9. "PrANa" Refers to Brahman (1)

Adhyaya 1 – Pada 1 - AdhikaraNa 9


The Word "PrANa" Refers to Brahman


1. ViShaya (Statement): The ChAndogya UpaniShad explains:


katama sa devateti. prANa iti hovAca. sarvANi hA vai imAni bhUtAni prANam evAbhisamvishanti prANam abhyujjIhate.


"They asked: Who is this deity of whom you speak? He replied: It is prANa. From prANa all the material elements have emanated, and into prANa they enter at the end."

2. SaMshaya (doubt): Does the word prANahere refer to the breath that travels in and out of the mouth, or does it refer to the Supreme Personality of Godhead?

3. PUrvapakSha (opposing argument): The ordinary meaning of the word prANa is "the breath that travels in and out the mouth." That meaning is intended here.

4. SiddhAnta (Conclusion): shrIla VyAsadeva refutes this view by speaking the following sUtra.


SUtra 23

ata eva prANaH

ataH eva - therefore; prANah - the word prANa.


The word "prANa" in the Vedic literatures refers to the Supreme Brahman, for the same reasons expressed in the previous sUtra.


Purport by shrIla Baladeva VidyAbhUShaNa


The word prANa in this passage from ChAndogya UpaniShad refers to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and not to the transformations of air. Why? Because this text describes prANa as the original cause from which the material elements have emanated, and into which they enter at the end. These are the characteristics of the Supreme Brahman, and not the material element air.