Upanishads · Jābāladarśana 6.9
॥
Devanāgarī
मकारं तु स्मरन्पश्चाद्रेचयेदिडयानिलम् । एवमेव पुनः कुर्यादिडयापूर्य बुद्धिमान्
Transliteration (IAST)
makāraṃ tu smaranpaścādrecayediḍayānilam | evameva punaḥ kuryādiḍayāpūrya buddhimān
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
म-कारं तु स्मरन् पश्चात्ma-kāraṃ tu smaran paścātholding in mind the sound 'm', however, afterward
रेचयेत् इडया अनिलम्recayet iḍayā anilamlet him release the wind by ida
एवम् एव पुनः कुर्यात्evam eva punaḥ kuryātlet him do so again, in the same way
इडया आपूर्य बुद्धिमान्iḍayā āpūrya buddhimānhaving filled by ida, the wise one
Translation
"Holding in mind the sound 'm' afterward, let him release the wind by ida; let the wise one do so again, in the same way, having filled by ida."
Version
643b7c992731 · published Aug 12, 2026, 5:00:00 AM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
The technique has been fully set out, and it turns out to be arranged in a circle: inhale left, exhale right, inhale right, exhale left, and again left. This arrangement deserves noting, for a design lies behind it. Breath does not go one way the whole time: it alternates, and alternates in measured fashion.
Behind this stands what was discussed when reading the fourth khanda: ordinarily one nostril or the other predominates, and with it the state changes. The practice evens out both, letting neither gain the upper hand. The goal, then, is balance, not preponderance; and this was already discussed when examining the word vishuva, "equinox" (4.44).
Let us add what was said there and deserves repeating, for we are nearing the end of this part. Evenness in the Gita is a threshold, not an end: verse 18.54, having listed all these evennesses, ends with the words mad-bhaktim labhate param, "obtains the highest devotion to Me." This order determines how to regard this whole sixth khanda. If balance is the goal, the practice is self-sufficient and the book could end here. If balance is a threshold, then beyond it awaits not rest, but a meeting; and then everything set out here is a preparation for what is not spoken of here.