Shloka 10
नारद–शुक संवादः (Nārada–Śuka Dialogue): Tyāga, Saṃyama, and Vyakta–Avyakta Viveka
प्राणायामो हि सगुणो निर्गुणं धारयेन्मन: । यद्यदृश्यति मुज्चन् वै प्राणान् मैथिलसत्तम । वाताधिकयं भवत्येव तस्मात् तं न समाचरेत्
yājñavalkya uvāca | prāṇāyāmo hi saguṇo nirguṇaṃ dhārayen manaḥ | yadyadṛśyati muñcan vai prāṇān maithilasattama | vātādhikyaṃ bhavaty eva tasmāt taṃ na samācaret |
ヤージュニャヴァルキヤは言った。「プラーナーヤーマは、サグナ（有相）—すなわち一定の観想対象に支えられて—修されるなら、心をニルグナ（無相）の境地に安住させる助けとなる。だが、マイティラのうち最勝の者よ、吸気などの諸段階において定められた神格（あるいは導きの原理）を内観によって見ずして、ただ生命の息を吐き出す（レーチャナ）なら、身体にはヴァータ（風）の過剰が必ず起こる。ゆえに、瞑想を欠いたプラーナーヤーマを行ってはならぬ。」
याज़्ञवल्क्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
Breath-discipline should be joined to focused contemplation (saguṇa support) so that the mind can become steady in the attributeless (nirguṇa) state; doing prāṇāyāma mechanically, without meditative ‘vision’ or proper inner focus, is discouraged because it can cause imbalance (vāta aggravation) and fails to serve its spiritual purpose.
In a didactic exchange within Śānti Parva, the sage Yājñavalkya instructs a Maithila interlocutor on correct yogic method: prāṇāyāma is presented as a means to stabilize the mind, but only when integrated with meditation; otherwise it is portrayed as potentially harmful and spiritually unproductive.