एता नित्योदितास् स्वस्थास् सुन्दर्यस् सुभगोदयाः । ममैकात्मरतेः कान्ता नित्यं हृदयवल्लभाः
These ever-arising, healthy, beautiful, and auspicious qualities are my beloved companions, always dear to my heart in the delight of unity.
सर्वथा सर्वदा सर्वं सर्वस्मिन् सम्भवत्य् अतः । सर्वं प्रति मम क्षीणे वाञ्छावाञ्छे सुखासुखम्
Therefore, at all times, everywhere, in everything, for me—whether desire is exhausted or remains—pleasure and pain arise in relation to all.
विगतमोहतया विमनस्तया गतविकल्पनचित्ततया स्फुटम् । उपरमाम्य् अहम् आत्मनि शीतले घनलवश् शरदीव नभस्तले
With delusion gone, mind stilled, and thoughts dissolved, I rest clearly in myself, cool as a cloud-drop in the autumn sky.
इति निर्णीय ततया धिया धवलया मुनिः । बद्धपद्मासनस् तस्थाव् अर्धोन्मीलितलोचनः
Thus, having resolved with a mind clear and pure, the sage sat in the bound lotus posture, his eyes half open.
ओङ्कारम् अकरोत् तारस्वरम् ऊर्ध्वगतध्वनिम् । सम्यगाहतलाङ्गूलं घण्टाकुम्भम् इवारवम्
He uttered the syllable Om in a high, sustained tone, the sound rising upward, resonant like the ringing of a bell or the deep call of a conch.
ओमुच्चारयतस् तस्य संवित्तत्त्वे तदुन्मुखे । यावदोङ्कारम् ऊर्ध्वस्थे वितते विमलात्मनि
As he pronounced Om, his awareness turned toward the essence of consciousness; as long as the Om remained elevated, it spread within his pure self.
सार्धत्र्यंशात्ममात्रस्य प्रथमे ऽंशे स्फुटारवे । प्रणवस्य मनाक्क्षुब्धप्राणारणितदेहके
At the first, clear note of the three-and-a-half measures of the sacred syllable, as the mind was stirred and the body vibrated with the breath, the sound of Om arose.
रेचकाख्यो ऽखिलं कायं प्राणनिष्क्रमणक्रमः । रिक्तीचकार पीताम्बुर् अगस्त्य इव सागरम्
The process called recaka, the complete expulsion of breath from the body, emptied him like Agastya once drank the ocean.
अतिष्ठत् प्राणपवनश् चिद्रसापूरिते ऽम्बरे । त्यक्तदेहः परित्यक्तनीडः खग इवाम्बरे
The life-breath remained in the sky filled with the radiance of consciousness, like a bird in the sky that has abandoned its body and left its nest behind.
हृदयाग्निर् ज्वलञ् ज्वाली ददाह मलिनं वपुः । उत्पातपवनोच्छूनो दावश् शुष्कम् इव द्रुमम्
The fire in his heart blazed forth, burning away the impure body, just as a forest fire, fanned by a fierce wind, consumes a dry tree.
यावदिच्छम् अवस्थैषा प्रणवप्रथमे क्रमे । बभूव न हठाद् एव हठयोगो हि दुःखदः
This state, at the initial stage of Om, lasted as long as he wished; it was not forced, for forced yoga brings suffering.
अथेतरांशावसरे प्रणवस्य समस्थितौ । निस्स्पन्दकुम्भको नाम प्राणानाम् अभवत् क्रमः
Then, at the next stage in the process of Om, when equilibrium was attained, there arose a state of breath called 'motionless kumbhaka,' in which the breaths became still.
न बहिर् नान्तरे नाधो नोर्ध्वे नाशासु तत्र ते । सङ्क्षोभम् अगमन् प्राणा अर्धसंस्तम्भिता इव
In that state, the breaths did not move outward, inward, downward, upward, nor in any direction; they remained undisturbed, as if half-suspended.
दग्धदेहपुरो वह्निश् शशामाशनिवत् क्षणात् । अदृश्यत सितं भस्म शारीरं हिमपाण्डुरम्
The fire in front of the burnt body subsided in an instant, like the end of a meal; what remained was white ash, the body pale as frost.
यत्र कर्पूरशय्यायां सुप्तानीव सुखोचितम् । शरीरास्थीनि लक्ष्यन्ते निस्स्पन्दानि सितानि च
There, as if resting comfortably on a bed of camphor, the bones of the body could be seen—motionless and white.
