गुप्तक्षेत्रस्य माहात्म्यं शृण्वानस्त्वन्मुखान्मुने
Hearing from your lips, O sage, the greatness of the secret field—
गौतमेश्वर लिंगस्य सावधानः शृणुष्व तत्
Listen attentively now to the greatness of the Gautameshvara linga.
अक्षपादो महायोगी गौतमाख्योऽभवन्मुनिः
There was a great yogi named Akshapada, known as Gautama, the sage.
गुप्त क्षेत्रस्य माहात्म्यं स च ज्ञात्वा महोत्तमम्
He, knowing the supreme greatness of the secret field—
योगसिद्धिं ततः प्राप्य गौतमेन महात्मना
Then, having attained yogic perfection by the great-souled Gautama—
संस्नाप्यैतन्महालिंगं चन्दनेन विलिप्य च सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तो रुद्रलोके महीयते
Having bathed that great linga and anointed it with sandalwood, he, freed from all sin, is honored in the world of Rudra.
योगं सर्वे प्रशंसंति यतः सर्वोत्तमोत्तमम्
All praise yoga, for it is the highest among all things.
श्रवणादपि नैर्मल्यं यस्य स्यात्सेवनात्किमु ।। 1.2.55.
If purity arises even from hearing about it, how much more from its practice?
चित्तवृत्तिनिरोधाख्यं योगतत्त्वं प्रकीर्त्यते
The essence of yoga is described as the restraint of the movements of the mind.
यमश्च नियमश्चैव प्राणायामस्तृतीयकः
Yama, niyama, and pranayama are the first three.
समाधिरिति चाष्टांगो योगः संपरिकीर्तितः
Samadhi is also mentioned; thus, yoga is said to have eight limbs.
अनुक्रमान्नरो येषां साधनाद्योगमश्नुते
A person attains yoga by practicing its disciplines in order.
एते पंच यमाः प्रोक्ताः शृण्वेषामपि लक्षणम्
These five yamas are declared; listen also to their characteristics.
अहिंसैषा समाख्याता वेदसंविहिता च या
This is called nonviolence, as prescribed in the Vedas.
कथनं सत्यमित्युक्तं परपीडाविवर्जितम्
Speaking truth is said to be avoiding harm to others.
मनसा कर्मणा वाचा तदस्तेयं प्रकीर्तितम्
Not stealing is declared as abstaining by mind, action, and speech.
ऋतौ स्वदारगमनं गेहिनां ब्रह्मचर्यता
For householders, chastity is going to one's own wife at the proper time.
गृहस्थानां च मनसा स्मृत एषोऽपरिग्रहः 1.2.55.
For householders, non-possessiveness is remembered as a mental attitude.
शौचं तुष्टिस्तपश्चैव जपो भक्तिर्गुरोस्तथा
Purity, contentment, austerity, recitation, and devotion to the teacher.
बाह्यमाभ्यतरं चैव द्विविधं शौचमुच्यते
Purity is said to be of two kinds: external and internal.
न्यायेनागतया वृत्त्या भिक्षया वार्तयापि च
By means of lawful conduct, livelihood, and alms, too.
चांद्रायणादीनि पुनस्तपांसि विहितानि च
Austerities such as the Chandrayana and others are also prescribed.
स्वाध्यायस्तु जपः प्रोक्तः प्रणवाभ्यसनादिकः
Recitation is called svadhyaya, including the practice of Om and similar.
एवं संसाध्य नियमान्संयमांश्च विचक्षणः
Thus, the wise one fulfills the niyamas and restraints.
यतोऽशुचिशरीरस्य वायुकोपो महान्भवेत्
Because a great disturbance of the wind arises in an impure body,
तस्माद्विचक्षणः शुद्धं कृत्वा देहं यतेत्परम्
Therefore, the wise should strive to purify the body thoroughly.
प्राणापाननिरोधश्च प्राणायामः प्रकीर्तितः
The restraint of inhalation and exhalation is called prāṇāyāma.
लघुर्द्वादशमात्रस्तु मात्रा निमिष उन्मिषः 1.2.55.
The lightest is of twelve units; a unit is the time of closing and opening the eyes.
प्रथमेन जयेत्स्वेदं मध्यमेन तु वेपथुम्
With the first, one overcomes sweat; with the middle, trembling.
पद्माख्यमासनं कृत्वा रेचकं पूरकं तथा
Assuming the posture called Padma, one should perform exhalation and inhalation likewise.