Previous Verse
Next Verse

Shloka 8

अव्यक्त–पुरुष–विवेकः (Discrimination of Avyakta/Prakṛti and Puruṣa) — Yājñavalkya’s Anvīkṣikī to Viśvāvasu

एकाग्रता च मनस: प्राणायामस्तथैव च । प्राणायामस्तु सगुणो निर्गुणो मनसस्तथा

ekāgratā ca manasaḥ prāṇāyāmas tathaiva ca | prāṇāyāmas tu saguṇo nirguṇo manasas tathā ||

这两种是:(一)心之专一(ekāgratā,一境性);(二)调御气息(prāṇāyāma,制息)。而制息又分二类:有相有德者(saguṇa)与无相无德者(nirguṇa)。当心与有相之境相应时,名为有相制息;当心与无相之境相应时,名为无相制息。

एकाग्रताone-pointedness, concentration
एकाग्रता:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootएकाग्रता
FormFeminine, Nominative, Singular
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
मनसःof the mind
मनसः:
TypeNoun
Rootमनस्
FormNeuter, Genitive, Singular
प्राणायामःbreath-control (prāṇāyāma)
प्राणायामः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootप्राणायाम
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
तथाthus, likewise
तथा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतथा
एवindeed, just
एव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
प्राणायामःprāṇāyāma
प्राणायामः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootप्राणायाम
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
तुbut, however
तु:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतु
सगुणःwith attributes (saguṇa)
सगुणः:
TypeAdjective
Rootसगुण
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
निर्गुणःwithout attributes (nirguṇa)
निर्गुणः:
TypeAdjective
Rootनिर्गुण
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
मनसःof the mind
मनसः:
TypeNoun
Rootमनस्
FormNeuter, Genitive, Singular
तथाlikewise, similarly
तथा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतथा

वसिष्ठ उवाच

V
Vasiṣṭha

Educational Q&A

Meditation is presented as the yogin’s primary discipline and strength, and it is analyzed into two practical modes—mental one-pointedness (ekāgratā) and breath regulation (prāṇāyāma). Breath regulation is further distinguished by whether the mind is oriented toward the qualified (saguṇa) or the unqualified (nirguṇa) reality.

In the instruction section of the Śānti Parva, Vasiṣṭha is teaching a listener about yogic practice. He classifies meditation methods and clarifies how prāṇāyāma can be practiced with attention directed either toward a conceived, attribute-bearing focus (saguṇa) or toward the attributeless absolute (nirguṇa).