Skanda Purana — Kashi Khanda, Shloka 81
करोति शास्तृनिर्देशं न च तं परिलंघयेत् । तथा प्राणो हदिस्थोयं योगिनाक्रमयोगतः । गृहीतः सेव्यमानस्तु विश्रंभमुपगच्छति
karoti śāstṛnirdeśaṃ na ca taṃ parilaṃghayet | tathā prāṇo hadisthoyaṃ yoginākramayogataḥ | gṛhītaḥ sevyamānastu viśraṃbhamupagacchati
Sebagaimana seseorang menaati petunjuk guru-śāstra dan tidak melanggarnya, demikian pula prāṇa yang bersemayam di hati ditaklukkan oleh yogin secara bertahap melalui disiplin kramayoga. Bila ia dikendalikan dan dijaga dengan tekun, prāṇa pun beristirahat dalam ketenangan yang penuh kepercayaan.
Skanda (deduced: Kāśīkhaṇḍa commonly Skanda → Agastya)
Tirtha: Kāśī
Type: kshetra
Scene: A yogin seated in steady posture within a quiet Kāśī setting, heart-lotus subtly indicated; a guru’s palm raised in instruction; the breath depicted as a gentle swan settling into calm.
FAQs
Prāṇa is mastered the same way dharma is learned: by faithful, gradual practice under guidance, leading to inner steadiness.
The broader context is Kāśī (Vārāṇasī) in the Kāśīkhaṇḍa, where yogic discipline is presented as part of Kāśī’s liberating spiritual culture.
A practical discipline is prescribed: do not transgress the teacher’s instruction; restrain and steadily cultivate the breath through gradual yogic method.