Muni's PlayPrana in Upanishads
This collection brings together key verses from various Upanishads that describe the nature, functions, and spiritual significance of Prana (the vital life-force).
Chandogya Upanishad
Chandogya Upanishad Verse 5.1.15
Sanskrit Verse
न वै वाचो न चक्षूंषि न श्रोत्राणि न मनांसीत्याचक्षते प्राण इति एवाचक्षते प्राणो ह्येवैतानि सर्वाणि भवति ॥
[!note] Transliteration
na vai vāco na cakṣūṃṣi na śrotrāṇi na manāṃsītyācakṣate prāṇa iti evācakṣate prāṇo hyevaitāni sarvāṇi bhavati ||
[!abstract] Translation
“Verily, they do not call them Speeches, or Eyes, or Ears, or Minds. They call them Pranas (life-forces), for the Prana is all these.”
Chandogya Upanishad Verse 7.15.1
Sanskrit Verse
प्राणो वा आशाया भूयान्यथा वा अरा नाभौ समर्पिता एवमस्मिन्प्राणे सर्वंसमर्पितं प्राणः प्राणेन याति प्राणः प्राणं ददाति प्राणाय ददाति प्राणो ह पिता प्राणो माता प्राणो भ्राता प्राणः स्वसा प्राण आचार्यः प्राणो ब्राह्मणः ॥ ७.१५.१ ॥
[!note] Transliteration
prāṇo vā āśāyā bhūyānyathā vā arā nābhau samarpitā evamasminprāṇe sarvaṃsamarpitaṃ prāṇaḥ prāṇena yāti prāṇaḥ prāṇaṃ dadāti prāṇāya dadāti prāṇो ha pitā prāṇo mātā prāṇो bhrātā prāṇaḥ svasā prāṇa ācāryaḥ prāṇo brāhmaṇaḥ || 7.15.1 ||
[!abstract] Translation
- Prāṇa [the vital force] is certainly superior to hope. Just as spokes on a wheel are attached to the hub, similarly everything rests on prāṇa. Prāṇa works through its own power [i.e., prāṇa is the means as well as the end]. Prāṇa gives prāṇa to prāṇa, and prāṇa directs prāṇa to prāṇa. Prāṇa is the father, prāṇa is the mother, prāṇa is the brother, prāṇa is the sister, prāṇa is the teacher, and prāṇa is the brāhmin.
Prashna Upanishad
Prashna Upanishad Verse 1.5
Sanskrit
आदित्यो ह वै प्राणो रयिरेव चन्द्रमा रयिर्वा एतत्सर्वं यन्मूर्तं चामूर्तं च तस्मान्मूर्तिरेव रयिः ॥ ५ ॥
[!info] Transliteration
ādityo ha vai prāṇo rayireva candramā rayirvā etatsarvaṃ yanmūrtaṃ cāmūrtaṃ ca tasmānmūrtireva rayiḥ || 5 ||
[!abstract] Translation
The sun is life, indeed, and the moon, the food; all this having form and formless is food; so form is certainly food.
Prashna Upanishad Verse 1.8
Sanskrit
विश्वरूपं हरिणं जातवेदसं परायणं ज्योतिरेकं तपन्तम् । सहस्ररश्मिः शतधा वर्तमानः प्राणः प्रजानामुदयत्येष सूर्यः ॥ ८ ॥
[!info] Transliteration
viśvarūpaṃ hariṇaṃ jātavedasaṃ parāyaṇaṃ jyotirekaṃ tapantam | sahasraraśmiḥ śatadhā vartamānaḥ prāṇaḥ prajānāmudayatyeṣa sūryaḥ || 8 ||
[!abstract] Translation
Having all forms, shining, omniscient, the highest stay, sole-light, heat-giver, having a thousand rays, existing in a hundred forms, life of all creation, this sun rises.
Prashna Upanishad Verse 2.6
Sanskrit
अरा इव रथनाभौ प्राणे सर्वं प्रतिष्ठितम् । ऋचो यजूँषि सामानि यज्ञः क्शत्रं ब्रह्म च ॥ ६ ॥
[!info] Transliteration
arā iva rathanābhau prāṇe sarvaṃ pratiṣṭhitam | ṛco yajūm̐ṣi sāmāni yajñaḥ kśatraṃ brahma ca || 6 ||
[!abstract] Translation
As spokes in the nave of a wheel, so all is centred in Prana. Riks, Yajur, Samams, sacrifices, Kshatriyas and Brahmins.
