Vayu Purana

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.

प्राणायामेन युक्तस्य विप्रस्य नियतात्मनः। सर्वे दोषाः प्रणश्यन्ति सत्त्वस्थश्चैव जायते ।। ११.

For a wise man who is disciplined and devoted to breath control, all faults are destroyed, and he becomes established in purity.

एवं वै नियताहारः प्राणायामपरायणः। जित्वा जित्वा सदा भूमिमारोहेत्तु सदा मुनिः ।। ११.

Thus, one who eats in moderation and is devoted to breath control, conquering again and again, should always ascend the ground, ever a sage.

अजिता हि महाभूमिर्दोषानुत्पादयेद्बहून् । विवर्द्धयति सम्मोहं न रोहेदजितां ततः ।। ११.

For the unconquered great earth produces many faults; it increases delusion, and therefore, the unconquered should not ascend.

नालेन तु यथा तोयं यन्त्रेणैव बलान्वितः। आपिबेत प्रयत्नेन तथा वायुञ्जितश्रमः ।। ११.

Just as water is drawn up by a tube with force using a device, so too, with effort, should one draw in air, exerting oneself.

नाभ्यां च हृदये चैव कण्ठे उरसि चानने। नासाग्रे तु तथा नेत्रे भ्रुवोर्मध्येऽथ मूर्द्धनि ।। ११.

At the navel, in the heart, at the throat, on the chest, and in the mouth, at the tip of the nose, likewise at the eyes, between the brows, and at the crown of the head—

किञ्चिदूर्द्ध्वं परस्मिंश्च धारणा परमा स्मृता। प्राणापानसमारोधात् प्राणायामः स कथ्यते ।। ११.

A little above and beyond these, the highest concentration is declared; due to the restraint of inhalation and exhalation, this is called breath control.

मनसो धारणा चैव धारणेति प्रकीर्तिता। निवृत्ति र्विषयाणान्तु प्रत्याहारस्तु संज्ञितः ।। ११.

The concentration of the mind is called concentration; the withdrawal from sense objects is known as withdrawal.

सर्वेषां समवाये तु सिद्धिः स्याद्योगलक्षणा। तयोत्पन्नस्य योगस्य ध्यानं वै सिद्धिलक्षणम्। ध्यानयुक्तः सदा पश्येदात्मानं सूर्यचन्द्रवत् ।। ११.

When all these are united, perfection, the mark of yoga, arises; for yoga thus attained, meditation is the mark of perfection. Always joined to meditation, one sees the self like the sun and moon.

सत्त्वस्यानुपपत्तौ तु दर्शनन्तु नव विद्यते। अदेशकालयोगस्य दर्शनन्तु न विद्यते ।। ११.

When purity is lacking, there is no vision; when the proper place and time are not united, there is no vision.

अग्न्यभ्याशे वने वापि शुष्कपर्णचये तथा। जन्तुव्याप्ते श्मशाने वा जीर्णगोष्ठे चतुष्पथे ।। ११.

Near fire, or in the forest, or on a heap of dry leaves, in a place filled with creatures, in a cremation ground, in a ruined cowshed, or at a crossroads—