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.
निर्विकल्पसमाध्यर्थं व्यवसायम् उपाददे । स्वभावं स्वच्छतां नेतुं शरत्काल इवामलः
He undertook the resolve for absorption without thought, to bring his own nature to clarity, like the pure autumn season.
स्वस्वान्तवातहरिणम् आशादिग्गणगामिनम् । चिन्तया हृदयं निन्ये दूराद् रज्ज्वेव कीलकम्
He drew the mind, which moves like a wind-driven deer through the quarters of desire, into the heart by contemplation, as a peg draws a rope from afar.
धावमानम् अधो मत्तं चित्तम् आबिलम् आकुलम् । बलात् संरोधयाम् आस सेतुर् जलम् इव द्रुतम्
He forcibly restrained the mind, wild, agitated, and rushing downward, like a dam holds back swiftly flowing water.
न्यमीमिलद् दृशाव् अर्धं परिपक्ष्मलपक्ष्मके । निस्स्पन्दतारामधुपे सन्ध्याकाल इवाम्बुजे
He half-closed his eyes, their lashes fully grown, motionless like bees at rest, as a lotus at twilight.
सोम्यताम् अनयन् मौनी प्राणापानजवं मुखे । श्वसनं श्रेयसे देशे प्रशस्तस् समयो यथा
The silent sage brought the movement of inhalation and exhalation in the mouth to gentleness, as one places the breath in an auspicious place at the proper time.
तिलेभ्य इव तैलानि पृथक् चक्रे प्रयत्नतः । इन्द्रियाणीन्द्रियार्थेभ्यः कूर्मो ऽङ्गानीव गोपयन्
Just as oil is carefully separated from sesame seeds, he withdrew the senses from their objects, protecting them like a tortoise draws in its limbs.
बाह्यान् स्पर्शान् अशेषेण जहौ दूरे शनैर् अरीन् । सहसा कुण्डकच्छन्नो मणिर् दूरं त्विषो यथा
He completely abandoned all external contacts, gradually distancing them like enemies, just as a jewel covered with cloth suddenly withdraws its radiance far away.
विलीनान् आन्तरांश् चक्रे स्पर्शान् उज्झितदर्शनान् । रसान् विटपकोशस्थान् मार्गशीर्ष इव द्रुमः
He made the inner senses merge, having renounced their outward perceptions, like the sap remaining within the sheath of a tree during the month of Mārgaśīrṣa.
रुरोध गुदसङ्कोचान् नवद्वारानिलान् अथ । मुखसंस्थगनात् कुम्भरन्ध्रकोशान् इवेतरान्
Then, by contracting the rectum, he restrained the winds of the nine gates, just as closing the mouth of a pot blocks the other openings.
आत्मरत्नप्रकाशाढ्यां स्पष्टां कुसुमलाञ्छिताम् । दधार कन्धरां धीरां मेरुश् शृङ्गशिखाम् इव
He held his steady neck, radiant with the light of the jewel of the Self and adorned with clarity like flowers, as firm as the summit of Mount Meru.