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Shloka 13

Ācāra-vidhi (Rules of Conduct) — Yudhiṣṭhira’s Inquiry and Bhīṣma’s Normative Catalogue

अग्निवेगवह:ः प्राणो गुदान्ते प्रतिहन्यते । स ऊर्ध्वमागम्य पुन: समुत्क्षिपति पावकम्‌,अग्निके वेगसे बहता हुआ प्राण गुदाके निकट जाकर प्रतिहत हो जाता है; फिर ऊपरकी ओर लौटकर समीपवर्ती अग्निको भी ऊपर उठा देता है

agnivegavahaḥ prāṇo gudānte pratihanyate | sa ūrdhvam āgamya punaḥ samutkṣipati pāvakam |

ويشرح بهاردفاجا: إن الپرَانا، الجاري بدفعٍ كدفع النار، يصطدم بعائق قرب نهاية المستقيم. ثم يرتد صاعدًا، فيرفع النار الباطنة القريبة ويُذكيها.

अग्निवेगवहःthe carrier of the fire’s impulse/force (i.e., the breath carrying digestive fire)
अग्निवेगवहः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootअग्निवेगवह (अग्नि+वेग+वह)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
प्राणःthe vital breath (prāṇa)
प्राणः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootप्राण
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
गुदान्तेat the end/near the anus
गुदान्ते:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootगुदान्त (गुद+अन्त)
FormMasculine, Locative, Singular
प्रतिहन्यतेis checked/struck back/obstructed
प्रतिहन्यते:
Karma
TypeVerb
Rootप्रति-हन्
FormPresent, Third, Singular, Atmanepada, Passive/Impersonal (karmani-prayoga)
सःhe/that (breath)
सः:
Karta
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
ऊर्ध्वम्upwards
ऊर्ध्वम्:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootऊर्ध्व
आगम्यhaving come/returned
आगम्य:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootआ-गम्
FormAbsolutive (Gerund), Parasmaipada/Atmanepada-neutral
पुनःagain
पुनः:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootपुनः
समुत्क्षिपतिthrows up/lifts up
समुत्क्षिपति:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootसम्-उत्-क्षिप्
FormPresent, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada
पावकम्fire (the purifier)
पावकम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootपावक
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular

भरद्वाज उवाच

B
Bharadvāja
P
prāṇa
P
pāvaka/agni
G
guda (rectum/anus region)

Educational Q&A

The verse teaches that bodily life is governed by regulated movements of prāṇa and agni; understanding these inner dynamics supports restraint, balance, and disciplined conduct rather than impulsive living.

Bharadvāja describes prāṇa moving with fiery force, being checked near the anal region, then rebounding upward and thereby raising/activating the nearby inner fire (pāvaka), as part of an explanation of internal bodily processes.