न ते पश्यन्ति मामेकं योगिनो यतमानसाः
Even striving yogis do not see me alone.
समाधिश्च मुनिश्रेष्ठा यमो नियम आसनम्
O best of sages, samādhi, restraint, observance, and posture—
तत्साधनान्यष्टधा तु युष्माकं कथितानि तु
The means for that have been described to you in eightfold manner.
यमाः संक्षेपतः प्रोक्ताश्चित्तशुद्धिप्रदा नृणाम्
The restraints have been briefly stated; they grant purity of mind to people.
अक्लेशजननं प्रोक्तं त्वहिंसा परमर्षिभिः
Non-injury is declared by the foremost sages as that which does not cause affliction.
विधिना या भवेद्धिंसा त्वहिंसैव प्रकीर्तिता
That injury which occurs according to prescribed rule is itself called non-injury.
यथार्थकथनाचारः सत्यं प्रोक्तं द्विजातिभिः
Truth is declared by the twice-born as conduct in accordance with reality and speech.
स्तेयं तस्यानाचरणादस्तेयं धर्मसाधनम्
Non-stealing is the pursuit of dharma through abstaining from theft.
सर्वत्र मैथुनत्यागं ब्रह्मचर्यं प्रचक्षते
Brahmacharya is defined everywhere as the renunciation of sexual intercourse.
अपरिग्रह इत्याहुस्तं प्रयत्नेन पालयेत्
They call it non-possession; one should carefully observe it.
समासान्नियमाः प्रोक्ता योगसिद्धिप्रदायिनः
The observances are stated in summary; they bestow accomplishment in yoga.
शरीरशोषणं प्राहुस्तापसास्तप उत्तमम्
Ascetics declare bodily austerity as the highest form of tapas.
सत्त्वशुद्धिकरं पुंसां स्वाध्यायं परिचक्षते
They describe study as that which brings purity of mind to men.
उत्तरोत्तरवैशिष्ट्यं प्राहुर्वेदार्थवेदिनः
Those who know the meaning of the Vedas speak of successive distinctions.
स्वाध्यायो वाचिकः प्रोक्त उपांशोरथ लक्षणम्
Study is said to be vocal; its characteristic is also that of murmured recitation.
उपांशुरेष निर्दिष्टः साहस्रो वाचिकाज्जपः
This murmured recitation is specified; it is a thousand times superior to vocal recitation.
चिन्तनं सर्वशब्दानां मानसं तं जपं विदुः
Mental repetition is known as the contemplation of all words.
या धीस्तामृषयः प्राहुः संतोषं सुखलक्षणम्
That contentment whose nature is happiness is declared by the sages as steadfastness of mind.
मृज्जलाभ्यां स्मृतं बाह्यं मनःशुद्धिरथान्तरम्
External purity is remembered as being through earth and water; internal is purity of mind.
सुनिश्चला शिवे भक्तिरेतदीश्वरपूजनम्
Unwavering devotion to Shiva is the worship of the Lord.
प्राणः स्वदेहजो वायुरायामस्तन्निरोधनम्
The life-breath is the air born within one's own body; its regulation is called restraint.
स एव द्विविधः प्रोक्तः सगर्भो ऽगर्भ एव च
This very practice is said to be of two kinds: with retention and without retention.
मध्यमः प्राणसंरोधः षट्त्रिंशन्मात्रिकोत्तमः
The intermediate restraint of the breath is the highest, measured as thirty-six counts.
मन्दमध्यममुख्यानामानन्दादुत्तमोत्तमः
Among the slow, intermediate, and chief types, the supreme of the supreme arises from bliss.
एतद् वै योगिनामुक्तं प्राणायामस्य लक्षणम्
This, indeed, is declared to be the characteristic of breath-control for yogis.
त्रिर्जपेदायतप्राणः प्राणायामः स उच्यते
When one recites a mantra three times with the breath held, that is called breath-control.
प्रोच्यते सर्वशास्त्रेषु योगिभिर्यतमानसैः
This is proclaimed in all the scriptures by yogis who strive diligently.
साम्येन संस्थितिर्या सा कुम्भकः परिगीयते
That state of balance which is established is celebrated as kumbhaka.
निग्रहः प्रोच्यते सद्भिः प्रत्याहारस्तु सत्तमाः
Restraint is declared by the wise, and the best call it withdrawal of the senses.
एवमादिषु देशेषु धारणा चित्तबन्धनम्
In such places as these, concentration is the binding of the mind.