विज्ञानसारथिर्यस्तु मनः प्रग्रहवान्नरः । सोऽध्वनः पारमाप्नोति मदीयं यत्परं पदम्
He whose charioteer is discernment and who holds the reins of the mind—such a person reaches the far shore of the path, which is my supreme abode.
इत्थं श्रुत्या च मत्या च निश्चित्यात्मानमात्मना । भावयेन्मामात्मरूपां निदिध्यासनतोऽपि
Thus, having determined the Self by means of scripture and reasoning, one should contemplate me as the Self, even more than through meditation.
योगवृत्तेः पुरा स्वस्मिन्भावयेदक्षरत्रयम् । देवीप्रणवसञ्ज्ञस्य ध्यानार्थं मन्त्रवाच्ययोः
Before engaging in yogic practice, one should contemplate the three imperishable syllables—known as the Goddess-pranava—for the purpose of meditation, both as mantra and as what is denoted by the mantra.
हकारः स्थूलदेहः स्याद्रकारः सूक्ष्मदेहकः । ईकारः कारणात्मासौ ह्रीङ्कारोऽहं तुरीयकम्
The syllable 'ha' is the gross body, 'ra' is the subtle body, 'ī' is the causal self, and 'hrīṃ'—I am that, the fourth state.
एवं समष्टिदेहेऽपि ज्ञात्वा बीजत्रयं क्रमात् । समष्टिव्यष्ट्योरेकत्वं भावयेन्मतिमान्नरः
In this way, having understood the three seeds in the collective body in order, a wise person should contemplate the unity of the collective and the individual.
समाधिकालात्पूर्वं तु भावयित्वैवमादृतः । ततो ध्यायेन्निलीनाक्षो देवीं मां जगदीश्वरीम्
Before the time of samadhi, having thus contemplated with reverence, one should then meditate, with the senses withdrawn, on me, the Goddess, the Ruler of the Universe.
प्राणापानौ समौ कृत्वा नासाभ्यन्तरचारिणौ । निवृत्तविषयाकाङ्क्षो वीतदोषो विमत्सरः
Making the in-breath and out-breath equal, moving within the nostrils, desiring no sense-objects, free from faults and envy—
भक्त्या निर्व्याजया युक्तो गुहायां निःस्वने स्थले । हकारम् विश्वमात्मानं रकारे प्रविलापयेत्
Engaged with sincere devotion, in the silent space of the cave (of the heart), one should dissolve the universal self, represented by 'ha', into 'ra'.
रकारं तैजसं देवमीकारे प्रविलापयेत् । ईकारं प्राज्ञमात्मानं ह्रीङ्कारे प्रविलापयेत्
One should dissolve 'ra', the taijasa deity, into 'ī'; and 'ī', the prājña self, into 'hrīṃ'.
वाच्यवाचकताहीनं द्वैतभावविवर्जितम् । अखण्डं सच्चिदानन्दं भावयेत्तच्छिखान्तरे
One should contemplate, within the crown, that which is free from the relation of word and meaning, devoid of duality, indivisible, and of the nature of existence, consciousness, and bliss.
इति ध्यानेन मां राजन् साक्षात्कृत्य नरोत्तमः । मद्रूप एव भवति द्वयोरप्येकता यतः
Thus, by this meditation, O King, the best of men realizes me directly and becomes of my very form, because of the unity of both.
योगयुक्त्यानया दृष्ट्वा मामात्मानं परात्परम् । अज्ञानस्य सकार्यस्य तत्क्षणे नाशको भवेत्
By seeing me, the Supreme of the supreme, through this yogic method, one can instantly destroy ignorance along with its effects.
श्रीदेवीविराड्रूपदर्शनसहितं देवकृततत्स्तववर्णनम् हिमालय उवाच योगं वद महेशानि साङ्गं संवित्प्रदायकम् । कृतेन येन योग्योऽहं भवेयं तत्त्वदर्शने
Himalaya said: O Great Goddess, teach me the yoga in its entirety, which bestows true knowledge, by which I may become fit for the vision of reality.
श्रीदेव्युवाच न योगो नभसः पृष्ठे न भूमौ न रसातले । ऐक्यं जीवात्मनोराहुर्योगं योगविशारदाः
The Blessed Goddess said: Yoga is not on the surface of the sky, nor on the earth, nor in the netherworld; the unity of the individual and supreme self is called yoga by those skilled in yoga.
