Srimad Bhagavatam — Panchama Skandha, Shloka 27

The Six Dvīpas Beyond Jambūdvīpa and the Cosmic Boundary of Lokāloka

Devanagari script

तद्वर्षपुरुषा ऋतव्रतसत्यव्रतदानव्रतानुव्रतनामानो भगवन्तं वाय्वात्मकं प्राणायामविधूतरजस्तमस: परमसमाधिना यजन्ते ॥ २७ ॥

Transliteration

tad-varṣa-puruṣā ṛtavrata-satyavrata-dānavratānuvrata-nāmāno bhagavantaṁ vāyv-ātmakaṁ prāṇāyāma-vidhūta-rajas-tamasaḥ parama-samādhinā yajante.

Translation

那些岛上的居民亦分为四种阶层：利陀弗拉塔、萨提耶弗拉塔、达那弗拉塔与阿努弗拉塔，分别相当于婆罗门、刹帝利、吠舍与首陀罗。他们修习调息（prāṇāyāma）以涤除罗阇与昏暗之性，并在至高三昧中礼敬以风（Vāyu）为形的至上主。

Synonyms

• tad-varṣa-puruṣāḥ: the people of that region
• tad-varṣa-puruṣāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + varṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + puruṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (तस्य वर्षस्य पुरुषाः)

• ṛtavrata-satyavrata-dānavrata-anuvrata-nāmānaḥ: named Ṛtavrata, Satyavrata, Dānavrata, and Anuvrata
• ṛtavrata-satyavrata-dānavrata-anuvrata-nāmānaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ṛtavrata (प्रातिपदिक) + satyavrata (प्रातिपदिक) + dānavrata (प्रातिपदिक) + anuvrata (प्रातिपदिक) + nāman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; बहुनाम-तत्पुरुषः (एतेषां नामानि येषाम्)

• bhagavantam: the Lord
• bhagavantam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• vāyu-ātmakam: whose nature is air (Vāyu)
• vāyu-ātmakam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vāyu (प्रातिपदिक) + ātmaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (वायुरूप-स्वभावम्)

• prāṇāyāma-vidhūta-rajas-tamasaḥ: whose rajas and tamas are shaken off by prāṇāyāma
• prāṇāyāma-vidhūta-rajas-tamasaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: prāṇāyāma (प्रातिपदिक) + vidhūta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + rajas (प्रातिपदिक) + tamas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः— (प्राणायामेन विधूतं रजस्तमः यस्य)

• parama-samādhinā: by supreme concentration
• parama-samādhinā: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक) + samādhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (परमः समाधिः)

• yajante: they worship
• yajante: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yaj (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद

Characters & Entities

• Bhagavān (as Vāyu)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about worshiping the Lord as Vāyu (life-air)?

This verse states that devotees in that varṣa worship Bhagavān in a Vāyu-ātmaka form—recognizing the Supreme Lord as present as the life-air—and they do so with deep samādhi after purification through prāṇāyāma.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī describe prāṇāyāma in Canto 5?

In describing the spiritual culture of different regions of Jambūdvīpa, Śukadeva explains that some worshipers approach the Lord through yogic discipline; here, prāṇāyāma is highlighted as a means to cleanse rajas and tamas and steady the mind for samādhi.

Practical application of prāṇāyāma and samādhi from this shloka in modern life?

The takeaway is to reduce agitation (rajas) and inertia (tamas) by regulated breathing and mindful discipline, using the resulting clarity to remember and worship the Supreme with steadiness and devotion.