Caturtha-prakaraṇam (Nāḍī-śuddhi) · Verse 7
विध्येतत्सर्वजन्तूनां स्वाङ्गुलीभिरिति प्रिये । शरीरादधिकः प्राणो द्वादशाङ्गुलमानतः ॥
vidhyetatsarvajantūnāṃ svāṅgulībhiriti priye | śarīrāddhikaḥ prāṇo dvādaśāṅgulamānataḥ ||
The verse proceeds with a further refinement of the body’s dimensions, specifying that prāṇa, the vital force, extends twelve finger-breadths beyond the physical sharira, the body itself. This placement of prāṇa – at the level of the kanda, the root of the nāḍī system – is a crucial point in the yogic understanding of subtle energy. The measurement serves to localize this powerful force, recognizing it as the very foundation upon which āsana and prāṇāyāma practices are built, aiming to harmonize and direct this flow. It demonstrates an early awareness of the interconnectedness between the physical and the subtle, a core tenet of the yogic path. This precise localization of prāṇa – a key element in regulating the prāṇas – serves as a preliminary step towards achieving samādhi, the ultimate goal of uniting consciousness with the universal Brahman.