The Classical Doctrine of Indian Medicine: Its Origins and its Greek Parallels c12.s2.12

c12.s2.12

is eaten that results the function of the breath below¹; this is what is taught. The breath of the front comforts the elements; it is considered that the breath of the front is life. [21] The diffused breath is, in the body², the movement and the closing and opening of eyelids. That which, besides, in a creature, goes on high is that which is moved by the breath on high [22] [which produces³] sneezing, hiccough, cough, sigh and speech.⁴ That which swells the rectum and the body in all the ways, [23] the wind which is held therein is called “breath below”. For such reasons and for others which make us see the reality, we will characterize in the corporeal being the wind to be the main element.” Thus spake the blessed Ātreya.