Sanskrit Words for Breath
This is only a small selection – Sanskrit has a huge vocabulary for experiences and processes related to yoga meditation. Please excuse the rough formatting.
Note that only the BLUE underlined numbers, such as
[p= 24,] are working links to the Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary, which lists 188 words in a reverse search for “breath.”
ana
āna
| āná | [p= 139,3]
m. |
(fr. √ an) , face
| mouth
|
| nose
|
| exhaling the breath through the nose
|
| inhalation , breath inspired , breathing , blowing
|
anavānam
| (H2) | an-avā* nam [L=5365]
ind. |
without breathing between , in one breath , without interruption , uno tenore AitBr.
ātman
| ātmán |
p= 135
m. |
(variously derived fr. an , to breathe ; at , to move ; vā , to blow ; cf. tmán) the breath RV.
| the soul , principle of life and sensation |
RV. AV. &c
| the individual soul , self , abstract individual [ |
e.g. ātmán (Ved. loc.) dhatte , or karoti , " he places in himself " , makes his own TS. v S3Br. ; ātmanā akarot , " he did it himself " Ka1d. ; ātmanā vi- √yuj , " to lose one's life " Mn. vii , 46 ; ātman in the sg. is used as reflexive pronoun for all three persons and all three genders e.g. ātmānaṃ sā hanti , " she strikes herself " ; putram ātmanaḥ spṛṣṭvā nipetatuḥ , " they two having touched their son fell down " R. ii , 64 , 28 ; see also below s.v. ātmanā ]
| essence , nature , character , peculiarity (often |
ifc. e.g. karmā*tman , &c ) RV. x , 97 , 11 , &c
| the person or whole body considered as one and opposed to the separate members of the body |
VS. S3Br.
| the body |
Ragh. i , 14 Ra1matUp.
| ( |
ifc.) " the understanding , intellect , mind " » naṣṭā*tman , mandā*°
| the highest personal principle of life , brahma ( |
cf. paramā*tman) AV. x , 8 , 44 VS. xxxii , 11 S3Br. xiv , &c
| effort |
L.
| (= dh |
ṛti) firmness L.
| the sun |
L.
| fire |
L.
| a son |
L. ; [Old Germ. a1tum ; Angl.Sax. oedhm ; Mod. Germ. Athem , Odem ; Gk. ἀϋτμήν , (?).]
ātmadā
| (H3) | ātma--dā́ [p= 135,2] [L=23527]
mfn. |
granting breath or life RV. x , 121 , 2.
Prana, the word we are more familiar with in terms of breath, means basically, filled with the breath, and more: “the breath of life, breath, respiration, spirit, vitality;”
prāṇa
(H2) prāṇa 1 [p= 701,3] [L=138763] mfn. (for 2. » [p= 705,1].) filled , full L.
(H2) prā* ṇá 2 [p= 705,1] [L=139500] m. (ifc. f(ā). ; for 1. » under √ prā , p.701) the breath of life , breath , respiration spirit vitality
[L=139501] life RV. &c (prā*ṇān with √ muc or √ hā or pari- √ tyaj , " to resign or quit life " ; with √ rakṣ , " to save life " ; with ni- √han , " to destroy life " ; tvam me prā*ṇaḥ , " thou art to me as dear as life " ; often ifc. ; cf. pati- , mā*na-pr°)
[L=139502] a vital organ vital air (3 in number , viz. prā*ṇa , apā*na and vyāna AitBr. TUp. Sus3r. ; usually 5 , viz. the preceding with sam-āna and , ud-āna S3Br. MBh. Sus3r. &c cf. MWB. 242 ; or with the other vital organs 6 S3Br. ; or 7 AV. Br. Mun2d2Up. ; or 9 AV. TS. Br. ; or 10 S3Br. ; pl. the 5 organs of vitality or sensation , viz. prā*ṇa , vāc , cakṣus , śrotra , manas , collectively ChUp. ii , 7 , i ; or = nose , mouth , eyes and ears GopBr. S3rS. Mn. iv , 143)
[p= 705,2] [L=139503] air inhaled , wind AV. S3Br.
[L=139504] breath (as a sign of strength), vigour , energy , power MBh. R. &c (sarvaprā*ṇena or -prā*ṇaiḥ , " with all one's strength " or " all one's heart " ; cf. yathā-prā*ṇam)
[L=139505] a breath (as a measure of time , or the time requisite for the pronunciation of 10 long syllables = 1÷6 vināḍikā) Var. A1ryabh. VP.
