THE LIGHT ON HATHA YOGA

original title: "The Hatha Yoga Pradipika"

According to another tradition:

original: "matāṃtare tu"

Place the left heel above the genitals: Medhra, and then place the right heel upon that. This becomes the Adept’s Posture: Siddhāsana. 38.

original: "meḍhrādupari vinyasya savyaṃ gulphaṃ tathopari || gulphāntaraṃ ca nikṣipya siddhāsanamidaṃ bhavet || 38 ||"

This Adept’s Posture is also performed by placing the left heel above the male organ, and then placing the right one over it. 38.

Some call this the Adept's Posture; others know it as the Thunderbolt Posture: Vajrāsana. Some call it the Liberated Posture: Muktāsana, while others call it the Hidden Posture: Guptāsana. 39.

original: "etatsiddhāsanaṃ prāhuranye vajrāsanaṃ viduḥ || muktāsanaṃ vadantyeke prāhurguptāsanaṃ pare || 39 ||"

Some call this the Adept's Posture, while some call it the Thunderbolt Posture. Others refer to it as the Liberated Posture or the Hidden Posture. 39.

Just as a moderate diet is the most important of the ethical restraints: Yamas, and non-violence is the most important of the spiritual observances: Niyamas, so the Adept’s Posture is known by the perfected ones as the chief of all postures. 40.

original: "yameṣviva mitāhāramahiṃsāṃ niyameṣviva || mukhyaṃ sarvāsaneṣvekaṃ siddhāḥ siddhāsanaṃ viduḥ || 40 ||"

Just as a sparing diet is foremost among the restraints, and non-violence among the observances, so the Adept’s Posture is regarded by the perfected ones as the most important of all the postures. 40.

Among the eighty-four postures, one should always practice the Adept’s Posture, for it cleanses the impurities from the seventy-two thousand energy channels: nādīs. 41.

original: "caturaśītipīṭheṣu siddhameva sadābhyaset || dvāsaptatisahasrāṇāṃ nāḍīnāṃ malaśodhanam || 41 ||"

Out of the 84 postures, the Adept’s Posture should always be practiced, because it cleanses the impurities of the 72,000 energy channels. 41.

By meditating on the Self, eating moderately, and practicing the Adept’s Posture for twelve years, the practitioner achieves perfection: niṣpatti. 42.

original: "ātmadhyāyī mitāhārī yāvaddvādaśavatsaram || sadā siddhāsana-abhyāsādyogī niṣpattimāpnuyāt || 42 ||"

By contemplating one's own nature, by eating sparingly, and by practicing the Adept’s Posture for 12 years, the Yogi obtains success. 42.

What is the use of many other postures when the Adept’s Posture is mastered, the vital breath: Prāna Vâyû becomes calm, and is restrained by spontaneous breath retention: Kevala Kumbhaka? 43.

original: "kimanyairbahubhiḥ pīṭhaiḥ siddhe siddhāsane sati || prāṇānile sāvadhāne baddhe kevalakumbhake || 43 ||"

Other postures are of no use when success has been achieved in the Adept’s Posture, and the vital breath becomes calm and restrained by spontaneous breath retention. 43.

When the Adept's Posture alone is firmly established, the state of mindlessness: Unmanī arises effortlessly, and the three energetic locks: Bandhas occur of their own accord. 44.

original: "utpadyate nirāyāsātsvayamevonmanī kalā || tathaikasminneva dṛḍhe siddhe siddhāsane sati | bandhatrayamanāyāsātsvayamevopajāyate || 44 ||"

When success in the Adept’s Posture alone becomes firmly established, one reaches the state of "mindlessness" at once, and the three energetic bonds are accomplished of themselves. 44.

There is no posture like the Adept’s Posture, no breath retention like the spontaneous one, no seal: Mudrā like the Sky-walker: Khecharī, and no absorption: Laya like the inner sound: Nāda. 45.

original: "nāsanaṃ siddhasadṛśaṃ na kumbhaḥ kevalopamaḥ || na khecarīsamā mudrā na nādasadṛśo layaḥ || 45 ||"

Glossary of technical terms used: Adept’s Posture (Siddhâsana), Genitals (Medhra), Thunderbolt Posture (Vajrâsana), Liberated Posture (Mukta Âsana), Hidden Posture (Gupta Âsana), Moderate Diet (Mitâhâra), Non-violence (Ahimsâ), Ethical Restraints (Yamas), Spiritual Observances (Niyamas), Energy Channels (Nâdîs), Spontaneous Breath Retention (Kevala Kumbhaka), Vital Breath (Prâna Vâyû), Mindlessness (Unmanî), Energetic Locks (Bandhas), Sky-walking Seal (Khecharî Mudrâ), Inner Sound (Nâda)