THE LIGHT ON HATHA YOGA

original title: "The Hatha Yoga Pradipika"

There is no posture: Āsana like the Adept’s Posture: Siddhāsana and no breath retention: Kumbhaka like the Spontaneous Retention: Kevala. There is no seal: Mudrā like the Sky-moving Seal: Khecharî and no absorption: Laya like the Internal Sound: Nâda (the Unstruck Sound). 45.

Now, the Lotus Posture

original: "atha padmāsanaṃ"

Place the right foot on the left thigh and the left foot on the right thigh;

crossing the hands behind the back, firmly grasp the toes.

Place the chin upon the chest and gaze at the tip of the nose.

This is called the Lotus Posture: Padmāsana, which destroys the diseases of the restrained ones: Yamīs. 46.

original: "vāmorūpari dakṣiṇaṃ ca caraṇaṃ saṃsthāpya vāmaṃ tathā dakṣo rūpari paścimena vidhinā dhṛtvā karābhyāṃ dṛḍham | aṅguṣṭhau hṛdaye nidhāya cibukaṃ nāsāgramālokayet etadvyādhivināśakāri yamināṃ padmāsanaṃ procyate || 46 ||"

The Lotus Posture.

Place the right foot on the left thigh and the left foot on the right thigh, and grasp the toes with the hands crossed over the back. Press the chin against the chest and gaze on the tip of the nose. This is called the Lotus Posture, the destroyer of the diseases of those who practice self-restraint. 46.

Carefully place the feet on the thighs with the soles facing upward;

likewise, place the hands in the lap with the palms upward. 47.

original: "uttānau caraṇau kṛtvā ūrusaṃsthau prayatnataḥ || ūrumadhye tathottānau pāṇī kṛtvā tato dṛśau || 47 ||"

Place the feet on the thighs, with the soles upwards, and place the hands on the thighs, with the palms upwards. 47.

Fix the gaze on the tip of the nose and the tongue at the root of the upper teeth;

press the chin against the chest and slowly raise the breath upward. 48.

original: "nāsāgre vinyasedrājadantamūle tu jihvayā || uttambhya cibukaṃ vakṣasyutthāpya pavanaṃ śanaiḥ || 48 ||"

Gaze on the tip of the nose, keeping the tongue pressed against the root of the teeth of the upper jaw, and the chin against the chest, and raise the air up slowly—that is, pull the downward-moving energy: apâna-vâyû gently upwards. 48.

This is declared to be the Lotus Posture, the destroyer of all diseases.

It is difficult for most to attain, but is mastered by the wise in this world. 49.

original: "idaṃ padmāsanaṃ proktaṃ sarvavyādhivināśanam || durlabhaṃ yena kenāpi dhīmatā labhyate bhuvi || 49 ||"

This is called the Lotus Posture, the destroyer of all diseases. It is difficult of attainment by everybody, but can be learnt by intelligent people in this world. 49.

Having placed the hands together in the lap and established the Lotus Posture firmly,

press the chin closely against the chest and meditate upon Him in the mind.

Repeatedly draw the downward breath upward and push the inhaled breath downward;

by the power of this primordial energy: Śakti, one attains incomparable awakening as the vital breaths: Prāṇa meet. 50.

original: "kṛtvā saṃpuṭitau karau dṛḍhataraṃ badhvā tu padmāsanaṃ gāḍhaṃ vakṣasi sannidhāya cibukaṃ dhyāyaṃśca taccetasi | vāraṃ vāramapānamūrdhvamanilaṃ protsārayanpūritaṃ nyañcanprāṇamupaiti bodhamatulaṃ śaktiprabhāvānnaraḥ || 50 ||"

Having kept both the hands together in the lap, performing the Lotus Posture firmly, keeping the chin fixed to the chest and contemplating on the Divine in the mind, by drawing the downward energy up (performing the Root Lock: Mûla Bandha) and pushing down the air after inhaling it, one joins the vital breaths together. Through the power of the goddess-energy, the practitioner reaches unsurpassed enlightenment. 50.