[L=139506] N. of a kalpa (the 6th day in the light half of brahmā's month) Pur.
[L=139507] (in sāṃkhya) the spirit (= puruṣa) Tattvas.
[L=139508] (in vedānta) the spirit identified with the totality of dreaming spirits Veda7ntas. RTL. 35 (cf. prāṇā*tman)
[L=139509] poetical inspiration W.
[L=139510] myrrh L.
[L=139511] a N. of the letter y Up.
[L=139512] of a sāman Ta1n2d2Br. (vasiṣṭhasya prā*ṇā*pā*nau A1rshBr. )
[L=139513] of brahmā L.
[L=139514] of viṣṇu RTL. 106
[L=139515] of a vasu BhP.
[L=139516] of a son of the vasu dhara Hariv.
[L=139517] of a marut Ya1jn5. Sch.
[L=139518] of a son of dhātṛ Pur.
[L=139519] of a son of vidhātṛ BhP.
[L=139520] of a ṛṣi in the 2nd manv-antara Hariv.
(H2) prā* ṇa [p= 1330,3] [L=337000] (in comp.)
prāṇa
| (H2) | prāṇa 1 [p= 701,3] [L=138763]
mfn. |
(for 2. » [p= 705,1].) filled , full L.
| (H2) | prā* ṇá 2 [p= 705,1] [L=139500]
m. |
(ifc. f(ā). ; for 1. » under √ prā , p.701) the breath of life , breath , respiration spirit vitality
| [L=139501] |
life |
RV. &c (prā*ṇān with √ muc or √ hā or pari- √ tyaj , " to resign or quit life " ; with √ rakṣ , " to save life " ; with ni- √han , " to destroy life " ; tvam me prā*ṇaḥ , " thou art to me as dear as life " ; often ifc. ; cf. pati- , mā*na-pr°)
| [L=139502] |
a vital organ vital air (3 in number , viz. |
prā*ṇa , apā*na and vyāna AitBr. TUp. Sus3r. ; usually 5 , viz. the preceding with sam-āna and , ud-āna S3Br. MBh. Sus3r. &c cf. MWB. 242 ; or with the other vital organs 6 S3Br. ; or 7 AV. Br. Mun2d2Up. ; or 9 AV. TS. Br. ; or 10 S3Br. ; pl. the 5 organs of vitality or sensation , viz. prā*ṇa , vāc , cakṣus , śrotra , manas , collectively ChUp. ii , 7 , i ; or = nose , mouth , eyes and ears GopBr. S3rS. Mn. iv , 143)
| [p= | 705,2] [L=139503]
air inhaled , wind |
AV. S3Br.
| [L=139504] |
breath (as a sign of strength), vigour , energy , power |
MBh. R. &c (sarvaprā*ṇena or -prā*ṇaiḥ , " with all one's strength " or " all one's heart " ; cf. yathā-prā*ṇam)
| [L=139505] |
a breath (as a measure of time , or the time requisite for the pronunciation of 10 long syllables = 1 |
÷6 vināḍikā) Var. A1ryabh. VP.
| [L=139506] |
N. |
of a kalpa (the 6th day in the light half of brahmā's month) Pur.
| [L=139507] |
(in |
sāṃkhya) the spirit (= puruṣa) Tattvas.
| [L=139508] |
(in |
vedānta) the spirit identified with the totality of dreaming spirits Veda7ntas. RTL. 35 (cf. prāṇā*tman)
| [L=139509] |
poetical inspiration |
W.
| [L=139510] |
myrrh |
L.
| [L=139511] |
a |
N. of the letter y Up.
| [L=139512] |
of a |
sāman Ta1n2d2Br. (vasiṣṭhasya prā*ṇā*pā*nau A1rshBr. )
| [L=139513] |
of |
brahmā L.
| [L=139514] |
of |
viṣṇu RTL. 106
| [L=139515] |
of a |
vasu BhP.
| [L=139516] |
of a son of the |
vasu dhara Hariv.
| [L=139517] |
of a |
marut Ya1jn5. Sch.
| [L=139518] |
of a son of |
dhātṛ Pur.
