(by) ejection; expiration (and) retention; holding or
of breath.- Or by the expiration and retention of breath,
The subject of Pranayama has been dealt with in II-49-53. In the Sutra given
above Patanjali has referred only to some preliminary practices which have only a lim-
ited objective, namely the purification of the Nadis. These Nadis are channels along
which the currents of Prana or vitality flow in the Pranamaya Kosa. If these channels
are not quite clear and the currents of Prana do not flow in them smoothly, various
kinds of nervous disturbances are produced. These manifest chiefly in a general feel-
ing of physical and mental restlessness which causes Viksepa. This condition can be
removed by practising one of the well-known breathing exercises for the purification
of the Nadis (Nadi Suddhi). Since Kumbhaka does not play any part in these exercises
and no strain of any kind is involved they are quite harmless though highly beneficial
for the nervous system. If they are practised correctly for long periods of time and the
Yogic regime of life is followed at the same time, the physical body becomes light and
full of vitality and the mind calnvand restful.
These exercises should, however, not be taken as variants of deep-breathing
which has no other effect except that of increasing the intake of oxygen in the body
and thus promoting health. They come somewhere between deep-breathing and
Pranayama proper which aims at gaining complete control of the Pranic currents in
the body. This point will become clear when we are dealing with the subject of
Pranayama in Section II.
It should be noted that Patanjali does not consider these preliminary exercises
for the purification of Nadis as Pranayama. He defines Pranayama in II-49 and ac-
cording to that definition Kumbhaka, the cessation of inspiration and expiration, is an
essential part of Pranayama.