Shloka 17
Abhaya-Itihāsa: Karma, Indriyas, and the Non-sensory Brahman
Brāhmaṇī–Brāhmaṇa Saṃvāda
प्राणानामायतत्वेन तमुदान प्रचक्षते । तस्मात् तपो व्यवस्यन्ति मद्गतं ब्रह्म॒वादिन:,'प्राणांका आयतन (आधार) होनेके कारण उसे विद्वान् पुरुष उदान कहते हैं। इसलिये वेदवादी मुझमें स्थित तपका निश्चय करते हैं
prāṇānām āyatatvena tam udāna pracakṣate | tasmāt tapo vyavasyanti madgataṁ brahmavādinaḥ ||
Dijo Vāyu: «Porque sirve de sostén y fundamento de los alientos vitales, los sabios llaman a ese principio “Udāna”. Por ello, los conocedores del Veda determinan la austeridad como algo asentado en mí: dirigida hacia mí y establecida en mi presencia».
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
Udāna is identified as the sustaining basis connected with the vital breaths, and true austerity (tapas) is presented as a disciplined resolve grounded in Vāyu’s principle—linking spiritual practice with mastery and understanding of prāṇa.
Vāyudeva is speaking doctrinally, explaining a subtle physiological-spiritual concept: why the wise name a particular vital function ‘Udāna’ and how Veda-knowers, on that basis, commit themselves to tapas as a practice established in Vāyu.