Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 127

Mokṣopāya: Bhakti-rooted Jñāna and the Aṣṭāṅga Yoga of Viṣṇu-Meditation

Devanagari script

शनैःशनैर्विजेतव्यः प्राणो मत्तगजेन्द्रवत् । अन्यथा खलु जायन्ते महारोगा भयंकराः ॥ २७ ॥

Transliteration

śanaiḥśanairvijetavyaḥ prāṇo mattagajendravat | anyathā khalu jāyante mahārogā bhayaṃkarāḥ || 27 ||

Translation

พึงฝึกปราณให้ชนะได้ทีละน้อยทีละน้อย ดุจการปราบช้างเจ้าป่าที่กำลังตกมัน มิฉะนั้นโรคร้ายใหญ่ที่น่ากลัวจักบังเกิดขึ้นแน่นอน

Word by Word

• शनैः: slowly
• शनैः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शनैः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: slowly)

• शनैः: gradually
• शनैः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शनैः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; पुनरुक्ति (repetition for emphasis)

• विजेतव्यः: is to be conquered/controlled
• विजेतव्यः: विधेय (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + जि (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: कृदन्त (gerundive/भाव्य, तव्यत्), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘विजेतव्यः’ = ‘must be conquered/controlled’

• प्राणः: the prāṇa (vital breath)
• प्राणः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• मत्त-गजेन्द्र-वत्: like a rutting lordly elephant
• मत्त-गजेन्द्र-वत्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मत्त (प्रातिपदिक) + गजेन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक) + वत् (तद्धित-प्रत्यय)
• Form: उपमानार्थे अव्ययप्रयोगः; ‘मत्तगजेन्द्र’ इति तत्पुरुष-समास (mad + lord of elephants) + वत् (like)

• अन्यथा: otherwise
• अन्यथा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/विपरीतार्थक (otherwise)

• खलु: surely
• खलु: सम्बन्ध (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: खलु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चयार्थक-निपात (indeed/surely)

• जायन्ते: arise/are born
• जायन्ते: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: जन् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपदम्

• महा-रोगाः: great diseases
• महा-रोगाः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + रोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (great diseases), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• भयंकराः: terrible/frightful
• भयंकराः: विशेषण (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भयंकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifies महा-रोगाः)

Speaker

Sanatkumara (teaching Narada)

Vrata Kalpa

Vrata: none

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Characters & Entities

• Prana

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in Narada Purana?

It teaches that prāṇa-nigraha (restraint of the life-breath) is a powerful yogic tool that must be approached with steady, incremental discipline; forcing it destabilizes body and mind and obstructs spiritual progress.

How does this verse explain the path of devotion (Bhakti)?

By emphasizing careful self-regulation, it supports bhakti as a steady sādhana: a devotee preserves bodily and mental fitness so that japa, kīrtana, and remembrance of Viṣṇu can be sustained without harm from reckless austerity.

What practical Vedic knowledge (Vedanga) is highlighted here?

While not a direct Vedāṅga rule, it aligns with Śikṣā-type discipline (methodical training and correct practice) by insisting on proper, gradual technique rather than abrupt exertion in breath practices.