Shvetashvatara Upanishad 2.9
intermediate
प्राणान्प्रपीड्येह संयुक्तचेष्टः क्षीणे प्राणे नासिकयोच्छ्वसीत। दुष्टाश्वयुक्तमिव वाहमेनं विद्वान्मनो धारयेताप्रमत्तः॥
prāṇānprapīḍyeha saṃyuktaceṣṭaḥ kṣīṇe prāṇe nāsikayocchavasīta | duṣṭāśvayuktamiva vāhamenaṃ vidvānmano dhārayetāpramattaḥ ||
"Compressing the pranas here (in the body), with controlled movements, when the breath is diminished, one should exhale through the nostrils. The wise one should hold the mind vigilantly, like a chariot yoked with vicious horses."
What This Means:
Control the breath, reducing it gently, then exhale through the nose. Control the mind vigilantly - it is like a chariot with wild horses.
Going Deeper:
This is pranayama instruction: breath retention (kumbhaka) followed by controlled exhalation. The mind-as-wild-horses metaphor echoes the Katha Upanishad.
How To Apply This:
Practice breath control. Be vigilant with the mind - it is like wild horses that need firm yet gentle handling.
#pranayama#breath control#mind control#chariot