Prashna Upanishad Verse 2.9
Sanskrit
इन्द्रस्त्वं प्राण तेजसा रुद्रोऽसि परिरक्शिता । त्वमन्तरिक्शे चरसि सूर्यस्त्वं ज्योतिषां पतिः ॥ ९ ॥
[!info] Transliteration
indrastvaṃ prāṇa tejasā rudro’si parirakśitā | tvamantarikśe carasi sūryastvaṃ jyotiṣāṃ patiḥ || 9 ||
[!abstract] Translation
Oh Prana, you are Indra, you are Rudra by valour; you are the protector; you move in the sky and you are the Sun, the lord of all luminaries.
Prashna Upanishad Verse 2.13
Sanskrit
प्राणस्येदं वशे सर्वं त्रिदिवे यत्प्रतिष्ठितम् । मातेव पुत्रान्रक्शस्व श्रीश्च प्रज्ञां च विधेहि न इति ॥ १३ ॥
[!info] Transliteration
prāṇasyedaṃ vaśe sarvaṃ tridive yatpratiṣṭhitam | māteva putrānrakśasva śrīśca prajñāṃ ca vidhehi na iti || 13 ||
[!abstract] Translation
All this is within the control of Prana, as also what is in the third heaven. Protect us like a mother. Give us affluence and knowledge.
Prashna Upanishad Verse 3.3
Sanskrit
आत्मन एष प्राणो जायते । यथैषा पुरुषे छायैतस्मिन्नेतदाततं मनोकृतेनायात्यस्मिञ्शरीरे ॥ ३ ॥
[!info] Transliteration
ātmana eṣa prāṇo jāyate | yathaiṣā puruṣe chāyaitasminnetadātataṃ manokṛtenāyātyasmiñśarīre || 3 ||
[!abstract] Translation
This Prana is born of the atman. As this shadow in the man, so is this in the atman. By the act of the mind, this comes into this body.
Prashna Upanishad Verse 3.5
Sanskrit
पायूपस्थेऽपानं चक्शुःश्रोत्रे मुखनासिकाभ्यां प्राणः स्वयं प्रातिष्टते मध्ये तु समानः । एष ह्येतद्धुतमन्नं समं नयति तस्मादेताः सप्तार्चिषो भवन्ति ॥ ५ ॥
[!info] Transliteration
pāyūpasthe’pānaṃ cakśuḥśrotre mukhanāsikābhyāṃ prāṇaḥ svayaṃ prātiṣṭate madhye tu samānaḥ । eṣa hyetaddhutamannaṃ samaṃ nayati tasmādetāḥ saptārciṣo bhavanti || 5 ||
[!abstract] Translation
The apana stays in the two lower apertures. Prana stays in the eye, ear, speech and nose. In the middle is samana. He distributes the food supplied equally; so, these seven flames arise.
Prashna Upanishad Verse 3.8
Sanskrit
आदित्यो ह वै बाह्यः प्राण उदयत्येष ह्येनं चाक्शुषं प्राणमनुगृह्णानः । पृथिव्यां या देवता सैषा पुरुषस्यअपानमवष्टभ्यान्तरा यदाकाशः स समानो वायुर्व्यानः ॥ ८ ॥
[!info] Transliteration
ādityo ha vai bāhyaḥ prāṇa udayatyeṣa hyenṃ cākśuṣṃ prāṇamanugṛhṇānaḥ | pṛthivyāṃ yā devatā saiṣā puruṣasyaapānamavaṣṭabhyāntarā yadākāśaḥ sa samāno vāyurvyānaḥ || 8 ||
[!abstract] Translation
The sun, indeed, is the external prana. He rises favouring the prana in the eye. So the goddess of the earth attracts the apana downwards. The akasa between is samana. The wind is vyana.
| Cosmic Element | Physical Function | Mapping |
|---|---|---|
| Aditya (Sun) | Prana (Sight/Input) | Light & Life |
| Prithivi (Earth) | Apana (Excretion/Gravity) | Grounding Force |
| Akasha (Space) | Samana (Digestion/Balance) | Central Space |
| Vayu (Air) | Vyana (Circulation) | Movement Everywhere |
Prashna Upanishad Verse 3.9
Sanskrit
तेजो ह वा उदानस्तस्मादुपशान्ततेजाः । पुनर्भवमिन्द्रियैर्मनसि सम्पध्यमानैः ॥ ९ ॥
[!info] Transliteration
tejo ha vā udānastasmādupaśāntatejāḥ | punarbhavamindriyairmanasi sampadhyamānaiḥ || 9 ||
[!abstract] Translation
The external fire tejas verily is udana. Therefore the fire being extinguished, one again enters another body with the senses clinging to the mind.
Prashna Upanishad Verse 3.10
Sanskrit
यच्चित्तस्तेनैष प्राणमायाति प्राणस्तेजसा युक्तः । सहात्मना यथासंकल्पितं लोकं नयति ॥ १० ॥
[!info] Transliteration
yaccittastenaiṣa prāṇamāyāti prāṇastejasā yuktaḥ | sahātmanā yathāsaṃkalpitaṃ lokaṃ nayati || 10 ||
[!abstract] Translation
Of what thought, by that he attains prana, the prana combined with udana along with the atman, conducts to the world thought of.