| [L=139519] |
of a son of |
vidhātṛ BhP.
| [L=139520] |
of a |
ṛṣi in the 2nd manv-antara Hariv.
| (H2) | prā* ṇa [p= 1330,3] [L=337000]
(in |
comp.)
pranayama has an intricate meaning, if we look at it as prana + yama
yama
| (H2) | yáma [p= 846,1] [L=170382]
m. |
a rein , curb , bridle RV. v , 61 , 2
| [L=170383] |
a driver , charioteer |
ib. viii , 103 , 10
| [L=170384] |
the act of checking or curbing , suppression , restraint (with |
vācām , restraint of words , silence) BhP.
| [L=170385] |
self-control forbearance , any great moral rule or duty (as |
opp. to niyama , a minor observance ; in Ya1jn5. iii , 313 ten yamas are mentioned , sometimes only five) Mn. MBh. &c
| [L=170386] |
(in |
yoga) self-restraint (as the first of the eight aṅgas or means of attaining mental concentration) IW. 93
| [L=170387] |
any rule or observance |
Pa1rGr2.
| (H2B) | yamá [L=170388]
mf |
(ā́ or ī́)n. twin-born , twin , forming a pair RV. &c
| (H2B) | yáma [L=170389]
m. |
a twin , one of a pair or couple , a fellow (du. " the twins " N. of the aśvins and of their twin children by mādrī , called nakula and saha-deva ; yamau mithunau , twins of different sex) ib.
| (H2B) | yáma [L=170390]
m. |
a symbolical N. for the number " two " Hcat.
| (H2B) | yáma [p= 846,2] [p= 846,1] [L=170391]
m. |
N. of the god who presides over the pitṛs (q.v.) and rules the spirits of the dead RV. &c IW. 18 ; 197 , 198 &c RTL. 10 ; 16 ; 289 &c (he is regarded as the first of men and born from vivasvat , " the Sun " , and his wife saraṇyū ; while his brother , the seventh manu , another form of the first man , is the son of vivasvat and saṃjñā , the image of saraṇyū ; his twin-sister is yamī , with whom he resists sexual alliance , but by whom he is mourned after his death , so that the gods , to make her forget her sorrow , create night ; in the veda he is called a king or saṃgamano janānām , " the gatherer of men " , and rules over the departed fathers in heaven , the road to which is guarded by two broad-nosed , four-eyed , spotted dogs , the children of śaramā q.v. ; in Post-vedic mythology he is the appointed Judge and " Restrainer " or " Punisher " of the dead , in which capacity he is also called dharmarāja or dharma and corresponds to the Greek Pluto and to Minos ; his abode is in some region of the lower world called yama-pura ; thither a soul when it leaves the body , is said to repair , and there , after the recorder , citra-gupta , has read an account of its actions kept in a book called agra-saṃdhānā , it receives a just sentence ; in MBh. yama is described as dressed in blood-red garments , with a glittering form , a crown on his head , glowing eyes and like varuṇa , holding a noose , with which he binds the spirit after drawing it from the body , in size about the measure of a man's thumb ; he is otherwise represented as grim in aspect , green in colour , clothed in red , riding on a buffalo , and holding a club in one hind and noose in the other ; in the later mythology he is always represented as a terrible deity inflicting tortures , called yātanā , on departed spirits ; he is also one of the 8 guardians of the world as regent of the South quarter ; he is the regent of the nakṣatra apa-bharaṇī or bharaṇī , the supposed author of RV. x , 10 ; 14 , of a hymn to viṣṇu and of a law-book ; yamasyā*rkaḥ N. of a sāman A1rshBr. )
| (H2B) | yáma [p= 846,2] [L=170392]
m. |
N. of the planet Saturn (regarded as the son of vivasvat and chāyā) Hariv. BhP.
| (H2B) | yáma [L=170393]
m. |
of one of skanda's attendants (mentioned together with ati-yama) MBh.
| (H2B) | yáma [L=170394]
m. |
a crow L. (cf. -dūtaka)
| (H2B) | yáma [L=170395]
m. |
a bad horse (whose limbs are either too small or too large) L.
| (H2B) | yáma [L=170397]
n. |
a pair , brace , couple L.
