This prâna also is minute, since as before (i.e. as in the case of the
organs) the text declares it to pass out of the body, to move, and so on,
'him when he passes out the prâna follows after' (Bri. Up. V, 4, 2). A
further doubt arises, in the case of prâna, owing to the fact that in
other texts it is spoken of as of large extent, 'It is equal to these
three worlds, equal to this Universe' (Bri. Up. I, 3, 22); 'On prâna
everything is founded'; 'For all this is shut up in prâna.' But as the
texts declaring the passing out, and so on, of the prâna, prove it to be
of limited size, the all-embracingness ascribed to prâna in those other
texts must be interpreted to mean only that the life of all living and
breathing creatures depends on breath.--Here terminates the adhikarana
of 'the minuteness of the best.'
13. But the rule (over the prânas) on the part of Fire and the rest,
together with him to whom the prâna belong (i.e. the soul), is owing to
the thinking of that (viz. the highest Self); on account of scriptural
statement.
It has been shown that the prânas, together with the main prâna,
originate from Brahman, and have a limited size. That the prânas are
guided by Agni and other divine beings has also been explained on a
previous occasion, viz. under Sû. II, 1, 5. And it is known from
ordinary experience that the organs are ruled by the individual soul,
which uses them as means of experience and fruition. And this is also
established by scriptural texts, such as 'Having taken these prânas he
(i.e. the soul) moves about in his own body, according to his
pleasure'(Bri. Up. II, 1, 18). The question now arises whether the rule
of the soul and of the presiding divine beings over the prânas depends
on them (i.e. the soul and the divinities) only, or on some other being.--
On them only, since they depend on no one else!--Not so, the Sûtra
declares. The rule which light, and so on, i.e. Agni and the other
divinities, together with him to whom the prânas belong i.e. the soul,
exercise over the prânas, proceeds from the thinking of that, i.e. from
the will of the highest Self.--How is this known?--'From scriptural
statement.' For Scripture teaches that the organs, together with their
guiding divinities and the individual soul, depend in all their doings
on the thought of the highest Person. 'He, who abiding within Fire,
rules Fire from within.--He, who abiding within the air--within the Self--
within the eye, and so on' (Bri. Up III, 7); 'From fear of it the wind
blows, from fear of it the sun rises, from fear of it Agni and Indra,
yea Death runs as the fifth' (Taitt. Up. II, 8, 1); 'By the command of
that Imperishable one, sun and moon stand, held apart'(Bri Up III, 8, 9).