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 menuruti arahan guru-śāstra dan tidak melanggarnya, demikianlah prāṇa yang bersemayam di hati dikuasai oleh yogin secara beransur-ansur melalui disiplin kramayoga. Apabila ia ditahan dan dipelihara dengan tekun, prāṇa pun berehat dalam ketenangan yang penuh keyakinan.
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.