Shloka 12
Skanda-janma: Śivā/Svāhā, Agni, and the Manifestation of Guha
Mahābhārata 3.214
समानोदानयोर्मध्ये प्राणापानौ समाहितौ । समर्थितस्त्वधिष्ठानं सम्यक् पचति पावक:,समान और उदान वायुओंके बीचमें प्राण और अपानवायुकी स्थिति है। उनके संघर्षसे उत्पन्न जठरानल अन्नको पचाता है और उसके रससे इस शरीरको भलीभाँति पुष्ट करता है;
samānodānayor madhye prāṇāpānau samāhitau | samarthitas tv adhiṣṭhānaṃ samyak pacati pāvakaḥ ||
The hunter-sage explains the inner order of the body: between the vital currents called Samāna and Udāna, the breaths Prāṇa and Apāna are held in balance. From their regulated interaction arises the digestive fire, which properly cooks the food and, from its essence, nourishes and strengthens the body. The ethical point is that even bodily life depends on harmony and disciplined regulation—so too should one’s conduct be governed by balance and right order (dharma).
व्याध उवाच
Educational Q&A
Life and strength depend on the balanced coordination of inner forces (prāṇa, apāna, samāna, udāna). This becomes an ethical analogy: dharma is sustained by harmony, restraint, and proper regulation rather than conflict and excess.
Vyādha is instructing his listener by describing the body’s internal functioning—how the vital winds support digestive fire and nourishment—using physiological insight to ground a broader teaching on right order and disciplined living.