Shloka 10
Pañcahotṛ-Vidhāna and the Dispute of the Five Vāyus (पञ्चहोतृविधानम् — पञ्चवायूनां श्रेष्ठत्वविवादः)
न त्वं सर्वमिदं व्याप्प तिष्ठतीह यथा वयम् | नत्वं श्रेष्ठो हि न: प्राण अपानो हि वशे तव । प्रचचार पुन: प्राणस्तमपानो5भ्यभाषत
na tvaṁ sarvam idaṁ vyāpya tiṣṭhatīha yathā vayam | na tvaṁ śreṣṭho hi naḥ prāṇa apāno hi vaśe tava || pracacāra punaḥ prāṇas tam apāno 'bhyabhāṣata |
Sinabi nila: “Prāṇa, hindi mo nilulukuban at nananatili sa buong katawang ito gaya namin. Kaya hindi ka nakahihigit sa amin. Sa katunayan, ang apāna lamang ang nasa ilalim ng iyong kapangyarihan; kaya kahit lumubog ka, walang pinsalang darating sa amin.” Pagkaraan, muling kumilos ang prāṇa gaya ng dati. Pagkatapos nito, nagsalita ang apāna.
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse stresses that no single function can claim absolute supremacy in the living body: the vital forces operate through mutual dependence. Ethical pride is checked by pointing out limits of one’s power and the necessity of cooperation among complementary roles.
In a debate among the life-forces, the Brāhmaṇa argues against prāṇa’s claim to superiority, saying prāṇa does not pervade the body as the others do and controls only apāna. After this challenge, prāṇa resumes its normal activity, and then apāna responds.