Shloka 34

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

Devanagari script

मन्त्रध्यान तो गर्भो विपरीतो ह्यगर्भकः / एवं द्विधा त्रिधाप्युक्तं पुरणात्पूरकः स च

Transliteration

mantradhyāna to garbho viparīto hyagarbhakaḥ / evaṃ dvidhā tridhāpyuktaṃ puraṇātpūrakaḥ sa ca

Translation

Thiền quán trên thần chú được gọi là “garbha” (hạt giống/bào thai nội tại); điều trái lại gọi là “agarbhaka” (không có hạt giống nội tại). Vì thế được dạy là hai loại—và cũng nói là ba loại; và phép “làm đầy” hơi thở được gọi là pūraka, vì đó là hành vi làm đầy.

Word by Word

• मन्त्रध्यानतः: from mantra-meditation
• मन्त्रध्यानतः: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + ध्यान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (मन्त्रस्य ध्यानम्) + तः (ablative ending)

• गर्भः: with retention (lit. with 'womb'/content)
• गर्भः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गर्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• विपरीतः: opposite; reversed
• विपरीतः: Visheshana (Adjectival/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-परि-इ (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त) → विपरीत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त विशेषण

• हि: indeed
• हि: Avyaya (Particle/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphatic/indeed)

• अगर्भकः: without retention (non-garbha)
• अगर्भकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अ- + गर्भक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; नञ्-समास/निषेधार्थ

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Avyaya (Modifier/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (thus)

• द्विधा: in two ways
• द्विधा: Avyaya (Modifier/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: द्वि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + धा (प्रत्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (in two ways)

• त्रिधा: in three ways
• त्रिधा: Avyaya (Modifier/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + धा (प्रत्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (in three ways)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Avyaya (Particle/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (also/even)

• उक्तम्: is said
• उक्तम्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वच् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त) → उक्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (said)

• पूरणात्: from filling (inhalation)
• पूरणात्: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5), एकवचन

• पूरकः: pūraka (inhalation)
• पूरकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूरक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन

• सः: that; it
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• च: and
• च: Avyaya (Connector/अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपात

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Distinguishing mantra-meditation with an inner ‘seed’ (garbha) versus without (agarbhaka), and defining pūraka as the act of filling the breath.

Vedantic Theme: Upāsanā leading to subtle interiorization; refinement of attention (dhyāna) as a support for mind’s steadiness.

Application: When practicing japa-dhyāna, keep a clear inner support (meaning/form of mantra or deity) rather than mechanical repetition; learn pūraka/recaka/kumbhaka definitions before attempting ratios.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.49.35 (kumbhaka/recaka measures); Garuda Purana 1.49.33 (japa, āsana, prāṇāyāma)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of ‘garbha’ and ‘agarbhaka’ in the Garuda Purana?

This verse distinguishes prāṇāyāma/inner practice done with mantra-focused meditation (garbha, ‘seeded/contained’) from its opposite without that inner mantra-essence (agarbhaka), emphasizing that mantra-awareness is a key purifier.

How does this verse explain the structure of prāṇāyāma?

It notes that the practice is classified as twofold or threefold, and explicitly defines pūraka as the phase called so because it ‘fills’ the breath—pointing to the technical framework of breath regulation used for purification.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When doing breath practice, pair it with steady mantra-awareness rather than mere mechanics; treat inhalation (pūraka) as a deliberate ‘filling’ that supports mental steadiness and ritual/ethical purification.