Vayu Purana

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.

अतऊर्द्ध्वं प्रवक्ष्यामि प्राणायामप्रयोजनम्। फलञ्चैव विशेषेण यथाह भगवान् प्रभुः ।। ११.

Now I shall explain further the purpose of prāṇāyāma and its special fruit, just as the blessed Lord has declared.

प्रयोजनानि चत्वारि प्राणायामस्य विद्धिवै। शान्तिः प्रशान्तिर्दीप्तिश्च प्रसादश्च चतुष्टयम् ।। ११.

Know that there are four purposes of prāṇāyāma: peace, deep tranquility, radiance, and clarity—these four.

घोराकारशिवानान्तु कर्मणां फलसम्भवम्। स्वयंकृतानि कालेन इहामुत्र च देहिनाम् ।। ११.

The results of terrible and auspicious actions, performed by embodied beings, arise from their own deeds in due time, both here and hereafter.

पितृमातृ प्रदुष्टानां ज्ञातिसम्बन्धिसङ्करैः। क्षपणं हि कषायाणां पापानां शान्तिरुच्यते ।। ११.

For those who have wronged their fathers and mothers, or have corrupted family relations, the destruction of sinful stains and the pacification of evil is said to be their atonement.

लोभमानात्मकानां हि पापानामपि संयमः । इहामुत्र हितार्थाय प्रशान्तिस्तप उच्यते ।। ११.

For those whose sins are rooted in greed and pride, self-restraint is called penance, as it brings peace for their benefit in this world and the next.

सूर्येन्दुग्रहताराणां तुल्यस्तु विषयो भवेत्। ऋषीणाञ्च प्रसिद्धानां ज्ञानविज्ञानसम्पदाम् ।। ११.

The domain of the sun, moon, planets, and stars is said to be equal to the renowned sages who possess the wealth of knowledge and wisdom.

अतीतानागतानाञ्च दर्शनं साम्प्रतस्य च । बुद्धस्य समतां यान्ति दीप्तिः स्यात्तप उच्यते ।। ११.

The vision of past, future, and present comes to one whose intellect is balanced; this radiance is called penance.

इन्द्रियाणीन्द्रियार्थांश्च मनः पञ्च च मारुतान् । प्रसादयति येनासौ प्रसाद इति संज्ञितः ।। ११.

That by which one calms the senses, their objects, the mind, and the five vital airs is designated as tranquility.

इत्येष धर्मः प्रथमः प्राणायामश्चतुर्विधः। सन्निकृष्टफलो ज्ञेयः सद्यःकालप्रसादजः ।। ११.

Thus, this is the first discipline: the fourfold regulation of breath, which should be known as yielding immediate results and producing tranquility at once.

अत ऊर्द्ध्वं प्रवक्ष्यामि प्राणायामस्य लक्षणम्। आसनं च यथातत्त्वं युञ्जतो योगमेव च ।। ११.

Now I shall describe the characteristics of breath regulation, the proper posture, and the true method of practicing yoga.