Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 19

Genealogies of Svāyambhuva Manu, the Appearance of Yajña, and Atri’s Sons

Brahmā–Viṣṇu–Śiva Expansions

Devanagari script

प्राणायामेन संयम्य मनो वर्षशतं मुनि: । अतिष्ठदेकपादेन निर्द्वन्द्वोऽनिलभोजन: ॥ १९ ॥

Transliteration

prāṇāyāmena saṁyamya mano varṣa-śataṁ muniḥ atiṣṭhad eka-pādena nirdvandvo ’nila-bhojanaḥ

Translation

ณ ที่นั้น มหาฤๅษีอัตริทรงสำรวมจิตด้วยปราณายาม ระงับความยึดติดทั้งปวง เป็นผู้พ้นจากคู่ตรงข้าม ดำรงชีพด้วยลมเพียงอย่างเดียว และยืนขาเดียวบำเพ็ญตบะตลอดร้อยปี

Synonyms

• प्राणायामेन: by breath-control
• प्राणायामेन: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राणायाम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन; समासः प्राण+आयाम (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः)

• संयम्य: having restrained
• संयम्य: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial modifier/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+यम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), ‘having restrained/controlled’

• मनः: the mind
• मनः: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन

• वर्षशतम्: a hundred years
• वर्षशतम्: कालाधिकरण (Time-duration/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ष-शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/काल-अवधि), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (शतं वर्षाणि)

• मुनिः: the sage
• मुनिः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/कर्ता), एकवचन

• अतिष्ठत्: stood
• अतिष्ठत्: क्रिया (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्था (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• एकपादेन: on one foot
• एकपादेन: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक-पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन; समासः एक+पाद (कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-प्रयोगः: ‘one foot’)

• निर्द्वन्द्वः: free from dualities
• निर्द्वन्द्वः: कर्ता (Subject-qualifier/कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्द्वन्द्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (muniḥ)

• अनिलभोजनः: one who subsists on air
• अनिलभोजनः: कर्ता (Subject-qualifier/कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनिल-भोजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः अनिलस्य भोजनम् इति (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः); विशेषणम् (muniḥ)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about prāṇāyāma and controlling the mind?

This verse states that through prāṇāyāma the sage restrained the mind and maintained intense steadiness for a very long time, showing breath-control as a means of mental discipline.

Who is being described as performing such severe austerity in Bhagavatam 4.1.19?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī describes a sage performing prolonged tapas—standing on one leg, living on air, and remaining nirdvandva—within the genealogical narrative of Canto 4, Chapter 1.

How can the idea of being nirdvandva (free from dualities) be applied in modern life?

Practice steadiness amid praise and criticism, comfort and discomfort—using disciplined habits (like regulated breathing, meditation, and devotion) to reduce reactive swings of the mind.