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.
पीडिते ऽन्यतरे ह्येषां संघातो याति पञ्चताम्
When either of these is afflicted, the aggregate comes to dissolution.
किं खेदयति वा जीवः किं शृणोति ब्रवीति च
What does the living being tire of, what does he hear, and what does he say?
यो दत्त्वा म्रियते जन्तुः सा गौः कं तारयिष्यति
The creature who dies after giving—how will that cow save anyone?
इहैव विलयं यान्ति कुतस्तेषां समागमः
They dissolve right here; how could there be reunion for them?
अग्निना चोपयुक्तस्य कुतः संजीवनं पुनः
For one consumed by fire, how could there be life again?
जीवन्यस्य प्रवर्तन्ते मृतः क्व पुनरेष्यति
As long as he lives, he acts; once dead, how will he return?
मृताः प्रणश्यन्ति बीजाद्बीजं प्रणश्यति
The dead are destroyed; from the seed, the seed is destroyed.
त निवर्तय सर्वज्ञ यतस्त्वामाश्रितो ह्यहम्
Turn them back, O all-knowing one, for I have taken refuge in you.
पुनराहु मुनिश्रेष्ठ तत्संदेहनिवृत्तये
Speak again, best of sages, to dispel that doubt.
याति देहान्तरं प्राणी शरीरं तु विशीर्यते
The living being goes to another body, but the body itself decays.