Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 81
करोति शास्तृनिर्देशं न च तं परिलंघयेत् । तथा प्राणो हदिस्थोयं योगिनाक्रमयोगतः । गृहीतः सेव्यमानस्तु विश्रंभमुपगच्छति
karoti śāstṛnirdeśaṃ na ca taṃ parilaṃghayet | tathā prāṇo hadisthoyaṃ yoginākramayogataḥ | gṛhītaḥ sevyamānastu viśraṃbhamupagacchati
যেনেকৈ শাস্ত্ৰ-গুৰুৰ নিৰ্দেশ মানি তাৰ লঙ্ঘন নকৰা হয়, তেনেকৈ হৃদয়ত অৱস্থিত এই প্ৰাণো যোগীয়ে ক্ৰম-যোগৰ অনুশাসনে ধীৰে ধীৰে বশ কৰে। এইদৰে সংযত কৰি সততে সাৱধানে পালন কৰিলে, প্ৰাণ বিশ্বাসভৰা শান্ত বিশ্ৰামলৈ উপনীত হয়।
Skanda (deduced: Kāśīkhaṇḍa commonly Skanda → Agastya)
Tirtha: Kāśī
Type: kshetra
Scene: A yogin seated in steady posture within a quiet Kāśī setting, heart-lotus subtly indicated; a guru’s palm raised in instruction; the breath depicted as a gentle swan settling into calm.
FAQs
Prāṇa is mastered the same way dharma is learned: by faithful, gradual practice under guidance, leading to inner steadiness.
The broader context is Kāśī (Vārāṇasī) in the Kāśīkhaṇḍa, where yogic discipline is presented as part of Kāśī’s liberating spiritual culture.
A practical discipline is prescribed: do not transgress the teacher’s instruction; restrain and steadily cultivate the breath through gradual yogic method.