Vayu Purana

योगं तपश्च सत्यञ्च धर्मञ्चापि महामुने। माहेश्वरस्य ज्ञानस्य साधनञ्च प्रजक्ष्व नः ।। १०.

O great sage, declare to us the means of yoga, austerity, truth, and righteousness, as well as the discipline of Maheśvara's knowledge.

येन येन च धर्मेण गतिं प्राप्स्यन्ति वै द्विजाः। तत्सर्वं श्रोतुमिच्छामि योगं माहेश्वरं प्रभो ।। १०.

By whatever righteousness the twice-born attain their goal, I wish to hear all of that, O Lord—tell me of the yoga of Maheśvara.

पञ्च धर्माः पुराणे तु रुद्रेण समुदाहृताः। माहेश्वर्यं यथा प्रोक्तं रुद्रैरक्लिष्टकर्मभिः ।। १०.

Five dharmas were formerly declared by Rudra in the Purāṇa, as the Maheśvara doctrine was taught by Rudras whose actions are untainted.

आदित्यैर्वसुभिः साध्यैरश्विभ्याञ्चैव सर्वशः। मरुद्भिर्भृगुभिश्चैव ये चान्ये विबुधालयाः ।। १०.

By the Ādityas, Vasus, Sādhyas, the Aśvins in every way, by the Maruts, Bhṛgus, and all other dwellers in the abodes of the wise—

यमशुक्रपुरोगैश्च पितृकालान्तकैस्तथा। एतैश्वान्यैशचव बहुभिस्ते धर्माः पर्युपासिताः ।। १०.

By Yama, Śukra, and their followers, by the Pitṛs, Kāla, and Antaka as well, and by many others, these dharmas have been practiced.

ते वै प्रक्षीणकर्माणः शारदाम्बरनिर्मलाः। उपासते मुनिगणाः सन्धायात्मानमात्मनि ।। १०.

Those whose actions are exhausted, pure as autumnal clouds, the hosts of sages worship, uniting their self with the Self.

गुरुप्रियहिते युक्ता गुरूणां वै प्रियेप्सवः। विमुच्य मानुषं जन्म विहरन्ति च देववत् ।। १०.

Engaged in what is dear and beneficial to their teachers, desiring the favor of their gurus, they, having abandoned human birth, move about like gods.

महेश्वरेण ये प्रोक्ताः पञ्च धर्माः सनातनाः। तान् सर्वान् क्रमयोगेन उच्यमानान्निबोधत ।। १०.

The five eternal dharmas declared by Maheśvara—hear them all as they are explained in sequence and by the method of yoga.

प्राणायामस्तथा ध्यानं प्रत्याहारोऽथ धारणा। स्मरणञ्चैव योगेऽस्मिन् पञ्च धर्माः प्रकीर्त्तिताः ।। १०.

Regulation of breath, meditation, withdrawal of the senses, concentration, and recollection—these five dharmas are described in this yoga.

तेषां क्रमविशेषेण लक्षणं कारणं तथा। प्रवक्ष्यामि तथा तत्त्वं यथा रुद्रेण भाषितम् ।। १०.

I shall explain their particular order, their characteristics, and their causes, as well as their true nature, just as spoken by Rudra.

प्राणायामगतिश्वापि प्राणस्यायाम उच्यते । स चापि त्रिविधः प्रोक्तो मन्दो मध्योत्तमस्तथा ।। १०.

The movement of breath in regulation is called prāṇāyāma; it is said to be of three kinds: slow, medium, and excellent.

प्राणानाञ्च निरोधस्तु स प्राणायामसंज्ञितः । प्राणायामप्रमाणन्तु मात्रा वै द्वादश स्मृताः ।। १०.

The restraint of the breaths is known as prāṇāyāma; the measure of prāṇāyāma is said to be twelve mātrās.

मन्दो द्वादशमात्रस्तु उद्वाता द्वादश स्मृताः । मध्यमश्च द्विरुद्वातश्चतुर्विंशतिमात्रिकः ।। १०.

The slow type is of twelve mātrās, with twelve inhalations remembered; the medium is with twice the inhalations, amounting to twenty-four mātrās.

उत्तमस्तत्र्त्रिरुद्वातो मात्राः षट्‌त्रिंशदुच्यते। स्वेदकम्पविषादानां जननो ह्युत्तमः स्मृतः ।। १०.