| (H2B) | yáma [L=170398]
n. |
(in gram.) a twin-letter (the consonant interposed and generally understood , but not written in practice , between a nasal immediately preceded by one of the four other consonants in each class) Pra1t. Pat. on Pa1n2. 1-1 , 8
| (H2B) | yáma [L=170399]
n. |
pitch of the voice , tone of utterance , key Pra1t.
prāṇaprāśanin
| prā | * ṇá--prā* śanin
[p= 705,3]
mfn. |
feeding only on breath (i.e. on the mere smell of food or drink) , Pracan2d2.
prāṇabhakṣa
| prā | * ṇá--bhakṣa
m. |
feeding only on breath or air (cf. -prā*śanin) S3rS.
prāṇabhakṣam
| prā | * ṇá--bhakṣam
ind. |
while feeding only on breath or air Ka1tyS3r.
prāṇabhūta
| prā | * ṇá--bhūta
mfn. |
being the breath of life R2itus.
prāṇamaya
| prā | * ṇá--máya
mf |
(ī)n. consisting of vigorous air or breath S3Br.
prāṇarandhra
| prā | * ṇá--randhra
n. |
" breath-aperture " , the mouth or a nostril BhP.
prāṇarodha
| prā | * ṇá--rodha
m. |
suppression of breath BhP.
| N. |
of a partic. hell ib.
prāṇavidyā
| prā | * ṇá--vidyā [L=139642]
f. |
the science of breath or vital airs Col.
prāṇavīrya
| ( | prā* ṇá--vīrya [L=139645]
n. |
strength of breath , Ta1n2d2Br.
prāṇasaṃyama
| prā | * ṇá--saṃyama
m. |
suppression or suspension of breath (as a religious exercise) Ya1jn5.
prāṇasaṃhitā
| prā | * ṇá--saṃhitā
f. |
a manner of reciting the Vedic texts , pronouncing as many sounds as possible during one breath VPra1t. Sch.
udan
| udán | [p= 183,3]
(for 2. |
» s.v.) n. Ved. (defective in the strong cases Pa1n2. 6-1 , 63) a wave , water RV. AV. TS. Ka1t2h.
| ud- | √ an
[p= 184,]
(for 1. |
» [p= 183,3]) P. -aniti (and āniti Br2A1rUp. iii , 4 , 1 ; cf. vy- √an ; p. -anát S3Br. ; aor. 3. pl. -āniṣus AV. iii , 13 , 4) to breathe upwards , emit the breath in an upward direction ;
to breathe out , breathe AV. S3Br. Br2A1rUp.
māruta
| (H1) | mā́ruta [p= 812,1] [L=163305]
mf |
(ī)n. or mārutá (fr. marut) relating or belonging to the maruts , proceeding from or consisting of the maruts RV. &c
| [L=163305.05] |
relating to or derived from the wind , windy , aerial |
Mn. Hariv. &c
| (H1B) | mā́ruta [L=163305.10]
m. |
N. of viṣṇu RV.
| (H1B) | mā́ruta [L=163305.15]
m. |
of rudra VarBr2S.
| (H1B) | mā́ruta [L=163305.20]
m. |
a son of the maruts (applied to vāyu , ūrdhva-nabhas , dyutāna or nitāna) VS. TS. Br. S3rS.
| (H1B) | mā́ruta [L=163305.25]
m. |
(= marut) wind , air , the god of wind Mn. MBh. &c
| (H1B) | mā́ruta [L=163305.30]
m. |
vital air , one of the 3 humours of the body Sus3r.
| (H1B) | mā́ruta [L=163305.35]
m. |
breath S3iksh.
| (H1B) | mā́ruta [L=163305.40]
m. |
a chief of the maruts g. parśv-ādi
| (H1B) | mā́ruta [L=163305.45]
m. |
N. of a marut Ya1jn5. Sch.
| (H1B) | mā́ruta [L=163305.50]
m. |
of agni Gr2ihya1s.
| (H1B) | mā́ruta [L=163305.55]
m. |
pl. the maruts (regarded as children of diti) MBh. R.
| (H1B) | mā́ruta [L=163305.60]
m. |
N. of a people MBh. (B. ; C. maḍaka)
| (H1B) | mā́ruta [L=163305.75]
n. |
(scil. ṛkska or nakṣatra) the constellation svāti L.
| (H1B) | mā́ruta [L=163305.80]
n. |
N. of a sāman A1rshBr.
