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4

CHAPTER 

VERSE

30

अपाने जुह्वति प्राणं प्राणेऽपानं तथापरे |
प्राणापानगती रुद्ध्वा प्राणायामपरायणा: || 4.29 ||
अपरे नियताहारा: प्राणान्प्राणेषु जुह्वति |
सर्वेऽप्येते यज्ञविदो यज्ञक्षपितकल्मषा: || 4.30 ||

Apāne juhvati prāṇaṁ prāṇe ’pānaṁ tathāpare
Prāṇāpāna-gatī ruddhvā prāṇāyāma-parāyaṇāḥ ||
Apare niyatāhārāḥ prāṇān prāṇeṣu juhvati
Sarve ’py ete yajña-vido yajña-kṣapita-kalmaṣāḥ ||

Some offer the outgoing breath into the incoming breath, and the incoming breath into the outgoing breath, while others practice breath restraint by offering the incoming breath into itself.
Still others curtail their eating habits and offer the vital air as sacrifice into the vital air itself.
All these performers who know the meaning of sacrifice become cleansed of sinful reactions, but those who do not know the purpose of sacrifice continue in the cycle of birth and death.

Lesson:

These verses from the Bhagavad Gita Chapter 4 describe various forms of sacrifice or yajna, emphasizing the importance of understanding their deeper meaning.

The first verse (4.29) speaks of individuals who practice breath control, offering the outgoing breath into the incoming breath and vice versa. This indicates a form of breath regulation or pranayama, where the breath is consciously controlled to achieve a state of balance and harmony. It suggests a yogic practice aimed at controlling the life force within the body.

The second verse (4.30) describes another form of sacrifice, where individuals regulate their eating habits and offer their vital energy or prana as a sacrifice into itself. This could be interpreted as the practice of moderation and self-discipline in one's diet, recognizing the importance of maintaining physical health and vitality. By consciously controlling their eating habits and directing their vital energy inward, practitioners aim to purify themselves and attain higher spiritual states.

Overall, these verses highlight the diverse ways in which individuals can engage in acts of sacrifice or self-discipline to purify themselves and progress spiritually. They emphasize the importance of understanding the true purpose behind such practices, which is to cleanse oneself of sinful reactions and ultimately break free from the cycle of birth and death. Those who perform sacrifices with knowledge and understanding are said to achieve purification, while those who do not comprehend the significance of sacrifice remain entangled in the material world.

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