Shloka 22

Brahma-vidyā through Yoga: Restraint, Pranava Japa, and Samādhi leading to Mokṣa

Devanagari script

प्राणायामो जपश्चैव प्रत्याहारो ऽथ धारणा / ध्यानं समाधिरित्येते षड् योगस्य प्रसाधकाः

Transliteration

prāṇāyāmo japaścaiva pratyāhāro 'tha dhāraṇā / dhyānaṃ samādhirityete ṣaḍ yogasya prasādhakāḥ

Translation

ปราณายามะ, ชปะ, ปฺรตฺยาหาระ, ธารณา, ธฺยานะ และสมาธิ—ทั้งหกนี้เป็นเครื่องยังโยคะให้สำเร็จบริบูรณ์

Word by Word

• प्राणायामः: breath-control (prāṇāyāma)
• प्राणायामः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राण (प्रातिपदिक) + आयाम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (‘प्राणस्य आयामः’ = regulation/extension of breath)

• जपः: repetition (japa)
• जपः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

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

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण-निपात (particle: indeed)

• प्रत्याहारः: withdrawal (of senses)
• प्रत्याहारः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रति + आ + हृ (धातु) → आहार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; योगशास्त्रीय-परिभाषा

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (Sequencer/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तर/आरम्भबोधक-निपात (particle: then/now)

• धारणा: concentration (dhāraṇā)
• धारणा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धृ (धातु) → धारणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• ध्यानम्: meditation (dhyāna)
• ध्यानम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्यान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• समाधिः: absorption (samādhi)
• समाधिः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समाधि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (Quotation marker/इति)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण/समाप्त्यर्थक-अव्यय (quotative particle)

• एते: these
• एते: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• षट्: six
• षट्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: षष्/षट् (संख्याशब्द/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: संख्याविशेषणम्; (एते विशेषयति)

• योगस्य: of yoga
• योगस्य: Shashthi-Sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन

• प्रसाधकाः: accomplishers/means (that perfect)
• प्रसाधकाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्र + साध् (धातु) → साधक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Six practical limbs that accomplish yoga: prāṇāyāma, japa, pratyāhāra, dhāraṇā, dhyāna, samādhi.

Vedantic Theme: Citta-śuddhi and ekāgratā as proximate means to Self-knowledge; yoga as a sādhanā supporting liberation.

Application: Adopt a daily sequence: regulated breathing, mantra japa, sensory restraint, focused concentration, sustained meditation, and absorption; track consistency over intensity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.235.21 (mokṣa by transcending prakṛti); Garuda Purana 1.235.23 (japa-dhyāna linked to auspicious outcomes)

Characters & Entities

• Yoga
• Pranayama
• Japa
• Pratyahara
• Dharana
• Dhyana
• Samadhi

FAQs

What is the importance of the six Yoga practices in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that these six disciplines are the direct aids that bring Yoga to completion—training breath, senses, and mind step-by-step toward inner steadiness.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

By emphasizing purification and mastery of the mind through Yoga, it points to an inner path that supports liberation (moksha) and reduces bondage created by restless senses and mental impressions.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Adopt a simple sequence: steady breathing (prāṇāyāma), daily mantra (japa), reduce sensory overload (pratyāhāra), practice focused attention (dhāraṇā), sit in meditation (dhyāna), and cultivate deep stillness (samādhi) progressively.