Chapter CCXXV - The Pavana Vijaya

Bhairava said:—Now hear me, O goddess, discourse on the science of the conquest of the vital air, a knowledge whereof enables a person to predict victory or defeat. The four vital airs, which are respectively called Agni, water. Shakra, etc., respectively flow through either of the nostrils. The breath, which courses in an upward direction through the nostril, is called Agni (fire); that, which courses in a downward direction through the nostril, is called Varuna. The breath, that courses in a middling (neither upward nor downward) direction, is called Mahendra. In the light fortnight the breath-wind courses through the left nostril, while during the dark fortnight it courses through the right. For the period of three days, the breath-wind follows the same course after taking a definite direction, changing its course completely on the day of Pratipad (first day of a light or dark fortnight). If the breath-wind rises following the course of the sun, and flows out along the passage of the moon, all good qualities of the breather are supposed to increase; contrary is the result if the breath-wind follows a contrary-direction. O thou beautiful-faced one, sixteen are the changing periods of the direction of the breath-wind in the course of an entire day and night. Impairment of health is brought about when this changing period falls at the close of each two hours and a quarter. Pertaking of a meal, and sexual intercourse are good when the breath-wind flows through the right nostril, and victory in battle attends the man, who enters into it, while his breath-wind flows out through the right nostril. A man may safely start on a journey, or undertake any other auspicious act when the breath-wind flows out through his left nostril. No evil strikes a man when his breath-wind flows out in directions called Mahendra and Varuna. Men breathe through their right nostrils during a season of drought, while breath flows out of their left nostrils during the rains.