तद् भस्म पवनाधूतं सास्थि वायुर् अयोजयत् । स्वदेहे भृशम् उच्छूने त्रिनेत्रव्रतवान् इव
That ash, stirred by the wind, along with the bones, was scattered forcefully upon the body, as if one devoted to the three-eyed vow.
तच् चण्डपवनोद्धूतम् आवृत्य गगनं क्षणात् । शरदीवाभ्रमिहिका क्वापि भस्मास्थिमद् ययौ
That ash, swept up by a fierce wind, covered the sky in an instant; like autumn mist or clouds, the ash and bones went somewhere.
यावदिच्छम् अवस्थैषा प्रणवस्यापरे क्रमे । बभूव न हठाद् एव हठयोगो हि दुःखदः
This state lasted as long as desired, in the next stage of Om; it did not happen by force, for forceful yoga brings suffering.
ततस् तृतीयावसरे प्रणवस्योपशान्तिदे । पूरणात् पूरको नाम प्राणानाम् अभवत् क्रमः
Then, at the third stage in the process of Om, which brings tranquility, there arose a state of breath called 'puraka,' which fills the breath.
अस्मिन्न् अवसरे प्राणाश् चेतनामृतमध्यगाः । व्योम्नि शीतलताम् ईयुर् हिमसंस्पर्शसुन्दरीम्
At that moment, the vital breaths entered the nectar of consciousness and attained a coolness in the sky, beautiful like the touch of frost.
क्रमाद् गगनमध्यस्थाश् चन्द्रमण्डलतां ययुः । धूमा गगनकोशस्थाश् शीतलाम्बुदताम् इव
Gradually, those dwelling in the midst of the sky assumed the form of the moon's orb; the vapors within the vault of the sky became like cool clouds.
कलाकलापसम्पूर्णे ते तस्मिंश् चन्द्रमण्डले । पुण्यराशाव् इवापूर्णे रसायनमहार्णवे
In that moon's orb, filled with clusters of rays, they appeared as if in an ocean of virtue, abundant and complete, like in a great sea of elixirs.
रसायनमहाधारास् सम्पन्नाः प्राणवायवः । मणियष्टिसमाकारा जलेष्व् इन्दोर् इवांशवः
The streams of the great elixir, perfected, became the vital airs, shaped like rods of gems, just as the rays of the moon are found in water.
सा पपाताम्बराद् धारा शेषे शारीरभस्मनि । रासायनी हरशिरःपतितेव सुरापगा
That stream fell from the sky onto the ashes of the body, the elixir flowing like the heavenly river descending upon Shiva's head.
उदभूद् इन्दुबिम्बाभं चतुर्बाहुवपुस् तया । प्रस्फुरन्मन्दराद् अब्धेः पारिजात इव द्रुमः
From that, a four-armed form arose, resembling the orb of the moon, shining forth like a celestial tree blossoming from the ocean's Mandara mountain.
उद्दालकशरीरं तन् नारायणतयोदितम् । प्रफुल्तचूतवत् कान्तम् आबभौ दीप्तिसुन्दरम्
That body of Uddalaka, manifest as Narayana, appeared charming and radiant, like a blossoming mango tree.
रसायनमयाः प्राणास् तच्छरीरम् अपूरयन् । सरिदोघा इव सरो वृक्षं मधुरसा इव
The vital breaths, composed of elixir, filled that body, as streams fill a lake or as sweet sap fills a tree.
अन्तः कुण्डलिनीं प्राणाः पूरयाम् आसुर् आदृताः । वक्रानुवक्रप्रसृतास् सरांसीव सरित्स्खदाम्
With reverence, the life-breaths filled the inner kuṇḍalinī, moving in winding and counter-winding currents, like streams flowing through the beds of rivers.
प्रकृतिस्थं बभूवास्य तच् छरीरं द्विजन्मनः । प्रावृट्संरम्भविगमे धौतं तलम् इवावनेः
The body of that twice-born one became established in its natural state, cleansed like the earth’s surface after the monsoon’s tumult has subsided.
अथ पद्मासनगतः कृत्वा देहे स्थितिं दृढाम् । आलान इव मातङ्गं निबध्येन्द्रियपञ्चकम्
Then, seated in the lotus posture, having made the body firm and steady, he restrained the five senses as an elephant is tethered and secured.