मृदङ्गभेरीशङ्खानां स्तनयित्नो रथस्य च
Of the drum, kettle-drum, conch, thunder, and chariot.
वायव्यस्तु गुणः स्पर्शः स्पर्शश्च बहुधा स्मृतः
The quality of wind is touch, and touch is considered manifold.
तथा खरो मृदुः श्लक्ष्णो लवुर्गुरुतरो ऽपि च
Thus, rough, soft, smooth, light, and also heavy.
एवमेकादशविधो वायव्यो गुण उच्यते
In this way, the quality of wind is said to be elevenfold.
अव्याहतैश्चेतयते नवेति विषमा गतिः
It moves with uninterrupted impulses, nine in number, and its course is irregular.
आपो ऽग्निर्मारुश्चैव नित्यं जाग्रति देहिषु
Water, fire, and wind are always active in embodied beings.
पार्थिवं धातुमासाद्य यथा चेष्टयते बली
Just as a powerful being acts upon attaining the earthly element,
प्राणो मूर्द्धनि वाग्नौ च वर्तमानो विचेष्टते
So too, when the vital breath is present in the head or in the fire of speech, it moves about.
मनो बुद्धिरहॄङ्कारो भूतानि विषयश्च सः
Mind, intellect, ego, the elements, and the senses—
पृष्टतस्तु समानेन स्वां स्वां गतिमुपाश्रितः
Each, following behind with the equalizing breath, attains its own course.
वहन्मूत्रं पुरीषं वाप्यपानः परिवर्तते
The downward-moving breath circulates, carrying urine or feces.
उदान इति तं प्राहुरध्यात्मज्ञानकोविदाः
Those skilled in knowledge of the self call that one udāna.
शरीरेषु मनुष्याणां व्यान इत्युपदिश्यते
In the bodies of humans, it is taught as vyāna.
रसान्वारु दोषांश्च वर्तयन्नति चेष्टते
It moves, distributing fluids and humors.
समन्वितस्त्वधिष्टानं सम्यक् पचति पावकः
Endowed with its own seat, the fire properly digests.
रेतस्तस्मात्प्रजायन्ते सर्वस्रोतांसि देहिनाम्
From that, semen is produced, and all the channels of embodied beings.
ऊष्मा चागिरीति ज्ञेयो यो ऽन्नं पचति देहिनाम्
That which digests food in embodied beings is to be known as heat and as agni.
स ऊर्ध्वमागम्य पुनः समुत्क्षिपति पावकम्
Having ascended upward, it again raises the fire.
नाभिमूले शरीरस्य सर्वे प्राणाश्च संस्थिताः
At the root of the navel in the body, all the vital breaths are established.
वहॄन्त्यन्नरसान्नाड्यो दशप्राणप्रचोदिताः
The channels, impelled by the ten vital breaths, carry the essence of food.
जितक्लमाः समा धीरा मूर्द्धन्यात्मानमादधन्
Those steady and wise, having conquered fatigue, place the self in the head.
तस्मिन्समिध्यते नित्यमग्निः स्थाल्यामिवाहितः
There, the fire is always kindled, as in a pot set upon the hearth.
श्वसित्याभाषते चैव ततो जीवो निरर्थकः
He breathes and speaks, and then the soul is purposeless.
अग्निर्जरयते चैतत्तदा जीवो निरर्थकः
The fire consumes this, and then the soul is purposeless.
वायुरेव जहात्येनमूष्मभावश्च नश्यति
It is only the wind that departs from him, and his warmth is destroyed.
वायुमञ्जलवत्पश्येद्गच्छेत्सह मरुद्गुणैः
One should see the wind as if held in the palms, departing along with the qualities of air.
महार्णवविमुक्तत्वादन्यत्सलिलभाजनम्
Because it is freed from the great ocean, another vessel of water remains.
क्षिप्रं प्रविश्य नश्येत यथा नश्यत्यसौ तथा
Quickly entering, it is destroyed, just as that is destroyed.
येषामन्यतराभावाञ्चतुर्णां नास्ति संशयः
Of those four, if either one is absent, there is no doubt.
नश्यते कोष्टभेदार्थमग्रिर्नश्यत्यभोजनात्
Fire is destroyed for want of fuel, and is destroyed for lack of food.