Shloka 20
Vāc–Manas Saṃvāda: Prāṇa-Apāna and the Primacy Debate (वाक्–मनस् संवादः)
ततः प्राण: प्रादुरभूद् वाचमाप्याययन् पुनः । तस्मादुच्छवासमासाद्य न वाग् वदति कहिचित्,तब वाणीको पुष्ट-सा करता हुआ पुन: प्राण प्रकट हुआ। इसीलिये उच्छवास लेते समय वाणी कभी कोई शब्द नहीं बोलती है
tataḥ prāṇaḥ prādurabhūd vācam āpyāyayan punaḥ | tasmād ucchvāsam āsādya na vāg vadati karhi cit ||
Dann offenbarte sich der Lebenshauch erneut, stellte die Rede wieder her und nährte sie. Darum bringt die Stimme im Augenblick des Einatmens keinen Laut hervor.
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Educational Q&A
Speech is not independent; it is sustained by prāṇa. The verse points to an ethical and yogic insight: mastery of breath supports mastery of speech, and restraint in speech naturally follows awareness of the breath’s role.
The Brahmin explains a physiological-spiritual sequence: prāṇa reappears and revitalizes speech; consequently, during inhalation (ucchvāsa) speech does not operate. This illustrates the dependence of verbal expression on the movement of breath.