Prashna Upanishad 4.3

Dream, Deep Sleep, and the SelfAtharva Veda

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Prashna Upanishad 4.3
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प्राणाग्नय एवैतस्मिन्पुरे जाग्रति। गार्हपत्यो ह वा एषोऽपानो व्यानोऽन्वाहार्यपचनो यद्गार्हपत्यात्प्रणीयते प्रणयनादाहवनीयः प्राणः॥

prāṇāgnaya evaitasminpure jāgrati | gārhapatyo ha vā eṣo'pāno vyāno'nvāhāryapacano yadgārhapatyātpraṇīyate praṇayanādāhavanīyaḥ prāṇaḥ ||

""The fires of Prana alone remain awake in this city (body). Apana is the Garhapatya (household) fire; Vyana is the Anvaharyapachana (southern) fire. Since Prana is taken from Garhapatya fire, due to this leading forth, it is called Ahavaniya (offering) fire.""

What This Means:

Even in sleep, the five pranas stay awake. They are compared to the three sacred fires of Vedic ritual. Apana, Vyana, and Prana are always working.

Going Deeper:

The three fires represent the continuous metabolic and vital processes that sustain life even during sleep. The body is a living temple with fires always burning.

How To Apply This:

Your breath continues even in sleep. Honor these tireless fires that maintain your life.

#three fires#Prana awake#body as temple