Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 43
Devanagari script
यथा तोयार्थिनस्तोयं पत्रनालादिभिः शनैः । आपिबेयुस्तथा वायुं योगी नयति साधितम्
Transliteration
yathā toyārthinastoyaṃ patranālādibhiḥ śanaiḥ | āpibeyustathā vāyuṃ yogī nayati sādhitam
Translation
正如求水之人以叶管等物缓缓啜饮清水，如是瑜伽行者既已善修其法，便柔和地引导并摄受生命之风（普拉那/瓦尤）。
Word by Word
यथाjust as
यथा:
Kriya-visheshana (Correlative/क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootयथा (अव्यय)
Formउपमान/प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय
तोय-अर्थिनःthose desiring water
तोय-अर्थिनः:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootतोय (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formतत्पुरुष (तोयम् अर्थयते इति/तोयस्य अर्थी); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन
तोयम्water
तोयम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootतोय (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन
पत्र-नाल-आदिभिःwith leaves, tubes, and the like
पत्र-नाल-आदिभिः:
Karana (Instrument/करण)
TypeNoun
Rootपत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + नाल (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
Formसमाहार/इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व-समास (पत्रनालादि-समूह); पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक-सम्भव, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; करणवाचक
शनैःslowly
शनैः:
Kriya-visheshana (Manner/क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootशनैः (अव्यय)
Formरीत्यर्थक-अव्यय (adverb: slowly, gradually)
आपिबेयुःwould/should drink
आपिबेयुः:
Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootआ + पा (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन
तथाlikewise
तथा:
Kriya-visheshana (Correlative/क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतथा (अव्यय)
Formतदनुरूप-अव्यय (so, likewise)
वायुम्air, breath
वायुम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootवायु (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन
योगीthe yogin
योगी:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootयोगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
नयतिleads, directs
नयति:
Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootनी (धातु)
Formलट् (Present), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन
साधितम्mastered, controlled
साधितम्:
Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootसाध् (धातु) → साधित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
Formक्त-प्रत्यय (past participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘वायुम्’ इति विशेषणम्
Speaker
Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) to the sages (deduced)
Visual Art Cues
Scene: A yogin beside a small water vessel; a seeker sips water through a leaf-tube, paralleled by the yogin’s subtle inhalation shown as a fine stream of air; emphasis on gentleness and precision.
FAQs
Breath mastery is attained through gentle, gradual control—never by force—like slowly sipping water.
No tīrtha is referenced; the verse is a technical metaphor for yogic practice.
The practical rule is slow, measured regulation of vāyu (breath), indicating a non-violent pranayama approach.