आत्मभूतं प्रयत्नेन ह्य् उपादेयं तु साध्यते । हेयं सन्त्यज्यते ज्ञात्वा ह्य् उपेक्ष्यं मध्यम् एतयोः
That which is of the nature of the Self is attained through effort; that which is to be rejected is abandoned upon knowing; and that which is to be disregarded is the middle between these two.
यद् यद् आह्लादनकरम् आदेयं तद् असन्मतेः । तद्विरुद्धम् अनादेयम् उपेक्ष्यं मध्यमं विदुः
Whatever brings delight is considered to be accepted by those of right understanding; that which is contrary is not to be accepted, and the middle is known as to be disregarded.
सन्मतेर् विदुषो ज्ञस्य सर्वम् आत्ममयं यदा । त्रय एव तदा पक्षास् सम्भवन्ति न केचन
When, for one of right understanding, a knower, everything is recognized as pervaded by the Self, then only these three options remain, and nothing else.
केवलं सर्वम् एवेदं कदाचिल् लीलया न वा । उपेक्ष्यम् अक्षिनिक्षिप्तम् आलोकयति वा न वा
At times, all this alone is simply disregarded as a play, or not; or, with eyes cast upon it, one may observe it, or not.
ज्ञस्योपेक्ष्यात्मकं राम मूढस्यादेयतां गतम् । हेयं स्फारविरागस्य शृणु सिद्धिक्रमं कथम्
O Rama, the knowledge-oriented person is characterized by indifference, while the deluded one is subject to being given up; that which is to be abandoned belongs to one with intense dispassion. Now listen to the sequence of attaining powers.
देशकालक्रियाद्रव्यसाधनास् सर्वसिद्धयः । जीवम् आह्लादयन्तीह वसन्त इव भूतलम्
All accomplishments here—arising from place, time, action, and materials—delight the living being just as spring delights the earth.
मध्ये चतुर्णाम् एतेषां क्रिया प्रथमकल्पिकी । सिद्ध्यादिसाधने साधोस् तन्मयास् ते यतः क्रमाः
Among these four, action is considered primary; for the attainment of success and related aims, the steps proceed accordingly, being absorbed in that.
गुलिकाञ्जनखड्गादिक्रियाक्रमनिरूपणम् । तत्रास्तां तावद् एषो ऽत्र विस्तारः प्रकृतार्थहा
The detailed procedures for actions involving pills, collyrium, swords, and so on—let that elaboration remain aside here, as it distracts from the main topic.
रत्नौषधितपोमन्त्रक्रियाक्रमनिरूपणम् । तत्रास्तां तावद् एषो ऽत्र विस्तारः प्रकृतार्थहा
The detailed procedures for actions involving gems, medicines, heat, and mantras—let that elaboration also remain aside here, as it distracts from the main topic.
श्रीशैले सिद्धदेशे च मेर्वादौ वा निवासतः । सिद्धिर् इत्य् अपि विस्तारः क्रियोत्था प्रकृतार्थहा
Even the elaboration regarding attainment through residing at sacred places like Śrīśaila, Siddhadeśa, or at Meru and so on, arising from ritual actions, is a digression from the main subject.
तस्माच् छिखिध्वजकथाप्रसङ्गपतिताम् इमाम् । प्राणादिपवनाभ्यासक्रियां सिद्धिफलां शृणु
Therefore, listen now to this practice of breath and related winds, which has come up in the context of the story of Shikhidhvaja, and which yields the fruit of accomplishment.
समूलम् अखिलास् त्यक्त्वा साध्यार्थेतरवासनाः । गुदादिद्वारसङ्कोचात् स्थानकादिक्रियाक्रमैः
Having completely abandoned all tendencies toward both what is to be attained and what is not, through contraction of the passages such as the anus, and by means of the sequence of postures and related actions—
भोजनासनशुद्ध्या च साधुशास्त्रार्थभावनात् । स्वाचारात् सुजनासङ्गात् सर्वत्यागात् सुखासनात्
Through purity in food and seat, contemplation on the meaning of noble scriptures, one's own conduct, association with virtuous people, complete renunciation, and ease in posture.
प्राणायामघनाभ्यासाद् राम कालेन केनचित् । कोपलोभादिसन्त्यागाद् भोगत्यागाच् च सुव्रत
By diligent practice of pranayama, O Rama, over time, by abandoning anger, greed, and the like, and by renouncing indulgence, O virtuous one.
त्यागादाननिरोधेषु भृशं यान्ति विधेयताम् । प्राणाः प्रभुत्वतज्ज्ञस्य पुंसो भृत्या इवाखिलाः
In acts of renunciation, giving, and restraint, the vital energies become highly obedient; for one who knows mastery, all the vital forces act like servants.
