38. By watching the incessant course of vital airs, as also by attending to the continued course of time, and thinking in one self of the interminable course of his respirations, and the moments of time and train of his thoughts, as also by attempting to restrain their course by the habit and practice of _pránáyáma_, that he is sure to lengthen the duration of his life in this world; and attain to his eternal life in the next. CHAPTER XXV. ON SAMÁDHI. Argument.--On the Breathings of Inspiration, Respiration and Expiration, and their rise and fall from and in the spirit of Brahma the origin and end of all. Vasishtha said:--Hear Ráma, when the bird had said so far, I interrupted him and said, tell me, O ancient seer, how and what is the nature of the course of vital airs. 2. Bhusunda replied:--How is it, O sage! that you who know everything, should propose this question to me as if it were in jest, but as you ask this of me, I must tell you all I know about it. 3. The vital breath, O Brahman! is a moving force by its nature, and is always suo motu in its own motion, and pervades both in the inside and outside of bodies which its animates. 4. The _apána_ or the emitting air also is a self motive power, and in its incessant motion; and is both within and without the living body, in its downward or receding direction. 5. It is good for livings being to restrain these vitals breaths both in their waking and sleeping states, and now hear me tell you, O learned sage, how it is to be effected for their best gain. 6. The internal vital air (prána), extends from the lotus-like heart to the crevice in the cranium, its effort to come out (by the mouth and nostrils), is termed by the wise as rechaka or exhaled air. (The expiration coming out of the heart, and reaching the cerebrum is called the rechaka breath). 7. The meeting of breaths at the distance of twelve inches from and below the nostrils, is called the _puraka_ or inhaling-breath. (This is termed the [Sanskrit: váhyapúraka] or external inspiration). 8. It is also called _Puraka_, when the breath passes from without, and enters within the inner _apána_ without any effort, and fills the inside from the heart to the cerebrum. 9. When the apána air has subsided in the heart, and _prána_ breath does not circulate in the breast, it is called the _Kumbhaka_ state, and is known to the yogis only. 10. All these three sorts of breaths, are perceived at the place from where the _apána_ takes its rise, and this is at the distance of twelve inches below on the outside of the tip of the nose. 11. Hear now, O great minded sage! what the clear minded adepts have said, respecting the natures of the ever continuative and effortless. (_i.e._ self respiring) breathings. 12. Know sir, that the air which is inhaled from the distance of twelve inches on the out side of the tip of the nose, the same receives of its own nature the name of puraka or that of another.