A hundred and one are the nāḍīs of the heart. Of these, one goes out piercing the crown. Going up by it, one attains immortality; the others, at the time of death, lead to different paths.

The nāḍis (subtle channels of energy) branch from the hṛdaya (heart), the center of the subtle being. The suṣumnā or brahmarandhra is the only one that abhiniḥsṛtā (goes upward), piercing the mūrdhan (crown of the head), leading to amṛtatva (immortality).

The other nāḍis—which lead to different sense organs—determine the utkramaṇa (exit, transition) to different destinies. According to the channel through which vital energy flows at death, the being transmigrates to different lokas (planes of existence).

This teaching, though describing the process of passing away, has practical application in life. The yogi practices elevating energy toward the crown (brahmarandhra) during meditation, opening the sahasrāra cakra. This “awakening” of cosmic energy is the anticipation of final liberation, the “dying before death” that masters recommend.