Avatarika
सगुणब्रह्मविद्याया उत्तरा गतिरुक्ता ।अथे-दानीं पञ्चमेऽध्याये पञ्चाग्निविदो गृहस्थस्यऊर्ध्वरेतसां च श्रद्धालुनां विद्यान्तरशीलिनांतामेव गतिमनूद्य अन्या दक्षिणादिक्संबन्धिनीकेवलकर्मिणां धूमादिलक्षणा, पुनरावृत्तिरूपा तृ-तीया च ततः कष्टतरा संसारगतिः, वैराग्यहेतोः वक्तव्येत्या-रभ्यते ।प्राणः श्रेष्ठो वागादिभ्यः प्राणो वाव संवर्ग इत्या-दि च बहुशोऽतीते ग्रन्थे प्राणग्रहणं कृतम्, स कथं श्रेष्ठोवागादिषु सर्वैः संहत्यकारित्वाविशेषे, कथं च तस्योपासन-मिति तस्य श्रेष्ठत्वादिगुणविधित्सया इदमनन्तरमारभ्यते—
In plain words
The path belonging to the meditation on the conditioned Brahman has already been described. Now, in the fifth chapter, after restating that northern path for faithful householders, renunciates, and seekers devoted to other paths—while also introducing the southern path of smoke meant for mere ritualists, which leads back to rebirth, along with a third, even more painful path of wandering—in order to awaken true detachment, this new section begins. Earlier in the text, Prana has frequently been praised: 'Prana is the best among the senses,' 'Prana indeed is the absorber,' and so on. Since all the senses work together in sustaining the body without any obvious distinction among them, how is Prana superior, and how is he to be meditated upon? To establish his preeminence and answer these questions, this section is now undertaken.
Close to the Sanskrit
The subsequent path of the meditation on conditioned Brahman has been stated. Now, in the fifth chapter, having restated that very path for householders, renunciates, faithful ones, and practitioners of other knowledges—along with another southern path associated with mere ritualists characterized by smoke and leading to return, and a third much more miserable path of transmigration, to be spoken for the sake of detachment—it is commenced. Prana is the most excellent among speech and others, Prana verily is the absorber—thus and similarly in the earlier text mention of Prana has been made frequently. How is he superior among speech and others, since there is no distinction in their collective functioning, and how is his meditation? With the desire to ordain his qualities of superiority and the like, this is commenced immediately hereafter.