Prashnopanishad - Question 3 - English

The third question of praśnōpaniṣad asks where prana is born, how it enters the body, how it divides itself, how it supports the outer world, and how it departs. Pippalada answers by linking prana with the Self and explaining its fivefold functions.

This teaching is central for understanding the Upanishadic view of embodied life. prāṇa is said to arise from ātmā, enter through mind and karma, and distribute itself as prāṇa, apāna, samāna, vyāna, and udāna. These are not just breathing categories; they describe how life organizes perception, digestion, circulation, upward movement, and the journey after death.

tṛtīyaḥ praśnaḥ

Translation (bhāvārtha):
This title announces the third question of the Prashna Upanishad.

atha hainaṃ kauśalyaśchāśvalāyanaḥ paprachCha।
bhagavan kuta ēṣa prāṇō jāyatē kathamāyātyasmiñśarīra ātmānaṃ vā pravibhajya kathaṃ pratiṣṭhatē kēnōtkramatē kathaṃ bahyamabhidhatē kathamadhyātmamiti ॥1॥

Translation (bhāvārtha):
Kaushalya asks where prana arises, how it enters the body, how it divides itself, how it leaves, and how it supports the inner and outer worlds.

tasmai sa hōvāchātipraśchān pṛchChasi brahmiṣṭhō'sīti tasmāttē'haṃ bravīmi ॥2॥

Translation (bhāvārtha):
Pippalada says the question is advanced, but because the student is devoted to Brahman he will answer.

ātmana ēṣa prāṇō jāyatē yathaiṣā puruṣē Chāyaitasminnētadātataṃ manōkṛtēnāyātyasmiñśarīrē ॥3॥

Translation (bhāvārtha):
Prana is born from the Self, as a shadow from a person, and enters the body through the activity of mind.

yathā samrādēvādhikṛtān viniyuṅktē।
ētan grāmānōtān grāmānadhitiṣṭhasvētyēvamēvaiṣa prāṇa itarān prāṇān pṛthakpṛthagēva sannidhattē ॥4॥

Translation (bhāvārtha):
As a king assigns officials, prana assigns the other vital forces to their places.

pāyūpasthē'pānaṃ chakṣuḥśrōtrē mukhanāsikābhyāṃ prāṇaḥ svayaṃ prātiṣṭhatē madhyē tu samānaḥ।
ēṣa hyētaddhutamannaṃ samaṃ nayati tasmādētāḥ saptārchiṣō bhavanti ॥5॥

Translation (bhāvārtha):
Apana works in the lower organs; prana abides in eye, ear, mouth, and nose; samana dwells in the middle and distributes food-offerings evenly.

hṛdi hyēṣa ātmā।
atraitadēkaśataṃ nāḍīnāṃ tāsāṃ śataṃ śatamēkaikasyāṃ dvāsaptatirdvāsaptatiḥ pratiśākhānāḍīsahasrāṇi bhavantyāsu vyānaścharati ॥6॥

Translation (bhāvārtha):
The Self dwells in the heart, where many channels branch into thousands; through them vyana moves.

athaikayōrdhva udānaḥ puṇyēna puṇyaṃ lōkaṃ nayati।
pāpēna pāpamubhābhyāmēva manuṣyalōkam ॥7॥

Translation (bhāvārtha):
Udana leads upward through one channel, carrying the virtuous to higher worlds, the sinful to lower worlds, and mixed karma back to human birth.

ādityō ha vai bāhyaḥ prāṇa udayatyēṣa hyēnaṃ chākṣuṣaṃ prāṇamanugṛhṇānaḥ।
pṛthivyāṃ yā dēvatā saiṣā puruṣasyāpānamavaṣṭabhyāntarā yadākāśaḥ sa samānō vāyurvyānaḥ ॥8॥

Translation (bhāvārtha):
Externally, the sun is prana, earth supports apana, space is samana, air is vyana, and fire is udana.

tējō ha vāva udānastasmādupaśāntatējāḥ punarbhavamindriyairmanasi sampadyamānaiḥ ॥9॥

Translation (bhāvārtha):
When a person's fire is weakened, senses merge in mind and rebirth follows according to thought.

yachchittastēnaiṣa prāṇamāyāti prāṇastējasā yuktaḥ।
sahātmanā yathāsaṅkalpitaṃ lōkaṃ nayati ॥10॥

Translation (bhāvārtha):
With the mind absorbed in prana, joined with udana and the Self, one is led to the intended world.

ya ēvaṃ vidvān prāṇaṃ vēda।
na hāsya prajā hīyatē'mṛtō bhavati tadēṣaḥ ślōkaḥ ॥11॥

Translation (bhāvārtha):
One who knows prana in this way does not lose progeny and becomes immortal in the teaching's sense.

utpattimāyatiṃ sthānaṃ vibhutvaṃ chaiva pañchadhā।
adhyātmaṃ chaiva prāṇasya vijñāyāmṛtamaśnutē vijñāyāmṛtamaśnuta iti ॥12॥

Translation (bhāvārtha):
The closing verse says that knowing prana's origin, entry, place, fivefold rule, and inner relation leads to immortality.

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