The Science of the Breath (Vayu-Jaya)

Verse 1 (garuda.1.200.1)

श्रीगरुडमहापुराणम् २०० भैरव उवाच । वक्ष्ये वायुजयं देवि जया जयविदेशकम् । वाय्वग्निजलशक्राख्यं मङ्गलानाञ्चतुष्टयम्

śrīgaruḍamahāpurāṇam 200 bhairava uvāca vakṣye vāyujayaṁ devi jayā jayavideśakam vāyvagnijalaśakrākhyaṁ maṅgalānāñcatuṣṭayam

Bhairava said: O Goddess, I shall declare the conquest of the breath (vayu-jaya), which grants victory and success in foreign lands. There are four auspicious principles, named Vayu (wind), Agni (fire), Jala (water), and Shakra (ether).

Verse 2 (garuda.1.200.2)

वामदक्षिणसंस्थश्च वायुश्च बहुलो भवेत् । ऊर्ध्ववाही भवेदग्निरधस्तु वरुणो भवेत्

vāmadakṣiṇasaṁsthaśca vāyuśca bahulo bhavet ūrdhvavāhī bhavedagniradhastu varuṇo bhavet

Situated in the left or right nostril, the wind-breath tends to prevail; the upward-flowing breath is fire, and the downward-flowing is Varuna (water).

Verse 3 (garuda.1.200.3)

महेन्द्रो मध्यसंस्थस्तु शुक्लपक्षे तु वामगः । कृष्णपक्षे दक्षिणग उदयस्य त्र्यहन्त्र्यहम्

mahendro madhyasaṁsthastu śuklapakṣe tu vāmagaḥ kṛṣṇapakṣe dakṣiṇaga udayasya tryahantryaham

Mahendra (ether) is situated in the middle; in the bright fortnight the breath flows on the left, in the dark fortnight on the right, and it changes every three days from sunrise.

Verse 4 (garuda.1.200.4)

वहेत्प्रतिपदाद्ये च विपरीते भवेन्नतिः । उदयः सूर्यमार्गेण चन्द्रेणास्तमयो यदि

vahetpratipadādye ca viparīte bhavennatiḥ udayaḥ sūryamārgeṇa candreṇāstamayo yadi

It flows in this order beginning from the first lunar day; when it is otherwise, a deviation should be understood. If sunrise follows the sun's course and sunset follows the moon's course,

Verse 5 (garuda.1.200.5)

वर्धन्ते गुणसंघाता अन्यथा विघ्नमौचितम् । संक्रान्त्यः षोडशप्रोक्ता दिवा रात्रौ वरानने

vardhante guṇasaṁghātā anyathā vighnamaucitam saṁkrāntyaḥ ṣoḍaśaproktā divā rātrau varānane

then the accumulation of good qualities increases; otherwise, an obstacle should rightly be expected. Sixteen transitions are declared, occurring by day and by night, O fair-faced one.

Verse 6 (garuda.1.200.6)

यदा च संक्रमेद्वायुरर्धार्धप्रहरे स्थितः । स्वास्थ्याहानिस्तदा ज्ञेया वायुर्भ्रमति देहिषु

yadā ca saṁkramedvāyurardhārdhaprahare sthitaḥ svāsthyāhānistadā jñeyā vāyurbhramati dehiṣu

When the wind-breath transitions while positioned at the mid-point of a half-prahara, a decline in health should be understood; at that time the wind wanders erratically within living beings.

Verse 7 (garuda.1.200.7)

दक्षिणे च पुटे वायुर्हितो भोजनमैथुने । खड्गहस्तो जयेद्युद्धे रिपून्कामसमन्वितः

dakṣiṇe ca puṭe vāyurhito bhojanamaithune khaḍgahasto jayedyuddhe ripūnkāmasamanvitaḥ

The breath favourable in the right nostril is good for eating and sexual union; one who takes up the sword in hand, filled with passionate resolve, is victorious over enemies in battle.

Verse 8 (garuda.1.200.8)

वामेव गमनं श्रेष्ठं सर्वकार्येषु भूषितम् । वायुर्वहति तत्रस्थः प्रश्रो भूतस्य शोभनः

vāmeva gamanaṁ śreṣṭhaṁ sarvakāryeṣu bhūṣitam vāyurvahati tatrasthaḥ praśro bhūtasya śobhanaḥ

Moving with the left breath is best and most favourable for every undertaking. Wherever the wind-breath is found flowing, the outcome for that being proves auspicious there.

Verse 9 (garuda.1.200.9)

माहेन्द्रे वारुणे वाते कोऽपि दोषो न जायते । अनावृष्टिर्दक्षवाहे वृष्टिः स्याद्वामवाहके

māhendre vāruṇe vāte ko'pi doṣo na jāyate anāvṛṣṭirdakṣavāhe vṛṣṭiḥ syādvāmavāhake

In the breath of Mahendra or Varuna, no fault whatsoever arises. When the breath flows on the right, there is drought; when it flows on the left, there will be rain.