Ishwara says

I will now explain the methods of performing prANAyAmam. Only when rEcakA
(exhale), pUrakA (inhale), and kumbakA (hold) are performed together, it becomes a
prANAyAmA.

The rEkcakA, pUrakA, and kumbakA are said to be of three letters, thus similar to that
of praNavA. Hence, prANAyAmA is considered to be praNava mayA.

times.

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For those who are not able to control the breath that long, do it as much as possible.

complete sequence is called prANAyAmaM. This is how it should be practiced.

Again, perform the inhalation from the nostril that you exhaled (right nostril) by chanting

times (It should be 64 but 40 is

given for those who are unable to hold it that long I guess).

Then, exhale through the left nostril by meditating o

times. Similarly, continue the cycle again by inhaling through the left nostril.

Perform praNAyAmam using the method prescribed above daily. Alternatively, inhale
and fill the stomach.

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While holding the breath, chanting gAyatri mantra along with praNavA and vyAhRuti
(Om bhUH bhuvaH suvahH) 3 times (and then exhale completely).

Perform like this three times. gRuhastAs should do this 3 times during the three
sandhyAs. Oh mahA muni! For brahmachArIs and vAnaprastAs -

prAnAyAmam is defined by one of the above two methods by those who have
understood the vEdAs. Similar to brAhmanAs, prANAyAmam has been prescribed for
kShatriyAs and -

those vaishyAs who are capable of discrimination of real from unreal and can be
detached. For shUdrAs and women, prANAyAmam can be performed using -

be used in the place of gAyatri.

They should chant these mantrAs 16 times during the prANAyAmam.

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Just by practicing this for a month, one will be relieved from sins like brahmahatyA. By

jnana and moksha will be kindled.

By doing this regularly for a year, one would start to understand brahmam. Those who
practices yOgA, maintains svadharmA,

they would attain the jnana and mukti by sheer practice of prANAyAmam everyday, The
process of filling the stomach by inhaling outside air is called pUrakA.

The process of holding the filled breath within the stomach is called kumbakA.
Releasing the controlled breath through exhalation is called rEchakA.

Perspiration while performing prANAyAma is considered adhama (low). Shivering or

shakes in the body while performing prANAyAmam is considered madhyamA (medium)
and raising upwards is considered uttamam (best).

Until a person reaches the stage of uttamam (best), they should continue their practice.
Once they have reached the uttamam stage, they should continue to enjoy the bliss
rendered by that state.

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By performing prANAyAmam, the mind becomes clean. A clean mind will lead to a state
where a sAdhakA can become one with his own pratyag jyOti (AtmA).

The prANA is merged with cittA in the paramAtmA. Those who practice prANAyAmA
and for those great persons among men who are in this state of merging the chittA with
prANA,

their body raises and hence even with a little jnana experience, attains mukti. By
practicing only kumbakA by shedding pUrakA and rEcakA,

the seeker is relieved from all sins and attains samyag jnana. He would reach the state
of mastering his mind and would always remain young.

There is nothing impossible for those who continuously perform prANAyAmam. Hence
put all possible efforts and continue to practice prANAyAmam.

I will now explain the viniyOga (the application procedures / methods) of prANAyAmam.
During the sandhyAs or dawn or afternoon or always -
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inhale the outside air and fill it in the stomach. Now divert your focus on either the tip of
the nose, or the nAbhi, or the toe.

By doing this, the person is relieved from all diseases and will live for 100 years. By
focusing on the tip of the nose, he can win over the bhUtA vAyu.

To shed all diseases, let him focus on the nAbhi. To make the body light, the sAdhakA
can focus on the toe.

By pulling the outside air through the tongue and drinking it will relieve the sAdhakA
from all difficulties (tiredness) and thirst. They will be able to live disease free.

By pulling the outside air through the tongue and keep it under the tongue and focus on
it. Then slowly start drinking the saliva (amRuta) will result in all happiness.

By inhaling through the left nostril and divert the focus to the mid of the eye brows
(AjnA) and start drinking the amRutA that is formed there to shed all diseases.
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Inhaling through both nostrils ( idA and pingalA ) and divert the focus to the nAbhi. This
will also help in getting rid of all diseases.

