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
ଯେପରି ଗୁରୁଙ୍କ ନିର୍ଦ୍ଦେଶକୁ ପାଳନ କରି ତାହାକୁ ଅତିକ୍ରମ କରାଯାଏ ନାହିଁ, ସେପରି ହୃଦୟସ୍ଥ ଏହି ପ୍ରାଣକୁ ଯୋଗୀ କ୍ରମଶଃ ସାଧନାଦ୍ୱାରା ବଶ କରେ। ଏଭଳି ସଂଯମିତ ଓ ନିରନ୍ତର ସେବିତ ପ୍ରାଣ ବିଶ୍ୱାସମୟ ଶାନ୍ତିରେ ବିଶ୍ରାମ ପାଏ।
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.