Shloka 8
Pañcahotṛ-Vidhāna and the Dispute of the Five Vāyus (पञ्चहोतृविधानम् — पञ्चवायूनां श्रेष्ठत्वविवादः)
प्राण उवाच मयि प्रलीने प्रलयं व्रजन्ति सर्वे प्राणा: प्राणभूतां शरीरे । मयि प्रचीर्णे च पुनश्चरन्ति श्रेष्ठो हाहं पश्यत मां प्रलीनम्
prāṇa uvāca mayi pralīne pralayaṁ vrajanti sarve prāṇāḥ prāṇabhūtāṁ śarīre | mayi pracīrṇe ca punaś caranti śreṣṭho hy ahaṁ paśyata māṁ pralīnam ||
ପ୍ରାଣ କହିଲା—ମୁଁ ଲୟ ହେଲେ ପ୍ରାଣୀମାନଙ୍କ ଶରୀରରେ ଥିବା ସମସ୍ତ ପ୍ରାଣ ଲୟକୁ ଯାଆନ୍ତି; ମୁଁ ଚଳିଲେ ସେମାନେ ସମସ୍ତେ ପୁନଃ ଚଳନ କରନ୍ତି। ତେଣୁ ମୁଁ ଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ। ଦେଖ—ଏବେ ମୁଁ ଲୟ ହେଉଛି।
प्राण उवाच
Educational Q&A
Prāṇa asserts primacy among the life-functions: when prāṇa withdraws, the other vital operations cease; when it moves, they revive. The ethical implication is humility and discernment—recognizing the central support that enables all activity, and the dependence of subsidiary powers on a sustaining principle.
In a disputation among the vital airs about superiority, Prāṇa demonstrates its dominance by ‘withdrawing’ (pralīna). As prāṇa subsides, the other prāṇas are said to collapse; when it circulates again, they function. This serves as a proof by demonstration within the dialogue.