Prashna Upanishad Verse 3.12
Sanskrit
उत्पत्तिमायतिं स्थानं विभुत्वं चैव पञ्चधा । अध्यात्मं चैव प्राणस्य विज्ञायामृतमश्नुते विज्ञायामृतमश्नुत इति ॥ १२ ॥
[!info] Transliteration
utpattimāyatiṃ sthānaṃ vibhutvaṃ caiva pañcadhā | adhyātmaṃ caiva prāṇasya vijñāyāmṛtamaśnute vijñāyāmṛtamaśnuta iti || 12 ||
[!abstract] Translation
Knowing the birth, the coming, the staying, and the five-fold sovereignty of Prana and its stay in the body, one attains immortality; one attains immortality.
Prashna Upanishad Verse 6.4
Sanskrit
स प्राणमसृजत प्राणाच्छ्रद्धां खं वायुर्ज्योतिरापः पृथिवीन्द्रियं मनः अन्नमन्नाद्वीर्यं तपो मन्त्राः कर्मलोका लोकेषु च नाम च ॥ ४ ॥
[!info] Transliteration
sa prāṇamasṛjata prāṇācchraddhāṃ khaṃ vāyurjyotirāpaḥ pṛthivīndriyaṃ manaḥ annamannādvīryaṃ tapo mantrāḥ karmalokā lokeṣu ca nāma ca || 4 ||
[!abstract] Translation
He created Prana; from Prana faith, akasa, air, fire, water, earth, senses, mind and food; and from food, strength, contemplation, mantras, karma and worlds; and in worlds name also.
Katha Upanishad
Katha Upanishad Verse 2.1.7
Sanskrit Verse
या प्राणेन संभवत्यदितिर्देवतामयी । गुहां प्रविश्य तिष्ठन्तीं या भूतेभिर्व्यजायत । एतद्वै तत् ॥ ७ ॥
[!note] Transliteration
yā prāṇena saṃbhavatyaditirdevatāmayī | guhāṃ praviśya tiṣṭhantīṃ yā bhูtebirvyajāyata | एतद्वै तत् ॥ ७ ॥
[!abstract] Translation
He who knows Aditi, who rises with Prana (the Life Principle), existent in all the Devas; who, having entered into the heart, abides there; and who was born from the elements—this verily is That.
Katha Upanishad Verse 2.2.3
Sanskrit Verse
ऊर्ध्वं प्राणमुन्नयत्यपानं प्रत्यगस्यति । मध्ये वामनमासीनं विश्वे देवा उपासते ॥ ३ ॥
[!note] Transliteration
ūrdhvaṃ prāṇamunnayatyapānaṃ pratyagasyati | madhye vāmanamāsīnaṃ viśve devā upāsate || 3 ||
[!abstract] Translation
He leads the prana upwards and casts the apana downwards; the dwarf seated in the middle, all Devas worship.
Katha Upanishad Verse 2.2.5
Sanskrit Verse
न प्राणेन नापानेन मर्त्यो जीवति कश्चन । इतरेण तु जीवन्ति यस्मिन्नेतावुपाश्रितौ ॥ ५ ॥
[!note] Transliteration
na prāṇena nāpānena martyo jīvati kaścana | itareṇa tu jīvanti yasminnetāvupāśritau || 5 ||
[!abstract] Translation
Not by prana, not by apana, does any mortal live; but it is by some other on which these two depend that men live.
Katha Upanishad Verse 2.3.2
Sanskrit Verse
यदिदं किंच जगत्सर्वं प्राण एजति निःसृतम् ।
महद्भयं वज्रमुद्यतं य एतद्विदुरमृतास्ते भवन्ति ॥ २ ॥[!note] Transliteration
yadidaṃ kiṃca jagatsarvaṃ prāṇa ejati niḥsṛtam |
mahadbhayaṃ vajramudyataṃ ya etadviduramṛtāste bhavanti || 2 ||[!abstract] Translation
All this universe evolved (from prana) moves while Prana is; a mighty terror, the thunderbolt uplifted; those who know this become immortal.
Kena Upanishad
Kena Upanishad Verse 1 (1.1)
Sanskrit Verse
ओं केनेषितं पतति प्रेषितं मनः केन प्राणः प्रथमः प्रैति युक्तः ।
केनेषितां वाचमिमां वदन्ति चक्षुः श्रोत्रं क उ देवो युनक्ति ॥ १ ॥[!note] Transliteration
oṃ keneṣitaṃ patati preṣitaṃ manaḥ kena prāṇaḥ prathamaḥ praiti yuktaḥ |
keneṣitāṃ vācamimāṃ vadanti cakṣuḥ śrotraṃ ka u devo yunakti || 1 ||[!abstract] Translation
By whom willed and directed does the mind light on its subjects? By whom commanded does prana, the first, move? By whose will do men speak this speech? What Intelligence directs the eye and the ear?
