Vayu Purana

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.

ओङ्कारं प्रथमं कृत्वा चन्द्रसूयौं प्रणम्य च। आसनं स्वस्तिकं कृत्वा पझमर्द्धासनन्तथा ।। ११.

Having first uttered the syllable Om and saluted the moon and sun, one should assume the Svastika posture, or the half-lotus posture as well.

समजानुरेकजानुरुत्तानः सुस्थितोऽपि च। समो दृढासनो भूत्वा संहृत्य चरणावुभौ ।। ११.

With both knees level, one knee raised, and the body upright and steady, having made the posture firm and drawing both feet together.

संवृतास्योऽवबद्धाक्ष उरो विष्टभ्य चाग्रतः। पार्ष्णिभ्यां वृषणे छाद्य तथा प्रजननं ततः ।। ११.

With the mouth closed, eyes fixed, chest expanded forward, covering the testicles with the heels, and likewise the generative organ.

किञ्चिदुन्नामितशिराः शिरो ग्रीवां तथैव च। सम्प्रेक्ष्य नासिकाग्रं स्वं दिशश्चानवलोकयन् ।। ११.

With the head slightly raised, the neck likewise, gazing at the tip of one's own nose, not glancing in any direction.

तमः प्रच्छाद्य रजसा रजः सत्त्वेन च्छादयेत् । ततः सत्त्वस्थितो भूत्वा योगं युञ्जन् समाहितः ।। ११.

Covering darkness with passion, and passion with purity, then, established in purity, one should practice yoga with concentration.

इन्द्रियाणीन्द्रियार्थांश्च मनः पञ्च स मारुतान्। विगृह्य समवायेव प्रत्याहारमुपक्रमेत् ।। ११.

Separating the senses, their objects, the mind, and the five vital airs, one should begin the practice of withdrawal, as if gathering them together.

यस्तु प्रत्याहरेत् कामान् कूर्मोऽङ्गानीव सर्वतः। तथात्मरतिरेकस्थः पश्यत्यात्मानमात्मनि ।। ११.

He who withdraws the senses from desires, like a tortoise draws in its limbs from all sides, and remains absorbed in the Self, sees the Self within himself.

पूरयित्वा शरीरन्तु स बाह्याभ्यन्तरं शुचिः। आकण्ठनाभियोगेन प्रत्याहारमुपक्रमेत् ।। ११.

Having filled the body, pure within and without, with the breath up to the throat, one should begin the practice of withdrawal.

कलामात्रस्तु विज्ञेयो निमेषोन्मेष एव च। तथा द्वादशमात्रस्तु प्राणायामो विधीयते ।। ११.

A unit of time is to be known as the duration of a blink or an opening of the eyes; thus, breath regulation is prescribed as twelve such units.

धारणा द्वादशायामो योगो वै धारणाद्वयम्। तथा वै योगयुक्तश्च ऐश्वर्यं प्रतिपद्यते । वीक्षते परमात्मानं दीप्यमानं स्वतेजसा ।। ११.

Concentration is for twelve measures of breath; yoga is said to be twice that concentration. Thus, one endowed with yoga attains lordly power and beholds the supreme Self shining with its own radiance.