Shloka 14
Mahāyoga: Detachment from ‘I/Mine’, Aṣṭāṅga Practice, Oṁkāra and Aham-Brahmāsmi Contemplation
प्रत्येकं त्रिविधः सो ऽपि पूरकुम्भकरेचकैः / लघुर्यो दशमात्रस्तु द्विगुणः स तु मध्यमः
pratyekaṃ trividhaḥ so 'pi pūrakumbhakarecakaiḥ / laghuryo daśamātrastu dviguṇaḥ sa tu madhyamaḥ
ஒவ்வொரு (பிராணாயாமமும்) பூரகம், கும்பகம், ரேசகம் என மூவகை. ‘லகு’ என்பது பத்து மாத்திரை; அதன் இரட்டிப்பு ‘மத்தியமம்’ எனப்படும்।
Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Concept: Prāṇāyāma is threefold—pūraka, kumbhaka, recaka—with graded durations: light (10 mātrās) and medium (double).
Vedantic Theme: Regulation of prāṇa steadies manas; supports pratyāhāra and dhyāna, preparing for inner realization.
Application: Practice breath regulation progressively and safely, using measured counts; increase duration gradually rather than forcefully.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.226: prāṇāyāma definitions and gradations (laghu/madhyama/uttama).
FAQs
This verse defines pranayama as a three-part discipline—inhale, retain, exhale—showing that breath regulation is treated as a structured spiritual practice, not merely a physical exercise.
It states that a ‘light’ (laghu) measure is ten mātrās, and a ‘medium’ (madhyama) measure is double that, indicating graded practice based on time-units.
Practice breathwork with clear timing: begin with short, steady counts (laghu), and only after stability increase duration gradually (toward madhyama), keeping the three phases balanced.