FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 11.15.24

पार्ष्ण्यापीड्य गुदं प्राणं हृदुर:कण्ठमूर्धसु । आरोप्य ब्रह्मरन्ध्रेण ब्रह्म नीत्वोत्सृजेत्तनुम् ॥ २४ ॥
pārṣṇyāpīḍya gudaṁ prāṇaṁ
[paarshnyaapeedya gudam praanam]
hṛd-uraḥ-kaṇṭha-mūrdhasu
[hrid-urah-kantha-moordhasu]
āropya brahma-randhreṇa
[aaropya brahma-randhrena]
brahma nītvotsṛjet tanum
[brahma neetvotsrijet tanum]
Word-for-word
pārṣṇyā — with the heel of the foot āpīḍya — blocking gudam — the anus prāṇam — the vital air carrying the living entity hṛt — from the heart uraḥ — to the chest kaṇṭha — to the neck mūrdhasu — and to the head āropya — placing brahma-randhreṇa — by the spiritual seat at the top of the head brahma — to the spiritual world or impersonal Brahman (or any other destination one has selected) nītvā — leading (the soul) utsṛjet — one should give up tanum — the material body.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
pārṣṇyāpīḍya gudaṁ prāṇaṁ
pārṣṇyā
with the heel of the foot
āpīḍya
blocking
gudam
the anus
prāṇam
the vital air carrying the living entity
hṛd-uraḥ-kaṇṭha-mūrdhasu
hṛt
from the heart
uraḥ
to the chest
kaṇṭha
to the neck
mūrdhasu
and to the head
āropya brahma-randhreṇa
āropya
placing
brahma-randhreṇa
by the spiritual seat at the top of the head
brahma nītvotsṛjet tanum
brahma
to the spiritual world or impersonal Brahman (or any other destination one has selected)
nītvā
leading (the soul)
utsṛjet
one should give up
tanum
the material body.
The yogī who has achieved the mystic perfection called svacchanda-mṛtyu blocks the anus with the heel of the foot and then lifts the soul from the heart to the chest, to the neck and finally to the head. Situated within the brahma-randhra, the yogī then gives up his material body and guides the spirit soul to the selected destination.
Purport

This mystic opulence of svacchandu-mṛtyu, or dying at will, was wonderfully exhibited by Bhīṣmadeva at the end of the Battle of Kurukṣetra. According to Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī, the term brahma, as used in this verse, is an example of upalakṣaṇa, or the use of a general term to indicate various concepts. Brahma here indicates the particular destination selected by the yogī, namely the spiritual sky, the impersonal brahmajyoti or any other destination that has attracted the yogī’s mind.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
The yogī who has achieved the mystic perfection called svacchanda-mṛtyu blocks the anus with the heel of the foot and then lifts the soul from the heart to the chest, to the neck and finally to the head. Through the brahma-randhra, the yogī attains Brahman and gives up his material body. Blocking the anus with the heel, one brings the ātmā (prāṇa) and attaining either impersonal Brahman or the Lord by the brahma-randhra at the top of the head, one gives up the body. This is the siddhi called svacchanda-mṛtu, dying at one’s will.
Personal Guidance
The yogī skilled in svacchanda-mṛtyu blocks the anus, lifts the soul from heart to chest to neck to head, exits through the brahma-randhra. Even leaving the body has a precise technique.
Reflection Questions
  • What might it mean to die with this much intention?
  • What preparation could begin now?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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