तत्प्रत्यूहाः षडाख्याता योगविघ्नकरानघ । कामक्रोधौ लोभमोहौ मदमात्सर्यसञ्ज्ञकौ
Six obstacles to that are declared, O sinless one, as hindrances to yoga: desire and anger, greed and delusion, pride and envy.
योगाङ्गैरेव भित्त्वा तान्योगिनो योगमाप्नुयुः । यमं नियममासनप्राणायामौ ततः परम्
By breaking through these with the limbs of yoga, yogis attain yoga: yama, niyama, posture, and breath-control, and then further—
प्रत्याहारं धारणाख्यं ध्यानं सार्धं समाधिना । अष्टाङ्गान्याहुरेतानि योगिनां योगसाधने
Withdrawal of the senses, concentration, meditation together with samadhi—these eight are called the limbs of yoga for the accomplishment of yoga by yogis.
अहिंसा सत्यमस्तेयं ब्रह्मचर्यं दयाऽऽर्जवम् । क्षमा धृतिर्मिताहारः शौचं चेति यमा दश
Non-violence, truthfulness, non-stealing, celibacy, compassion, straightforwardness, forgiveness, fortitude, moderation in food, and purity—these are the ten yamas.
तपः सन्तोष आस्तिक्यं दानं देवस्य पूजनम् । सिद्धान्तश्रवणं चैव ह्रीर्मतिश्च जपो हुतम्
Austerity, contentment, faith, charity, worship of the deity, attentive listening to doctrine, modesty, discernment, recitation, and offering—
दशैते नियमाः प्रोक्ता मया पर्वतनायक । पद्मासनं स्वस्तिकं च भद्रं वज्रासनं तथा
These ten observances are declared by me, O lord of the mountains; padmasana, svastika, bhadra, and vajrasana—
वीरासनमिति प्रोक्तं क्रमादासनपञ्चकम् । ऊर्वोरुपरि विन्यस्य सम्यक्पादतले शुभे
Virasana is thus named; these are the five seats in order. Placing the soles of the feet properly above the thighs—
अङ्गुष्ठौ च निबध्नीयाद्धस्ताभ्यां व्युत्क्रमात्ततः । पद्मासनमिति प्रोक्तं योगिनां हृदयङ्गमम्
Binding the big toes with the hands in reverse, this is called padmasana, beloved of yogis.
जानूर्वोरन्तरे सम्यक्कृत्वा पादतले शुभे । ऋजुकायो विशेद्योगी स्वस्तिकं तत्प्रचक्षते
Placing the soles of the feet properly between the knees and thighs, the yogi enters upright; this is called svastika.
सीवन्याः पार्श्वयोर्न्यस्य गुल्फयुग्मं सुनिश्चितम् । वृषणाधः पादपार्ष्णी पार्ष्णिभ्यां परिबन्धयेत्
Placing both ankles firmly at the sides of the seam, below the scrotum, the heels should be bound together.
भद्रासनमिति प्रोक्तं योगिभिः परिपूजितम् । उर्वोः पादौ क्रमान्न्यस्य जान्वोः प्रत्यङ्मुखाङ्गुली
This is called bhadrasana, honored by yogis. Placing the feet in order on the thighs, the toes facing the knees—
करौ विदध्यादाख्यातं वज्रासनमनुत्तमम् । एकं पादमधः कृत्वा विन्यस्योरुं तथोत्तरे
Placing the hands as instructed, this is called vajrasana, the supreme seat. Placing one foot below and the thigh above—
ऋजुकायो विशेद्योगी वीरासनमितीरितम् । इडयाऽऽकर्षयेद्वायुं बाह्यं षोडशमात्रया
The yogi enters upright; this is called virasana. Drawing the breath through the left channel, sixteen counts externally—
धारयेत्पूरितं योगी चतुःषष्ट्या तु मात्रया । सुषुम्नामध्यगं सम्यग्द्वात्रिंशन्मात्रया शनैः
The yogi holds the inhaled breath for sixty-four counts; then, moving it properly into the central channel, thirty-two counts slowly—
नाड्या पिङ्गलया चैव रेचयेद्योगवित्तमः । प्राणायाममिमं प्राहूर्योगशास्त्रविशारदाः
The best knower of yoga exhales through the right channel; this pranayama is proclaimed by those skilled in yoga doctrine.
भूयो भूयः क्रमात्तस्य बाह्यमेवं समाचरेत् । मात्रावृद्धिः क्रमेणैव सम्यग्द्वादश षोडश
Again and again, in order, one should practice the external breath thus; the count increases gradually, twelve and sixteen properly.