Shloka 18
Pañcahotṛ-Vidhāna and the Dispute of the Five Vāyus (पञ्चहोतृविधानम् — पञ्चवायूनां श्रेष्ठत्वविवादः)
(ब्राह्मण उवाच ततः समान: प्रालिल्ये पुनश्न प्रचचार ह | प्राणापानाबुदानश्च व्यानश्वैव तमब्रुवन् ।।
brāhmaṇa uvāca | tataḥ samānaḥ prālīlye punaś ca pracacāra ha | prāṇāpānā udānaś ca vyānaś caiva tam abruvan || na tvaṁ samāna śreṣṭho ’si vyāna eva vaśe tava || samānaḥ pracacārātha udānas tam uvāca ha | śreṣṭho ’ham asmi sarveṣāṁ śrūyatāṁ yena hetunā ||
Le brāhmaṇa dit : Ayant parlé ainsi, Samāna demeura immobile un court instant, comme dissous dans le silence, puis se remit à se mouvoir comme auparavant. Alors Prāṇa, Apāna, Udāna et Vyāna lui dirent : «Samāna, tu ne nous es pas supérieur ; seul Vyāna est sous ton pouvoir.» À ces mots, Samāna continua comme avant. Alors Udāna lui déclara : «C’est moi qui suis le premier de tous — écoutez-en la raison.»
(ब्राह्मण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage frames an ethical lesson through the body’s vital airs: claims of superiority are tested by function and dependence. Each force contributes, and boasting is checked by the reminder that one’s power is limited and conditioned by others.
Samāna pauses and resumes functioning; the other vital airs (Prāṇa, Apāna, Udāna, Vyāna) challenge his claim to superiority, stating only Vyāna is under his control. Then Udāna begins to argue that he is foremost and prepares to give his rationale.