In Bhagavad Gita 4.29, Krishna describes those devoted to breath control who offer the in-breath into the out-breath and the out-breath into the in-breath, restraining the flow of both.
Sanskrit Verse
श्रीभगवानुवाच · The Blessed Lord said
अपाने जुह्वति प्राणं
प्राणेऽपानं तथापरे
प्राणापानगती रुद्ध्वा
प्राणायामपरायणाः ॥ ४-२९ ॥
apāne juhvati prāṇaṃ
prāṇe’pānaṃ tathāpare
prāṇāpānagatī ruddhvā
prāṇāyāmaparāyaṇāḥ
English transliteration apaane juhvati praanam
praane’paanam tathaapare
praanaapaanagatee ruddhvaa
praanaayaamaparaayanaah ॥ 4.29 ॥
Translation / Meaning
Others, devoted to the control of breath, offer the outgoing breath into the incoming, and the incoming into the outgoing, restraining the course of both.
Word Meanings
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| अपाने apāne | into the incoming breath (apāna) |
| जुह्वति juhvati | offer |
| प्राणम् prāṇam | the outgoing breath (prāṇa) |
| प्राणे prāṇe | into the outgoing breath |
| अपानम् apānam | the incoming breath |
| तथा tathā | likewise |
| अपरे apare | others |
| प्राणापानगती prāṇāpānagatī | the movements of prāṇa and apāna prāṇa (outgoing breath) + apāna (incoming breath) + gatī (movements) |
| रुद्ध्वा ruddhvā | restraining |
| प्राणायामपरायणाः prāṇāyāmaparāyaṇāḥ | devoted to breath control prāṇāyāma (breath control) + parāyaṇāḥ (devoted) |
Word-wise Chanting
- a–pā–ne juh–va–ti prā–ṇaṃ 8 syllables a-paa-ne juh-va-ti praa-nam
- prā–ṇe–‘pā–naṃ ta–thā–pa–re | 8 syllables praa-ne-‘paa-nam ta-thaa-pa-re
- prā–ṇā–pā–na–ga–tī rud–dhvā 8 syllables praa-naa-paa-na-ga-tee rud-dhvaa
- prā–ṇā–yā–ma–pa–rā–ya–ṇāḥ || 4-29 8 syllables praa-naa-yaa-ma-pa-raa-ya-naah
How to read this
How to chant: each line is one pāda (quarter-verse); chant it in one breath. The hyphen (-) divides the syllables, inside a word and across a sandhi join, so every pāda shows its 8 syllables (11 in triṣṭubh verses). A consonant cluster is divided after its first consonant (kar-ma, vet-ti): that syllable is held longer. Mark above a syllable: guru, long (two beats); laghu, short (one beat). | closes the half-verse, || the verse; the number is the syllable count of the pāda.
Deeper Explanation – Chapter 4 Verse 29
Context
The list of sacrifices continues with prāṇāyāma, the discipline of breath (4.29–4.30).
Meaning
Prāṇa and apāna are two currents of vital energy, often linked with exhalation and inhalation (commentators differ on which is which). The practitioner of prāṇāyāma offers one into the other and gradually restrains both, bringing the breath, and with it the mind, to stillness. This too is a sacrifice.
Breath is the bridge between body and mind. When the breath becomes slow and steady, the mind follows. The Gita honours breath practice as a genuine spiritual path, though always within the larger aim of realising the Self.
In Practice
Practise slow, even breathing for five minutes: gently lengthen the out-breath and in-breath, and notice the mind becoming calmer.
Related Verses
Continue Your Study
This verse belongs to Chapter 4: Jnana Karma Sannyasa Yoga (Knowledge and Renunciation of Action). Read the chapter overview, browse every verse of the Gita, or return to the chapter-by-chapter guide. For a reading plan, see how to study the Bhagavad Gita and the study resources.