1658.  It is difficult for those who do not practise Pranayama to understand this fully.  The fact is, Saguna Pranayama, when the breath is inhaled, the inhalation is measured by the time taken up in mentally reciting a well-known mantra.  So when inhaled breath is suspended, the suspension is measured by the time taken in mentally reciting a particular mantra.  When therefore, the suspended breath should be exhaled, it should be done by similarly measuring the time of exhaling.  For beginners, this Saguna Pranayama is recommended.  Of course only exhalation has been spoken of but it applies equally to inhalation and suspension.  These three processes, in Yoga language, are Puraka, Kumbhaka, and Rechaka.

1659.  Ekantasilin means a Sannyasin, Atmarama is one who takes pleasure in one’s soul instead of in spouses and children.

1660.  The pole-star.

1661.  Chakre literally means ‘I made’.  The commentator explains it as equivalent to swayam avirbhut.

1662.  Vipriya evidently means ‘what is not agreeable.’  There was evidently a dispute between Yajnavalkya and his maternal uncle Vaisampayana, the celebrated disciple of Vyasa.  This dispute is particularly referred to in the next verse.  Vaisampayana had been a recognised teacher of the Vedas and had collected a large number of disciples around him.  When, therefore, the nephew Yajnavalkya, having obtaining the Vedas from Surya, began to teach them, he was naturally looked upon with a jealousy, which culminated (as referred to in the next verse) into an open dispute about the Dakshina to be appropriated in the Sacrifice of Janaka.  The Burdwan translator incorrectly renders the word vipriya which he takes to mean as ‘very agreeable.’  In the Vishnu Purana it is mentioned that a dispute took place between Yajnavalkya and Paila.  The tatter’s preceptor, Vyasa, came, and taking his side, asked Yajnavalkya to return him the Vedas which he had obtained from him.  Yajnavalkya vomited forth the Vedas.  These were instantly devoured by two other Rishis in the form of Tittiri birds.  These afterwards promulgated the Taittiriya Upanishads.

1663.  This shows that I was then regarded as the equal of Vaisampayana himself in the matter of Vedic knowledge.  Sumanta and Paila and Jaimini, with Vaisampayana, were the Rishis that assisted the great Vyasa in the task of arranging the Vedas.

1664.  This is called the fourth science, the three others being the three Vedas, Axis culture, and the science of morality and chastisement.

1665.  Prakriti is regarded as something in which Sattwa, Rajas, and Tamas reside in exactly equal proportion.  All the principles of Mahat, etc. which flow from Prakriti, are characterised by these three attributes in diverse measure.

1666.  By Mitra is meant here the deity giving light and heat.  By Varuna is meant the waters that compose the universe.

1667.  Kah, the commentator explained, is anandah or felicity.