The Teaching of Yoga

Verse 1 (markandeya.39.1)

दत्तात्रेय उवाच । ज्ञानपूर्वो वियोगो योऽज्ञानेन सह योगिनः । सा मुक्तिर्ब्रह्मणा चैक्यमनैक्यं प्राकृतैर्गुणैः॥ ३९.१ ॥

dattātreya uvāca jñānapūrvo viyogo yo 'jñānena saha yoginaḥ sā muktirbrahmaṇā caikyamanaikyaṁ prākṛtairguṇaiḥ

Dattatreya said: 'That separation of the yogi from ignorance, preceded by knowledge, is liberation — union with Brahman and disunion from the guṇas of material nature.'

Verse 2 (markandeya.39.2)

योगे च शक्तिर्विदुषां येन श्रेयः परं भवेत् । मुक्तिर्योगात्तथा योगः सम्यग्ज्ञानान्महीपते । सङ्गदोषोद्भवं दुःखं ममत्वासक्तचेतसाम्॥ ३९.२ ॥

yoge ca śaktirviduṣāṁ yena śreyaḥ paraṁ bhavet muktiryogāttathā yogaḥ samyagjñānānmahīpate saṅgadoṣodbhavaṁ duḥkhaṁ mamatvāsaktacetasām

'The power for yoga belongs to the wise, by which the supreme good is attained; liberation comes from yoga, and yoga, O king, from right knowledge. Sorrow arises from the fault of attachment, in those whose minds cling to the sense of "mine."'

Verse 3 (markandeya.39.3)

तस्मात्सङ्गं प्रयत्नेन मुमुक्षुः संत्यजेन्नरः । सङ्गाभावे ममेत्यस्याः ख्यातेर्हानिः प्रजायते॥ ३९.३ ॥

tasmātsaṅgaṁ prayatnena mumukṣuḥ saṁtyajennaraḥ saṅgābhāve mametyasyāḥ khyāterhāniḥ prajāyate

'Therefore let the man who seeks liberation deliberately abandon attachment; when attachment is absent, the notion of "mine" ceases to arise.'

Verse 4 (markandeya.39.4)

निर्ममत्वं सुखायैव वैराग्याद्दोषदर्शनम् । ज्ञानादेव च वैराग्यं ज्ञानं वैराग्यपूर्वकम्॥ ३९.४ ॥

nirmamatvaṁ sukhāyaiva vairāgyāddoṣadarśanam jñānādeva ca vairāgyaṁ jñānaṁ vairāgyapūrvakam

'Freedom from the sense of "mine" leads only to happiness; the perception of faults comes from dispassion, and dispassion comes from knowledge, while knowledge in turn is preceded by dispassion.'

Verse 5 (markandeya.39.5)

तद्गृहं यत्र वसतिस्तद्भोज्यं येन जीवति । यन्मुक्तये तदेवोक्तं ज्ञानमज्ञानमन्यथा॥ ३९.५ ॥

tadgṛhaṁ yatra vasatistadbhojyaṁ yena jīvati yanmuktaye tadevoktaṁ jñānamajñānamanyathā

'That alone is truly one's house wherein one dwells; that alone is truly one's food by which one lives; that alone is called knowledge which leads to liberation—otherwise it is ignorance.'

Verse 6 (markandeya.39.6)

उपभोगेन पुण्यानामपुण्यानां च पार्थिव । कर्त्तव्यमिति नित्यानामकामकरणात्तथा॥ ३९.६ ॥

upabhogena puṇyānāmapuṇyānāṁ ca pārthiva karttavyamiti nityānāmakāmakaraṇāttathā

'O king, the fruits of merit and demerit are to be experienced as one's constant duty, and that too without desire.'

Verse 7 (markandeya.39.7)

असञ्चयादपूर्वस्य क्षयात्पूर्वार्जितस्य च । कर्मणो बन्धमाप्नोति शरीरं च पुनः पुनः॥ ३९.७ ॥

asañcayādapūrvasya kṣayātpūrvārjitasya ca karmaṇo bandhamāpnoti śarīraṁ ca punaḥ punaḥ

'Through the non-accumulation of new karma and the exhaustion of what was previously acquired, one is freed; otherwise one obtains the bondage of karma, and a body, again and again.'

