Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 6
Āsana–Prāṇāyāma–Pratyāhāra
Posture, Breath-control, and Withdrawal of the Senses
उन्नम्य शनकैर् वक्रं मुखं विष्टभ्य चाग्रतः प्राणः स्वदेहजो वायुस्तस्यायामो निरोधनं
unnamya śanakair vakraṃ mukhaṃ viṣṭabhya cāgrataḥ prāṇaḥ svadehajo vāyustasyāyāmo nirodhanaṃ
மெல்ல மெல்ல உடலை (மார்பை) உயர்த்தி, வாயை கட்டுப்பாட்டுடன் முன்னே நிலைநிறுத்தி; தன் உடலில் பிறந்த பிராணவாயுவை விரித்து அடக்குதல்—அந்த ஒழுங்கான அடக்கமே ‘பிராணாயாமம்’ எனப்படும்।
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s didactic dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Ayurveda","practical_application":"Definition and method of prāṇāyāma: gradual lifting/straightening, controlled forward-facing mouth posture, then measured extension and restraint of prāṇa-vāyu.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Prāṇāyāma—āyāma and nirodha of prāṇa-vāyu","lookup_keywords":["prāṇāyāma","prāṇa-vāyu","āyāma","nirodha","mukha-niyama"],"quick_summary":"Prāṇāyāma is defined as the deliberate extension and restraint of the vital wind within the body, supported by controlled posture and facial/oral steadiness."}
Dosha: Tridosha
Concept: Prāṇa as an internal vāyu; its measured expansion and restraint constitutes prāṇāyāma, aiding mind-control.
Application: Coordinate posture (gradual lift/align), gaze/face steadiness, and breath measurement; treat breath as a trainable internal force rather than a passive function.
Khanda Section: Yoga / Prāṇāyāma-vidhi (Haṭha-yoga style breath regulation within the Agni Purana’s encyclopedic instruction)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A yogin gradually straightening the torso, face oriented forward with controlled mouth posture, illustrating the definition of prāṇāyāma as measured extension and restraint of prāṇa-vāyu.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, sequential feel (suggested motion), yogin with subtly lifted torso, forward-facing calm visage, stylized breath lines near nostrils, muted temple interior backdrop","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, central yogin with halo, gold accents framing the controlled posture, symbolic prāṇa currents as delicate gold filigree lines, serene devotional ambience","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic layout showing upright alignment and forward mouth control, fine shading, minimal background, emphasis on breath pathway depiction","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, refined profile-to-front facial control, delicate depiction of chest lift and stillness, faint calligraphic breath motifs, garden pavilion setting"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: शनकैः (IAST śanakair) = शनकैः; च+अग्रतः → चाग्रतः; वायुः+तस्य → वायुस्तस्य; तस्य+आयामः → तस्यायामः
Related Themes: Agni Purana 372.7-372.9 (recaka–pūraka–kumbhaka as components of prāṇāyāma)
FAQs
It defines prāṇāyāma technically as the measured extension (āyāma) and restraint (nirodha) of the prāṇa-vāyu, done with steady posture and controlled mouth/face orientation.
Beyond mythology, the Agni Purana also transmits practical disciplines like yoga; this verse is a concise technical definition of breath regulation, showing the text’s coverage of embodied sādhanā alongside ritual, polity, and arts.
Restraint of prāṇa is presented as a purifying discipline: by steadying the vital wind, the mind becomes controlled, supporting inner purification and meditative stability that leads toward spiritual merit and liberation-oriented practice.