Vayu Purana

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—

सशब्दे सभये वापि चैत्यवल्मीकसंचये। उदपाने तथा नद्यान्न बाधातः कदाचन ।। ११.

In a noisy place, or one filled with fear, among heaps of shrines or ant-hills, at a well, or by a river, there should never be practice due to disturbance.

क्षुधाविष्स्तथाऽप्रितो न च व्याकुलचेतनः। युञ्जीत परमं ध्यानं योगी ध्यानपरः सदा ।। ११.

One afflicted by hunger, or poisoned, or with an agitated mind, should not practice supreme meditation; the yogin should always be devoted to meditation.

एतान् दोषान् विनिश्चित्य प्रमादाद्यो युनक्ति वै। तस्य दोषाः प्रकुप्यन्ति शरीरे विघ्नकारकाः ।। ११.

Having considered these faults, if one practices carelessly, those faults become aggravated in his body, causing obstacles.

जडत्वं बधिरत्वं च मूकत्वं चाधिगच्छति। अन्धत्वं स्मृतिलोपश्च जरा रोगस्तथैव च ।। ११.

He attains dullness, deafness, and muteness; blindness, loss of memory, old age, and disease likewise.

तस्य दोषाः प्रकुप्यन्ति अज्ञानाद्यो युनक्ति वै। तस्माज्ज्ञानेन शुद्धेन योगी युञ्जेत्समाहितः ।। ११.

For him, the faults become aggravated if he practices out of ignorance; therefore, the yogin should practice with pure knowledge and concentration.

अप्रमत्तः सदा चैव न दोषान् प्राप्रुयात् व्कचित् । तेषां चिकित्सां वक्ष्यामि दोषाणां च यथाक्रमम्। यथा गच्छन्ति ते दोषाः प्राणायामसमुत्थिताः ।। ११.

One who is always attentive does not incur faults at any time. I will explain the treatment of these faults in order, as the faults arising from breath control occur.

स्निग्धां यवागूमत्युष्णां भुक्त्वां तत्रावधारयेत् । एतेन क्रमयोगेन वातगुल्मं प्रशाम्यति ।। ११.

Having eaten warm, unctuous barley gruel, one should remain there; by this method, the wind swelling is calmed.

गुदावर्त्तप्रतीकारमिदं कुर्य्याच्चिकित्सितम्। भुक्त्वा दधि यवागूर्वा वायुरूर्द्ध्वं ततो व्रजेत ।। ११.

This should be done as a remedy for intestinal obstruction; after eating curd or barley gruel, the wind then moves upward.

वायुग्रंथिं ततो भित्त्वा वायुदेशे प्रयोजयेत् । तथापि न विशेषः स्याद्धारणां मूर्ध्नि धारयेत् ।। ११.

Having pierced the knot of air, one should apply it in the region of air; yet, there is no special result—one should hold the retention at the crown.

युञ्जानस्य तनुं तस्य सत्तवस्थस्यैव देहिनः। गुदावर्त्तप्रतीघाते एतत् कुर्य्याच्चिकित्सितम् ।। ११.

For one practicing, whose body is in a sattvic state, if there is obstruction in the rectal passage, this should be treated accordingly.