Chapter-1, Sutra 34

Patanjali Yogasutra 1.34

(Pranayama)

प्रच्छर्दनविधारणाभ्यां वा प्राणस्य ॥ १.३४॥

"By expulsion and retention of the breath, the mind is also calmed."

Patanjali's Yogasutra 1.34 emphasizes the practice of Pranayama, specifically the techniques of expelling and retaining the breath. This sutra suggests that controlling the breath can lead to a calm and focused mind. The term "Pracchardana" refers to the expulsion of breath, while "Vidhāraṇa" means retention. Together, these practices help regulate the flow of Prana, the vital life force, which in turn stabilizes the mind. This sutra highlights the interconnectedness of breath and mental states, suggesting that by mastering breath control, one can achieve mental tranquility.

The practice of Pranayama, as described in this sutra, is not merely about physical breath control but also about managing the subtle energy within the body. Prana, often misunderstood as just breath, is the vital energy that sustains life and drives all bodily functions. By practicing Pranayama, one can influence the flow of Prana, thereby affecting the mind and emotions. This sutra underscores the importance of breath regulation in achieving higher states of Consciousness and mental clarity. It is a foundational practice in yoga that prepares the practitioner for deeper meditation and spiritual experiences.

In the broader context of the Yogasutras, this verse is part of the Samadhi Pada, which deals with the aims and practices of yoga. Pranayama is one of the eight limbs of yoga (Ashtanga Yoga) and is considered essential for preparing the mind for meditation. By calming the mind through breath control, practitioners can overcome distractions and achieve a state of inner peace. This sutra serves as a reminder that the mind and breath are deeply interconnected, and mastering one can lead to mastery over the other. It encourages practitioners to explore the profound effects of Pranayama on their mental and spiritual well-being.

Swami Vivekanand says:

"The word used is Prana. Prana is not exactly breath. It is the name for the energy that is in the universe. Whatever you see in the universe, whatever moves or works, or has life, is a manifestation of this Prana. The sum total of the energy displayed in the universe is called Prana. This Prana, before a cycle begins, remains in an almost motionless state, and when the cycle begins, this Prana begins to manifest itself. It is this Prana that is manifested as motion, as the nervous motion in human beings or animals, and the same Prana is manifesting as thought, and so on. The whole universe is a combination of Prana and Akasa; so is the human body. Out of Akasa you get the different materials that you feel, and see, and out of Prana all the various forces. Now this throwing out and restraining the Prana is what is called Pranayama. Yogis consider that there are three main currents of this Prana in the human body. One they call Ida, another Pingala, and the third Susumna. Pingala, according to them, is on the right side of the spinal column, and the Ida is on the left side, and in the middle of this spinal column is the Susumna, a vacant channel. Ida and Pingala, according to them, are the currents working in every man, and through these currents, we are performing all the functions of life. Susumna is present in all, as a possibility; but it works only in the yogi."

Comparison with Similar Verses from Vedic Texts

Bhagavad Gita 6.11-12:

शुचौ देशे प्रतिष्ठाप्य स्थिरमासनमात्मनः।

नात्युच्छ्रितं नातिनीचं चैलाजिनकुशोत्तरम्॥ ६.११॥

तत्रैकाग्रं मनः कृत्वा यतचित्तेन्द्रियक्रियः।

उपविश्यासने युञ्ज्याद्योगमात्मविशुद्धये॥ ६.१२॥

"In a clean spot, having established a firm seat of his own, neither too high nor too low, made of a cloth, a skin, and Kusha grass, one should practice yoga for the purification of the self, with the mind concentrated and the functions of the mind and senses controlled."

Mundaka Upanishad 2.2.4:

सत्येन लभ्यस्तपसा ह्येष आत्मा

सम्यग्ज्ञानेन ब्रह्मचर्येण नित्यम्।

अन्तःशरीरे ज्योतिरमयो हि शुभ्रो

यं पश्यन्ति यतयः क्षीणदोषाः॥ २.२.४॥

"This self can be attained by truth, by austerity, by correct knowledge, and by constant practice of chastity. Within the body, pure and resplendent, it is seen by the sages whose imperfections have been removed."

Yoga Vashishta 6.1.32:

मन एव मनुष्याणां कारणं बन्धमोक्षयोः।

बन्धाय विषयासक्तं मुक्त्यै निर्विषयं स्मृतम्॥ ६.१.३२॥

"The mind alone is the cause of bondage and liberation for human beings. Attached to sense objects, it leads to bondage; free from sense objects, it leads to liberation."

These verses from the Bhagavad Gita, Mundaka Upanishad, and Yoga Vashishta emphasize the importance of mental control, purity, and detachment, which align with the principles of Pranayama and mental tranquility discussed in Patanjali Yogasutra 1.34. They collectively highlight the significance of inner discipline and breath control in achieving spiritual growth and mental peace.