Inhale through the tongue and slowly drink the amRutA and hold it in the nabhI and hold
your focus there as well. If a sAdhakA performs this procedure during the three
sandhyAs for a month,

they will be relieved from vAtA and pitta dOshAs without any doubt. Inhale through both
the nostrils and focus on the eyes.

This will relieve a person from the eye related diseases. If focus is on the ears, the ear
related diseases will be gone. Similarly, if the focus is on the head,

I promise that head related diseases will be relieved. If a person sits on svastikAsanA
and with a totally focused mind,

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tucks in the air through the anus and slowly brings it up and closes the ears and eyes
using his hands as follows -

Close the ears with the thumbs, eyes with the pointers, nostrils with the middle fingers
and the remaining portions of the hand on the face,

and until the happiness is experienced, retain the focus at the top of the head; for that
sAdhakA, that prANA that is pulled up will enter the brahmarandhrA.

Once it enters the brahmarandhrA, nAdhA is generated. First, the nAdA of the shank
(conch) is heard. Then the sound of the thundering clouds is heard.

That prANA that went in the middle of the head would also produce the sound of a
waterfall. Then oh! Muni, the consciousness would directly encounter the AtmA!

thus resulting in Atma jnana and the world (saMsArA) would cease to exist for that
jNAni.

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By pressing the bIjA nerve with the right heel,

and at the same time pressing the join area of the thigh using the higher heel/ankle,
meditate on tryambakA (shivA)

vinAyakA and vAgIshvarI (Sarasvati). Then oh! Muni! through the linga opening pull the
outside air.

chant the agni bIjA along with praNavam (aum raM) and bring it to the mUlAdhArA.

This prANA that has the power to hit the agni kuNDali. Then this prANA takes the route
of sushuMnA.

Those who practice thus will win over the vAyu element. First the sAdhakA experiences
perspiration, then body shakes, and then

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reaches the state of rising above. These are the obvious signs of progress. This
practice will remove all diseases around those regions.

a disease called bhagamdharaM and others will also be relieved. Bad and evil Sins are
also destroyed.

Due to the destroyed sins, the consciousness shines like a mirror. Then the
determination increases in the mind.

Those who reached the stage of detachment from samsArA, the only instrument to

Oh! It is just unfortunate that lowly mankind ignores this jnana nectar and wanders
around the lowly happiness offered by samsArA due to the power of mAyA.

Those who have enjoyed the jnAnAmRutA once, would shed all other things and runs
behind this experience all the time.

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Those who run behind the lowly happiness would not have enjoyed this jnAnAmRutA.

Intelligent people consider this universe as a jnana svarUpA. However ignorant people
look at this materialistically.

The yajnAs offer the state of dEvAs. The penance offers the state of brahmA. Charity
bestows happiness. Only through jNAnA does a person attain brahmam (mOkShA)

Some think that they can attain mOkShA through karmAs alone. Those ignorant folks
are not aware that the shrutI loudly proclaims that this is as good as a stick.

The learned sees the entire existence as AtmA only. Those ajAnis fail to realize this and
hence cannot understand shaMkarA.

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Since men are surrounded by ajnAnA, they are called amuktA (enslaved). Similar to
how darkness is removed by the presence of light, ajnAnA is automatically destroyed by
gaining the jnana.

Due to the experience of jnAnA , ajnAnA gets destroyed; since ajnAnA is destroyed,
attachment etc gets destroyed.

Since attachment etc is destroyed, the good deeds and sins are destroyed. Since there
is no puNyA or pApA and no attachment to the body, there need to take another body is
cut.

Once such mahatma reaches that state, sukhA and dukkha does not bind him. This is
how learned identifies a pure AtmasvarUpa muktA.

Thus, sukhA and dukkha are experienced only due to ajnAnA and the cure for that is
jnAnA alone and not karma.

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There is no other better tool other than jnAnA available to get rid of sukhA and dukkha
(puNyA and pApA). To cut down saMsArA jnAnA is the only way.

I have explained everything in brief because of my affection towards you. Maintain the
secrecy of the great knowledge of vEdAntA.

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