Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 72
चलेऽनिले चलं सर्वं निश्चले तत्र निश्चलम् । स्थाणुत्वमाप्नुयाद्योगी ततोऽनिलनिरुंधनात्
cale'nile calaṃ sarvaṃ niścale tatra niścalam | sthāṇutvamāpnuyādyogī tato'nilaniruṃdhanāt
When the breath moves, everything becomes unsteady; when it is made still, all becomes still. Therefore, by restraining the breath, the yogin attains steadfastness—like an unmoving pillar.
Skanda (deduced: Kāśīkhaṇḍa commonly Skanda → Agastya)
Tirtha: Kāśī
Type: kshetra
Scene: A yogin like a stone pillar—upright, unmoving—while stylized winds swirl outside; inside the body, breath is depicted as a quiet, coiled current becoming still.
FAQs
Mind and life-force are linked: stilling the breath supports stillness of the inner world and steadiness in yoga.
The teaching is situated within Kāśīkhaṇḍa, aligning yogic discipline with the liberating sanctity of Kāśī.
Breath restraint (anila-niruṁdhana) as a yogic method to cultivate immobility and concentration.