In Praise of Prana or Life-breath

Reverence to Prana, who is the lord of all this world, who has been the master of all, on whom all things are based.

Homage, O Prana, to thy roaring, homage to thy thunder, homage, O Prana, to thy lighting, homage to thy rain!

When Prana with thunder roars over the herbs, they are impregnated and burst forth in abundant blossoms full of pollen.

When Prana thunders over the herbs in due season, then all things rejoice greatly on the earth.

When Prana has watered the wide earth with rain, them the cattle rejoice thinking, "verily, we shall have in plenty".

Then plants converse with Prana, drenched with its moisture and say, "verily, thou hast prolonged our life, thou hast made us all fragrant".

Homage be to thee, O Prana, when breathing both in and out, to thy turning, too, this side or that, to the whole of thee homage be!

Grant us, O Prana, thy dear form, and that, one still dearer, and likewise thine healing power, that we all may live!

Prana clothes all the beings, as a father a dear son: Prana, verily, is the lord of all, whether they or they breathe not.

Prana is death, Prana is fever, worshipped by the gods. Prana establishes in the highest world him who speak the truth.

Prana is Viraj, Prana is guide, adored by all things, Prana is sun, he is moon, he is also the creator of all things, the Prajapati.

The eight-wheeled mover having one rim, thousand syllabled, forth in front, down behind. With one half it has generated all existence, of its other half what sign?

He is the lord of all that moves and of all that is born, to thee being such, O Prana, Possessing a swift bow like the rest, be homage!

He is the lord of all that moves and all that is born, untiring, wise by Brahman, let prayer bring Prana to my aid!

Upright among the sleeping he keeps vigil. By no means does he fall prostrate. No one so ever has heard of his slumbering among the sleeping.

O Prana, do not desert me, thou art indeed, I, like the embryo of the waters, I hold ye fast to me that I may live!

Rice and barley are his in-breathing and out-breathings, Prana in the ox that draws. Prana is set barley as in-breathing and out-breathing in rice.

A man breathing in, he breathes out in womb, quickened by Prana, he is born once more.

They call Prana Matarishvan, the mighty wind or the breeze. The past and future, forsooth, exit in him, all things are supported on Prana.

When quickened by thee, O Prana, the divine plants, those grown by men, of the Atharvans, and those of Angirases springs forth to birth.

When Prana has poured down upon the earth as rain, then herbs spring forth and plants of every kind.

He who knows thee thus, O Prana, and on which thou art supported, to him all will offer tribute in yonder highest heaven.

All these beings, O Prana, owe tribute to thee, so shall they offer it to him who hears you, O famed one!

He moves among the gods as an embryo, then having arrived, and being in existence, is reborn. He has entered the son, he, the father, who was, has been and shall be!

When he rises as the sunbird from the waters, he does not withdraw his foot, forsooth if he did, there would be neither today nor tomorrow, there would be neither night nor day, nor would be dawn appear.