Bhagavad Gita · Jnana Karma Sannyasa YogaChapter 4, Shloka 29 (4.29)
Original Sanskrit · श्रीभगवान्
अपाने जुह्वति प्राणं प्राणेऽपानं तथाऽपरे
प्राणापानगती रुद्ध्वा प्राणायामपरायणाः
॥ 4.29 ॥
apāne juhvati prāṇaṃ prāṇe'pānaṃ tathā'pare
prāṇāpānagatī ruddhvā prāṇāyāmaparāyaṇāḥ
Translation
"Some offer prana into apana, and likewise others apana into prana; and some, stopping the movement of prana and apana, remain absorbed in pranayama."
Interpretation
Three forms of pranayama. Both acharyas explain it in three forms:
- Shankaracharya: prana into apana — pūraka (drawing the breath in); apana into prana — recaka (letting the breath out); stopping both movements — kumbhaka (holding the breath).
- Acharya Ramanuja: the same three — pūraka-recaka-kumbhaka-bhedena trividhāḥ; and he says that the niyatāhārāḥ (regulated diet) of the next verse applies to all three.
AI-assisted draft translation — under review.