Upadesha Sara - Verse 11

Sanskrit

वायुरोधनाल्लीयते मनः ।
जालपक्षिवद्रोधसाधनम् ॥ ११॥

Transliteration

vāyurō-dhanāl līyate manaḥ
jālapakṣiva drōdhasādhanam

Translation

Holding the breath controls the mind,
A bird caught in a net.
Breath-regulation helps
Absorption in the heart.

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Index: Upadesha Sara

हठेन कुम्भकस्य साधनं प्रतिस्तम्भनं प्राणस्य भवति । In Hatha Yoga, the practice of Kumbhaka (retention) involves the forceful stopping of the breath.

सततं यातायातमप्रत्यवेक्षणान्नियमनं भवति । [However], restraint is also achieved through the constant observation (pratyavekshana) of the coming and going [of the breath].

तस्यापि कुम्भकसंज्ञा राजयोगिनां मतेनाविरुद्धा । This [mindful observation] is also called Kumbhaka in the view of Raja Yogis, and there is no contradiction in this.

उत्तरैव महर्षेरिष्टा प्रक्रिया यदयमाह गीतासु (रमणगीतासु)— “प्राणरोधश्च मनसा प्राणस्य प्रत्यवेक्षणम् । कुम्भकः सिध्यति ह्येवं सततप्रत्यवेक्षणात्” इति ॥ The latter process (observation) is preferred by the Maharshi, as he states in the Ramana Gita: “Breath restraint is the mental observation of the breath. Thus, Kumbhaka (stillness) is achieved through constant observation.”