Kena Upanishad Verse 2 (1.2)
Sanskrit Verse
श्रोत्रस्य श्रोत्रं मनसो मनो यद् वाचो ह वाचं स उ प्राणस्य प्राणः । चक्षुषश्चक्षुरतिमुच्य धीराः प्रेत्यास्माल्लोकादमृता भवन्ति ॥ २ ॥
[!note] Transliteration
śrotrasya śrotraṃ manaso mano yadvāco ha vācaṃ sa u prāṇasya prāṇaścakṣuṣaścakṣuḥ |
atimucya dhīrāḥ pretyāsmāllokādamṛtā bhavanti || 2 ||[!abstract] Translation
It is the ear of the ear, mind of the mind, tongue of the tongue, and also life of the life and eye of the eye. Being disabused of the false notion, the wise, having left this body, become immortal.
Kena Upanishad Verse 8 (1.8)
Sanskrit Verse
यत्प्राणेन न प्राणिति येन प्राणः प्रणीयते ।
तदेव ब्रह्म त्वं विद्धि नेदं यदिदमुपासते ॥ ८ ॥[!note] Transliteration
yatprāṇena na prāṇiti yena prāṇaḥ praṇīyate |
tadeva brahma tvaṃ viddhi nedaṃ yadidamupāsate || 8 ||[!abstract] Translation
What none breathes with the breath, but by which breath is in-breathed, That alone know thou to be the Brahman; not this which (people) here worship.
Mundaka Upanishad
Mundaka Upanishad Verse 1.1.8
Sanskrit
तपसा चीयते ब्रह्म ततोऽन्नमभिजायते । अन्नात्प्राणो मनः सत्यं लोकाः कर्मसु चामृतम् ॥ ८ ॥
[!info] Transliteration
tapasā cīyate brahma tato’nnamabhijāyate | annātprāṇo manaḥ satyaṃ lokāḥ karmasu cāmṛtam || 8 ||
[!abstract] Translation
By tapas Brahman increases in size and from it food is produced; from food the prana, the mind, the Bhutas (the elements), the worlds, karma and with it, its fruits.
Mundaka Upanishad Verse 3.1.4
Sanskrit
प्राणो ह्येष यः सर्वभूतैर्विभाति विजानन्विद्वान्भवते नातिवादी । आत्मक्रीड आत्मरतिः क्रियावानेष ब्रह्मविदां वरिष्ठः ॥ ४ ॥
[!info] Transliteration
praṇo hyeṣa yaḥ sarvभूतairvibhāti vijānanvidvānbhavate nātivādī | ātmakrīḍa ātmaratiḥ kriyāvāneṣa brahmavidāṃ variṣṭhaḥ || 4 ||
[!abstract] Translation
This is, indeed, Prana, shining variously in all living beings. Knowing Him, the wise man becomes not a talker regarding anything else. Sporting in the Self, delighted in the Self, and performing his duties, this man is the best among those who know Brahman.
Mundaka Upanishad Verse 3.1.9
Sanskrit
एषोऽणुरात्मा चेतसा वेदितव्यो यस्मिन्प्राणः पञ्चधा संविवेश ।
प्राणैश्चित्तं सर्वमोतं प्रजानां यस्मिन्विशुद्धे विभवत्येष आत्मा ॥ ९ ॥[!info] Transliteration
eṣo’ṇurātmā cetasā veditavyo yasminprāṇaḥ pañcadhā saṃviveśa |
prāṇaiścittaṃ sarvamotaṃ prajānāṃ yasminviśuddhe vibhavatyeṣa ātmā || 9 ||[!abstract] Translation
This subtle Atman should be known by the mind as being in the body, where Prana has entered in five different forms; the mind in all creatures is pervaded by these Pranas. When the mind is purified, then the Atman shines out of itself.
Brihadaranyaka Upanishad
Sarvantaratma Vidya (3.4.1.2)
Sanskrit
यः प्राणेन प्राणिति स त आत्मा सर्वान्तरः, योऽपानेनापानिति स त आत्मा सर्वान्तरः, यो व्यानेन व्यानिति स त आत्मा सर्वान्तरः, य उदानेनोदानिति स त आत्मा सर्वान्तरः, एष त आत्मा सर्वान्तरः ॥ १ ॥
[!abstract] Translation
“He who breathes out through the Prana is your Self that is within all. He who breathes in through the Apana is your Self that is within all. He who pervades through the Vyana is your Self that is within all. He who goes up through the Udana is your Self that is within all. This is your Self that is within all.”