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.
दधार हृदयाकाशे मनस् संयमम् आगतम् । विन्ध्यखात इवोन्मत्तं गजं युक्तिवशीकृतम्
He established the controlled mind in the space of the heart, like a wild elephant subdued by reason and confined in the Vindhya cave.
शरन्नभोवद् आसाद्य निर्मलाम् अतिसोम्यताम् । जहार परिपूर्णाब्धेर् मेरोश् चातरलां श्रियम्
Having attained a state of utmost clarity and gentleness, like the autumn sky, he abandoned the restless splendor of Meru and the fullness of the ocean.
दुधावाथ विकल्पौघान् प्रतिभासम् उपेयुषः । पुरःपरिस्फुरद्रूपान् मषकान् इव मारुतः
Then, as various thoughts appeared before him, he drove away the swarms of imaginations, just as the wind scatters hovering gnats.
आगच्छतो यथाकामं प्रतिभासान् पुनः पुनः । अच्छिनन् मनसा शूरः खड्गेनेव रणे शरान्
As various appearances arose again and again according to their own nature, the hero, with an undivided mind, cut them down like arrows in battle with a sword.
विकल्पौघे परालूने सो ऽपश्यद् धृदयाम्बरे । तमश् छन्नविवेकार्कं लोलकज्जलमेचकम्
When the multitude of thoughts was dispelled, he saw in the sky of the heart a darkness covering the sun of discernment, like the moving soot of a lamp.
तद् अप्य् उत्सारयाम् आस सम्यक् स्वान्तविवस्वता । सम्यग्ज्ञानोदितेनाशु पवनेनेव कज्जलम्
He completely drove that away as well, with the radiance of his inner sun, swiftly, as wind scatters soot when the true knowledge had arisen.
तमस्य् उपरते कान्तं तेजःपुञ्जं ददर्श सः । शार्वरे तिमिरे शान्ते प्रातस् सान्ध्यम् इवाम्बुदम्
When the darkness ceased, he beheld a mass of radiant light, lovely, like a morning cloud in the tranquil darkness of night.
तं लुलाव स्थलाब्जानां वनं बाल इव द्विपः । अपिबच् चाप्य् असृक्पूरं वेताल इव वेगतः
He played with that, like a young elephant with lotuses on land, and drank in the flood of blood like a goblin, swiftly.
तेजस्य् उपरते तस्य घूर्णमानं मनो मुनेः । निशाब्जवद् अगान् निद्रां लोलं क्षीववद् एव वा
When that radiance subsided, the sage’s mind, whirling, entered sleep like a night-lotus, or like a drunkard, unsteady.
मेघमालां इव मरुद् बालो नीलाब्जिनीम् इव । यामिनीम् इव तीक्ष्णांशुस् ताम् अप्य् आशु लुलाव सः
He quickly scattered that too, like the wind disperses a mass of clouds, like a boy scatters blue lotuses, or the sharp sun disperses the night.