THE LIGHT ON HATHA YOGA

original title: "The Hatha Yoga Pradipika"

...Lord Shiva. 62.
Continuing from the previous page: "eaten as an offering to the Lord Shiva."

As stated by the master Gorakṣa: a legendary founding sage of Hatha Yoga:

original: "tathāhi gorakṣavacanaṃ"

One should avoid the company of wicked people, proximity to fire, the company of women, long journeys, early morning baths, fasting, and all activities that cause physical exhaustion. 63.
original: "varjayeddurjanaprāntavahni strī pathisevanam || prātaḥsnānopavāsādi kāyakleśavidhiṃ tathā || 63 ||"

Wheat, rice, barley, and ṣāṣṭika: a nutritious rice that ripens in sixty days are considered wholesome grains. Milk, ghee: clarified butter, brown sugar, butter, sugar-candy, honey, dried ginger, the patola: a pointed gourd vegetable, the five leafy vegetables, mung beans: small green legumes, and pure water are highly beneficial for the masters of self-restraint: Yama who practice Yoga. 64.
original: "godhūma śāli yava ṣāṣṭikaśobhanānnaṃ | kṣīrājyakhaṇḍa navanīta sitāmadhūni || śuṃṭhīpaṭolakaphalādika pañca śākaṃ || mudgādidivyāmudakaṃ ca yamīndrapathyam || 64 ||"

A Yogi should consume food that is nourishing, sweet, lubricated with fats or ghee: clarified butter, derived from cow’s milk, and capable of nourishing the tissues: dhātus of the body. One should eat what is pleasing to the mind and suitable for the practice. 65.
original: "puṣṭaṃ sumadhuraṃ snigdhaṃ gavyaṃ dhātuprapoṣaṇam || manobhilaṣitaṃ yogyaṃ yogī bhojanamācaret || 65 ||"

Whether one is young, old, extremely aged, sick, or even weak,

one attains success: siddhi in all forms of Yoga if they practice without laziness. 66.

original: "yuvā vṛddho'tivṛddho vā vyādhito durbalo'pi vā || abhyāsātsiddhimāpnoti sarvayogeṣvatandritaḥ || 66 ||"

Success belongs to the one who is engaged in practice. How could it belong to the inactive?

The perfection of Yoga: Yoga-siddhi is not achieved by merely reading the scriptures. 67.

original: "kriyāyuktasya siddhiḥ syādakriyasya kathaṃ bhavet || na śāstrapāṭhamātreṇa yogasiddhiḥ prajāyate || 67 ||"

Wearing a specific costume is not the cause of success, nor is talking about it.

Practice alone is the cause of success; this is the truth, without a doubt. 68.

original: "na veṣadhāraṇaṃ siddheḥ kāraṇaṃ na ca tatkathā || kriyāiva kāraṇaṃ siddheḥ satyametanna saṃśayaḥ || 68 ||"

Postures, various breath retentions: kumbhakas, and extraordinary physical seals: mudrâs

are all practiced in the system of Haṭha until the fruit of Royal Yoga: Râja Yoga, the ultimate state of meditative union is achieved. 69.

original: "pīṭhāni kumbhakāścitrā divyāni karaṇāni ca || sarvāṇyapi haṭhābhyāse rājayogaphalāvadhi || 69 ||"