राज्याद्या मोक्षपर्यन्तास् समस्ता एव सम्पदः । देहानिलविधेयत्वसाध्यास् सर्वस्य राघव
All attainments, from sovereignty to liberation, O Raghava, are accomplished through the subservience of the body and breath for everyone.
परिमण्डलिताकारा कन्दस्थानसमाश्रिता । अन्त्रवेष्टनिका नाम नाडी नाडीशताश्रिता
Circular in shape, situated at the root, is the channel called antraveshtanika, which is supported by hundreds of other channels.
वीणाग्रावर्तसदृशी सलिलावर्तसन्निभा । लिप्याद्योङ्कारसंस्थाना कुन्तलावर्तवत् स्थिता
It resembles the curve of a lute, like a whirlpool of water; its form is marked by the syllable 'Om', and it is coiled like a lock of hair.
देवासुरमनुष्येषु मृगनक्रखगादिषु । कीटादिष्व् अब्जजान्तेषु सर्वेषु प्राणिषूदिता
It is present in all beings—gods, demons, humans, animals, crocodiles, birds, insects, and those born from lotuses.
शीतार्तसुप्तभोगीन्द्रभोगवद् बद्धमण्डला । सिता कल्पाग्निविगलदिन्दुवद् बद्धकुण्डला
Coiled like a ring, as in the cold, sleeping serpent, bound like the moon dripping from the fire of imagination, it is tightly coiled.
मनोभ्रूमध्यरन्ध्राधोविशदब्वृत्तिचञ्चला । अनारतं रसस्यन्दैः प्लवमानैव तिष्ठति
Below the central channel between the eyebrows, the mind, restless and ever-moving, remains afloat, ceaselessly bathed in streams of essence.
अस्या अभ्यन्तरे तस्मिन् कदलीकोशकोमले । या वातशक्तिस् स्फुरति वेणाव् इव लसद्गतिः
Within it, in that tender sheath like the core of a plantain, the power of air vibrates, moving with a shining motion as in a hollow reed.
सोक्ता कुण्डलिनी नाम्ना कुण्डलाकारवाहिनी । प्राणिनः परमा शक्तिस् सर्वशक्तिजवप्रदा
This is called by the name Kuṇḍalinī, flowing in a coiled form; she is the supreme power of living beings, the source of all the speed of energies.
अनिशं निश्श्वसद्रूपा कुपितेव भुजङ्गमी । संस्थितोर्ध्वीकृतमुखी स्पन्दानां हेतुतां गता
Constantly exhaling, in the form of breath, she appears like an enraged serpent, stationed with her mouth turned upward, having become the cause of all vibrations.
यदा प्राणानिलो याति हृदि कुण्डलिनीपदम् । तदा संविद् उदेत्य् अन्तर् भूततन्मात्रबीजभूः
When the vital wind enters the seat of Kuṇḍalinī in the heart, then consciousness arises within, the source-seed of the subtle elements.
यदा कुण्डलिनी देहे स्फुरत्य् अब्ज इवालिनी । तदा संविद् उदेत्य् अन्तर् मृदुस्पर्शवशोदया
When Kuṇḍalinī stirs in the body, like a line of bees in a lotus, then consciousness arises within, awakened by a gentle touch.
स्पर्शेन मृदुना नाड्या लिङ्गकामातपत्रयोः । यथा संविद् उदेत्य् उच्चैस् तथा कुण्डलिनी जवात्
By the gentle touch of the channel upon the linga and the desire-leaf, just as consciousness arises intensely, so too does Kuṇḍalinī swiftly.
तस्यां समस्तास् सम्बद्धा नाड्यो हृदयकोशगाः । उत्पद्यन्ते विलीयन्ते महार्णव इवापगाः
In her are bound all the channels that go to the heart-lotus; they arise and dissolve, like rivers in the great ocean.
नित्यं वातात्मकतया स्पन्दोन्मुखतया तया । सा सर्वसंविदां बीजम् एकम् आद्यम् उदाहृतम्
Constantly, by its nature as air and its tendency toward vibration, it is spoken of as the one primordial seed of all consciousness.
दिक्कालाद्यनवच्छिन्ना चित्संवित् सर्वगास्ति हि । तस्याः कुण्डलिनीकोशात् केनार्थेनोदयस् स्फुटः
Consciousness, which is not limited by directions, time, or anything else, is indeed all-pervading; from its sheath as kundalini, what clear purpose or manifestation arises?