The highest measure there is said to be thirty-six mātrās; it is considered the best for producing sweat, trembling, and dejection.

इत्येतत् त्रिविधं प्रोक्तं प्राणायामस्य लक्षणम्। प्रमाणञ्च समासेन लक्षणञ्च निबोधत ।। १०.

Thus, this threefold characteristic of prāṇāyāma has been described; now, listen to the measure and the definition in brief.

सिंहो वा कुञ्जरो वापि तथाऽन्यो वा मृगो वने। गृहीतः सेव्यमानस्तु मृदुः समुपजायते ।। १०.

A lion, or an elephant, or likewise another animal in the forest, when captured and tamed, becomes gentle.

तथा प्राणो दुराधर्षः सर्वेषामकृतात्मनाम् । योगतः सेव्यमानस्तु स एवाभ्यासतो व्रजेत् ।। १०.

In the same way, the breath, difficult to control for those who are undisciplined, when practiced through yoga, becomes manageable through repeated effort.

स चैव हि यथा सिंहः कुञ्जरो वापि दुर्बलः। कालान्तरवशाद्योगाद्गम्यते परिमर्द्दनात् ।। १०.

And just as a lion or an elephant, though strong, becomes weak over time due to training and discipline, so too does the breath.

परिधाय मनो मन्दं वश्यत्वं चाधिगच्छति । परिधाय मनोदेवं तथा जीवति मारुतः ।। १०.

By restraining the mind, even if it is sluggish, mastery is attained; by restraining the mind in this way, the vital wind is sustained.

वश्यत्वं हि यथा वायुर्गच्छते योगमास्थितः। तदा स्वच्छन्दतः प्राणं नयते यत्र चेच्छति ।। १०.

Just as the wind, when established in yoga, comes under control, so then the breath is led wherever one desires, at will.

यथा सिंहो गजो वापि वश्यत्वादवतिष्ठते। अभयाय मनुष्याणां मृगेभ्यः संप्रवर्त्तते ।। १०.

Just as a lion or an elephant, when tamed, stands firm and protects people from wild beasts, so too does the controlled breath.

यथा परिचितश्चायं वायुर्वै विश्वतोमुखः। परिध्यायमानः संरुद्धः शरीरे किल्बिषं दहत् ।। १०.

Just as this wind, known to be all-pervading, when restrained and confined, burns away impurity in the body.

प्राणायामेन युक्तस्य विप्रस्य नियतात्मनः। सर्वे दोषाः प्रणश्यन्ति सत्त्वस्थश्चैव जायते ।। १०.

For a wise one disciplined in prāṇāyāma, all faults are destroyed, and he becomes established in purity of being.

तपांसि यानि तप्यन्ते व्रतानि नियमाश्च ये। सर्वयज्ञफलञ्चैव प्राणायामश्च तत्समः ।। १०.

All the austerities performed, the vows and observances undertaken, and the fruits of all sacrifices—prāṇāyāma is equal to them all.

अब्बिन्दुं यः कुशाग्रेण मासि मासि समश्रुते। संवत्सरशतं साग्रं प्राणायामञ्च तत्समम् ।। १०.

He who, month by month, places a drop of water on the tip of a blade of grass for a hundred years and more—prāṇāyāma is equal to that.

प्राणायामैर्दहेर्दोषान् धारणाभिश्च किल्बिषम्। प्रत्याहारेण विषयान् ध्यानेनानाश्वरान् गुणान् ।। १०.

By prāṇāyāma, faults are burned; by concentration, sins are destroyed; by withdrawal, the senses are restrained; by meditation, impermanent qualities are overcome.

तस्माद्युक्तः सदा योगी प्राणायामपरो भवेत् । सर्वपापविशुद्धात्मा परं ब्रह्माधिगच्छति ।। १०.

Therefore, one who is always devoted to yoga and intent on prāṇāyāma, with a mind purified of all sins, attains the supreme Brahman.

एकं महान्तं दिवसमहोरात्रमथापि वा। अर्द्धमासं तथा मासमयनाब्दयुगानि च ।। ११.

One day, a great day and night, or even half a month, a month, a year, or an age—

महायुगसहस्राणि ऋषयस्तपसि स्थिताः। उपासते महात्मानः प्राणं दिव्येन चक्षुषा ।। ११.

The sages, steadfast in austerity for thousands of great ages, worship the vital breath with divine vision.