ saniyamāḥ proktāḥ prāṇāyāmaṃ nibodhata / prāṇaḥ svadehajo vāyurāyāmastannirodhanam

Translation

யமம், நியமம் கூறப்பட்டன; இப்போது பிராணாயாமத்தை அறிக. பிராணன் என்பது தன் உடலிலே பிறக்கும் உயிர்வாயு; ‘ஆயாமம்’ என்பது அதன் அடக்கம்—ஆகவே பிராணாயாமம் அந்த உயிர்வாயுவை கட்டுப்படுத்துதல்.

Word by Word

• yamāḥ: restraints (yamas)
• yamāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन)

• sa-niyamāḥ: (along with) observances (niyamas)
• sa-niyamāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: niyama (प्रातिपदिक) with sa- (उपसर्ग/पूर्वपद)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन); sa-niyama = 'with niyamas' (सहित-सम्बन्ध)

• proktāḥ: have been declared/taught
• proktāḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √vac (वच् धातु) + pra-; past passive participle (क्त)
• Form: PPP (क्त-कृदन्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन); passive sense

• prāṇāyāmam: prāṇāyāma (breath regulation)
• prāṇāyāmam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prāṇa + āyāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); prāṇa-āyāma = 'extension/regulation of breath' (षष्ठी/तत्पुरुष)

• nibodhata: understand/learn (you all)
• nibodhata: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √budh (बुध् धातु) + ni-
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन); parasmaipada

• prāṇaḥ: breath (prāṇa)
• prāṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• sva-deha-jaḥ: born from one’s own body
• sva-deha-jaḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + deha (प्रातिपदिक) + ja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); adjective qualifying vāyuḥ; sva-deha-ja = 'born from one’s own body' (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष + उपपद)

• vāyuḥ: wind/air
• vāyuḥ: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāyu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• āyāmaḥ: extension/regulation
• āyāmaḥ: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āyāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• tat: of that
• tat: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन); used as pronoun 'of that'

• nirodhanam: restraint/suppression
• nirodhanam: Samānādhikaraṇa (समानाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nirodhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

Speaker

Lord Kurma (Vishnu) teaching in the Ishvara Gita tradition

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Characters & Entities

• Kurma
• Prana
• Pranayama
• Yama
• Niyama

More Details (3 sections)

FAQs

How does this verse explain the nature of the Supreme Self (Atman)?

Indirectly: by defining pranayama as restraint of prana, it frames yogic discipline as inward mastery—preparing the mind for steady contemplation in which Atman-realization becomes possible.

What Yoga or Meditative practices are highlighted here?

It highlights the classical progression from yama and niyama to pranayama, defining pranayama specifically as regulating and restraining the vital air (prana) within the body as a core yogic method.

How does this verse depict the relationship between Shiva and Vishnu?

Though not naming Shiva directly, it reflects the Kurma Purana’s synthesis: Vishnu as Kurma teaches a Shaiva-leaning (Pashupata/Ishvara Gita) yogic discipline, presenting Yoga as a shared, non-sectarian path to Ishvara.