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.
जपध्यानादिभिः सार्धं सगर्भं तं विदुर्बुधाः । तदपेतं विगर्भं च प्राणायामं परे विदुः
Together with recitation, meditation, and the like, the wise know it as sagarbha; when devoid of these, the supreme know it as vigarbha pranayama.
क्रमादभ्यस्यतः पुंसो देहे स्वेदोद्गमोऽधमः । मध्यमः कम्पसंयुक्तो भूमित्यागः परो मतः
As one practices in order, the lowest result is sweating of the body; the middle is accompanied by trembling, and the highest is said to be leaving the ground.
उत्तमस्य गुणावाप्तिर्यावच्छीलनमिष्यते । इन्द्रियाणां विचरतां विषयेषु निरर्गलम्
For the highest, attainment of qualities is desired as long as practice continues; when the senses roam freely among objects—
बलादाहरणं तेभ्यः प्रत्याहारोऽभिधीयते । अङ्गुष्ठगुल्फजानूरुमूलाधोलिङ्गनाभिषु
Withdrawing them forcibly from those, this is called pratyahara. At the base of the thumbs, ankles, knees, thighs, below the navel—
हृद्ग्रीवाकण्ठदेशेषु लम्बिकायां ततो नसि । भ्रूमध्ये मस्तके मूर्ध्नि द्वादशान्ते यथाविधि
In the region of the heart, neck, throat, in the uvula, then in the nose, between the brows, on the forehead, on the crown, at the twelfth end, as prescribed—
धारणं प्राणमरुतो धारणेति निगद्यते । समाहितेन मनसा चैतन्यान्तरवर्तिना
Holding the breath and wind at these places is called dharana; with a mind concentrated and abiding in inner consciousness—
आत्मन्यभीष्टदेवानां ध्यानं ध्यानमिहोच्यते । समत्वभावना नित्यं जीवात्मपरमात्मनोः
Meditation here is said to be the contemplation of one's desired deities within oneself, and the constant cultivation of equanimity between the individual soul and the Supreme Soul.
समाधिमाहुर्मुनयः प्रोक्तमष्टाङ्गलक्षणम् । इदानीं कथये तेऽहं मन्त्रयोगमनुत्तमम्
The sages call this samādhi, which is described as possessing eight limbs; now I shall explain to you the supreme practice of mantra-yoga.
विश्वं शरीरमित्युक्तं पञ्चभूतात्मकं नग । चन्द्रसूर्याग्नितेजोभिर्जीवब्रह्मैक्यरूपकम्
The universe is declared to be the body, composed of the five elements, O mountain; it is formed by the radiance of moon, sun, and fire, and embodies the unity of the individual soul and Brahman.
तिस्रः कोट्यस्तदर्धेन शरीरे नाडयो मताः । तासु मुख्या दश प्रोक्तास्ताभ्यस्तिस्रो व्यवस्थिताः
In the body, there are considered to be three crores of nāḍīs, with half as many again; among these, ten are said to be principal, and from these, three are especially established.