Yoga Sutra 2.49 c: Pranayama is mastery of Pran, the universal life force, through the breath.

Yoga Sutras of Patañjali. Aligning body, mind and soul with the infinite

49th Sutra Chapter 2: c Pranayama is mastery of Pran, the universal life force, through the breath. Pranayama is considered in our Scriptures as Param Tapa that is the highest form of Tapa practice, that purifies all impurities in the body and the mind. —————————————— तस्मिन् सति श्वासप्रश्वासयोर्गतिविच्छेदः प्राणायामः tasmin: on this sati: being accomplished shvaasa: inhalation prashvaasayoh: exhalation gati: movement vichChedaH: regulation; prana: cosmic energy ayama: churning praaNaayaamaH: regulation of breath ---------------------------