Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 33
प्राणानामुपसंरोधात्प्राणायाम इति स्मृतः । यथा पर्वतधातूनां ध्मातानां दह्यते मलः
prāṇānāmupasaṃrodhātprāṇāyāma iti smṛtaḥ | yathā parvatadhātūnāṃ dhmātānāṃ dahyate malaḥ
Because it is the close restraint of the vital breaths, it is remembered as prāṇāyāma. Just as the impurities of mountain ores are burnt away when they are smelted and blown in the furnace,
Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) (deduced)
Scene: A symbolic split scene: on one side, a furnace with bellows smelting ore, impurities burning off; on the other, a yogin with a subtle inner flame at the navel/heart, breath as bellows; smoke-like ‘mala’ dissolving into light.
FAQs
Breath-discipline purifies the practitioner inwardly, like fire refining ore—removing subtle impurities through controlled effort.
No tīrtha is mentioned; the verse uses a purification metaphor to explain yogic transformation.
The prescribed discipline is upasaṃrodha (restraining) of the vital breaths—i.e., prāṇāyāma.