Shloka 18
Pañcahotṛ-Vidhāna and the Dispute of the Five Vāyus (पञ्चहोतृविधानम् — पञ्चवायूनां श्रेष्ठत्वविवादः)
(ब्राह्मण उवाच ततः समान: प्रालिल्ये पुनश्न प्रचचार ह | प्राणापानाबुदानश्च व्यानश्वैव तमब्रुवन् ।।
brāhmaṇa uvāca | tataḥ samānaḥ prālīlye punaś ca pracacāra ha | prāṇāpānā udānaś ca vyānaś caiva tam abruvan || na tvaṁ samāna śreṣṭho ’si vyāna eva vaśe tava || samānaḥ pracacārātha udānas tam uvāca ha | śreṣṭho ’ham asmi sarveṣāṁ śrūyatāṁ yena hetunā ||
婆罗门说道：说罢，萨摩那（Samāna）静止片刻，仿佛融入寂然，随即又如先前一般运行。于是普拉那（Prāṇa）、阿帕那（Apāna）、乌达那（Udāna）与维亚那（Vyāna）对他说：“萨摩那，你并不胜过我们；唯有维亚那受你节制。”听了这话，萨摩那仍照旧运行。其后，乌达那对他说：“我才是诸息之最胜——且听其所以然。”
(ब्राह्मण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage frames an ethical lesson through the body’s vital airs: claims of superiority are tested by function and dependence. Each force contributes, and boasting is checked by the reminder that one’s power is limited and conditioned by others.
Samāna pauses and resumes functioning; the other vital airs (Prāṇa, Apāna, Udāna, Vyāna) challenge his claim to superiority, stating only Vyāna is under his control. Then Udāna begins to argue that he is foremost and prepares to give his rationale.