"PART-1. CONTINUED"

Chapter II — Meditation on Om as the Prana  

1.   When the gods and the demons, both offspring of Prajapati,  fought with each other, the gods took hold of the Udgitha,  thinking that with this they would vanquish the demons.  

2.   They (i.e. the gods) meditated on the Udgitha (Om) as the  prana which functions through the nose. But the demons  pierced it (i.e. the prana) with evil. Therefore with it (i.e. the  breath) one smells both what is pleasant—smelling and what is  foul—smelling. For the breath is pierced by evil.  

3.   Then they meditated on the Udgitha as speech. But the demons  pierced it with evil. Therefore one speaks both truth and  falsehood. For speech is pierced by evil.  

4.   Then they meditated on the Udgitha as the eye. But the demons  pierced it with evil. Therefore one sees both what is sightly and  what is unsightly. For the eye is pierced by evil.  

5.   Then they meditated on the Udgitha as the ear. But the demons  pierced it with evil. Therefore one hears both what is worth  hearing and what is not worth hearing. For the ear is pierced by  evil.  

6.   Then they meditated on the Udgitha as the mind. But the  demons pierced it with evil. Therefore one thinks both proper  and improper thoughts. For the mind is pierced by evil.  

7.   Then they meditated on the Udgitha as the principal (mukhya)  prana. But as a clod of earth hitting a stone is scattered, even so  the demons were destroyed when they hit it.  

8.   As a clod of earth is scattered when hitting a stone, thus will he  be scattered who wishes evil to one who knows this or who  injures him; for he is a solid stone.  

9.   With this (i.e. the principal vital breath) one does not discern  what pleasant—smelling and what is foul—smelling; for it is  unsmitten by evil. Whatever a person eats or drinks with it (the  principal vital breath) supports the other pranas. That is why  they depart when, at the time death, it no longer supports them  by eating and drinking. It opens the mouth at the time of death  as if the dying man wished to eat.   

 10—13.   Angira meditated on the Udgitha as the principal prana. people  call it (i.e. the prana) Angiras, because it is the essence (rasa) of  the limbs (anga).  Brihaspati meditated on the Udgitha as the principal prana.  People call it (the prana) Brihaspati, because speech is great  (brihat) and it is the lord (pati) of speech.  Ayasya meditated on the Udgitha as the principal prana. People  call it (the prana) as Ayasya; because it comes (ayate) from the  mouth (asya).  Vaka, the son of Dalbhya, knew it (the prana); he became the  udgatri priest of the sacrificers dwelling in the Naimisha forest.  By singing the Udgitha he fulfilled all their desires.  

14.   He who knows this as described above and meditates upon the  imperishable Udgitha (Om) obtains all his desires by singing  the Udgitha.  So much for the Udgitha as meditates on with reference to the  body.