FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.15.32-33

प्राणापानौ सन्निरुन्ध्यात्पूरकुम्भकरेचकै: । यावन्मनस्त्यजेत कामान्स्वनासाग्रनिरीक्षण: ॥ ३२ ॥ यतो यतो नि:सरति मन: कामहतं भ्रमत् । ततस्तत उपाहृत्य हृदि रुन्ध्याच्छनैर्बुध: ॥ ३३ ॥
prāṇāpānau sannirundhyāt
[praanaapaanau sannirundhyaat]
pūra-kumbhaka-recakaiḥ
[poora-kumbhaka-rechakaih]
yāvan manas tyajet kāmān
[yaavan manas tyajet kaamaan]
sva-nāsāgra-nirīkṣaṇaḥ
[sva-naasaagra-nireekshanah]
yato yato niḥsarati
[yato yato nihsarati]
manaḥ kāma-hataṁ bhramat
[manah kaama-hatam bhramat]
tatas tata upāhṛtya
[tatas tata upaahritya]
hṛdi rundhyāc chanair budhaḥ
[hridi rundhyaach chanair budhah]
Word-for-word
prāṇa — incoming breath apānau — outgoing breath sannirundhyāt — should stop pūra-kumbhaka-recakaiḥ — by inhaling, exhaling and holding, which are technically known as pūraka, kumbhaka and recaka yāvat — so long manaḥ — the mind tyajet — should give up kāmān — all material desires sva — one’s own nāsa-agra — the tip of the nose nirīkṣaṇaḥ — looking at yataḥ yataḥ — from whatever and wherever niḥsarati — withdraws manaḥ — the mind kāma-hatam — being defeated by lusty desires bhramat — wandering tataḥ tataḥ — from here and there upāhṛtya — after bringing it back hṛdi — within the core of the heart rundhyāt — should arrest (the mind) śanaiḥ — gradually, by practice budhaḥ — a learned yogī..
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
prāṇāpānau sannirundhyāt
prāṇa
incoming breath
apānau
outgoing breath
sannirundhyāt
should stop
pūra-kumbhaka-recakaiḥ
pūra-kumbhaka-recakaiḥ
by inhaling, exhaling and holding, which are technically known as pūraka, kumbhaka and recaka
yāvan manas tyajet kāmān
yāvat
so long
manaḥ
the mind
tyajet
should give up
kāmān
all material desires
sva-nāsāgra-nirīkṣaṇaḥ
sva
one’s own
nāsa-agra
the tip of the nose
nirīkṣaṇaḥ
looking at
yato yato niḥsarati
yataḥ yataḥ
from whatever and wherever
niḥsarati
withdraws
manaḥ kāma-hataṁ bhramat
manaḥ
the mind
kāma-hatam
being defeated by lusty desires
bhramat
wandering
tatas tata upāhṛtya
tataḥ tataḥ
from here and there
upāhṛtya
after bringing it back
hṛdi rundhyāc chanair budhaḥ
hṛdi
within the core of the heart
rundhyāt
should arrest (the mind)
śanaiḥ
gradually, by practice
budhaḥ
a learned yogī..
While continuously staring at the tip of the nose, a learned yogī practices the breathing exercises through the technical means known as pūraka, kumbhaka and recaka — controlling inhalation and exhalation and then stopping them both. In this way the yogī restricts his mind from material attachments and gives up all mental desires. As soon as the mind, being defeated by lusty desires, drifts toward feelings of sense gratification, the yogī should immediately bring it back and arrest it within the core of his heart.
Purport

The practice of yoga is concisely explained herein. When this practice of yoga is perfect, one sees the Supersoul, the Paramātmā feature of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, within the core of one’s heart. However, in Bhagavad-gītā (6.47) the Supreme Lord says:

yoginām api sarveṣām mad-gatenāntarātmanā śraddhāvān bhajate yo māṁ sa me yuktatamo mataḥ

“Of all yogīs, he who always abides in Me with great faith, worshiping Me in transcendental loving service, is most intimately united with Me in yoga and is the highest of all.” A devotee can immediately become a perfect yogī because he practices keeping Kṛṣṇa constantly within the core of his heart. This is another way to practice yoga easily. The Lord says:

man-manā bhava mad-bhakto mad-yājī māṁ namaskuru

“Always think of Me and become My devotee. Worship Me and offer your homage unto Me.” ( Bg. 18.65 ) If one practices devotional service by always keeping Kṛṣṇa within the core of his heart ( man-manāḥ ), he immediately becomes a first-class yogī. Furthermore, keeping Kṛṣṇa within the mind is not a difficult task for the devotee. For an ordinary man in the bodily concept of life, the practice of yoga may be helpful, but one who immediately takes to devotional service can immediately become a perfect yogī without difficulty.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Stopping prāṇa and apāna by pūraka, kumbhaka and recaka, he should stare at the tip of his nose until the mind gives up all desires. The intelligent person should withdraw the mind, which is defeated by lust, from various objects, and gradually concentrate it in the heart.
Related values & verses
Related verses
BG 18.65
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
The yogī practices pūraka, kumbhaka, recaka — controlling and stopping the breath — gazing at the nose tip to restrict the wandering mind. Practical, embodied techniques exist for the inner work; bhakti includes them but excels them.
Reflection Questions
  • What embodied practice helps you steady the mind when meditation alone fails?
  • How do you keep these techniques in service of devotion rather than as ends in themselves?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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