Verse 8 (markandeya.39.8)

कर्मणा मोक्षमाप्नोति वैपरीत्येन तस्य तु । एतत्ते कथितं ज्ञानं योगं चेमं निबोध मे । यं प्राप्य ब्रह्मणो योगी शाश्वतान्नान्यतां व्रजेत्॥ ३९.८ ॥

karmaṇā mokṣamāpnoti vaiparītyena tasya tu etatte kathitaṁ jñānaṁ yogaṁ cemaṁ nibodha me yaṁ prāpya brahmaṇo yogī śāśvatānnānyatāṁ vrajet

'By the reverse of that principle, one obtains liberation. This is the knowledge I have declared to you; now learn from me this yoga also, attaining which the yogi never departs from the eternal Brahman.'

Verse 9 (markandeya.39.9)

प्रागेवात्मात्मना जेयो योगिनां स हि दुर्जयः । कुर्वीत तज्जये यत्नं तस्योपायं शृणुष्व मे॥ ३९.९ ॥

prāgevātmātmanā jeyo yogināṁ sa hi durjayaḥ kurvīta tajjaye yatnaṁ tasyopāyaṁ śṛṇuṣva me

'First of all, the self must be conquered by the self, for it is indeed hard to conquer for yogis; one should make effort for its conquest—hear from me the means to it.'

Verse 10 (markandeya.39.10)

प्राणायामैर्दहेद्दोषान्धारणाभिश्च किल्बिषम् । प्रत्याहारेण विषयान्ध्यानेनानीश्वरान्गुणान्॥ ३९.१० ॥

prāṇāyāmairdaheddoṣāndhāraṇābhiśca kilbiṣam pratyāhāreṇa viṣayāndhyānenānīśvarānguṇān

'By prāṇāyāma one should burn away the faults of the body; by dhāraṇā, sin; by pratyāhāra, the sense-objects; and by dhyāna, the unruly guṇas of nature.'

Verse 11 (markandeya.39.11)

यथा पर्वतधातूनां ध्मातानां दह्यते मलम् । तथेन्द्रियकृता दोषा दह्यन्ते प्राणनिग्रहात्॥ ३९.११ ॥

yathā parvatadhātūnāṁ dhmātānāṁ dahyate malam tathendriyakṛtā doṣā dahyante prāṇanigrahāt

'Just as, when the ores of the mountain are smelted, their impurity is burnt away, so too the faults produced by the senses are burnt away by the restraint of the breath.'

Verse 12 (markandeya.39.12)

प्रथमं साधनं कुर्यात्प्राणायामस्य योगवित् । प्राणापाननिरोधस्तु प्राणायाम उदाहृतः॥ ३९.१२ ॥

prathamaṁ sādhanaṁ kuryātprāṇāyāmasya yogavit prāṇāpānanirodhastu prāṇāyāma udāhṛtaḥ

'The knower of yoga should first practise the discipline of prāṇāyāma; the restraint of the outgoing and incoming breath is called prāṇāyāma.'

Verse 13 (markandeya.39.13)

लघुमध्योत्तरीयाख्यः प्राणायामस्त्रिधोदितः । तस्य प्रमाणं वक्ष्यामि तदलर्क शृणुष्व मे॥ ३९.१३ ॥

laghumadhyottarīyākhyaḥ prāṇāyāmastridhoditaḥ tasya pramāṇaṁ vakṣyāmi tadalarka śṛṇuṣva me

'Prāṇāyāma is declared to be of three kinds—mild, middling, and superior. I shall now tell you its measure, O Alarka; hear it from me.'

Verse 14 (markandeya.39.14)

लघुर्द्वादशमात्रस्तु द्विगुणः स तु मध्यमः । त्रिगुणाभिस्तु मात्राभिरुत्तमः परिकीर्त्तितः॥ ३९.१४ ॥

laghurdvādaśamātrastu dviguṇaḥ sa tu madhyamaḥ triguṇābhistu mātrābhiruttamaḥ parikīrttitaḥ

'The mild is of twelve mātrās, the middling double that, and the superior is proclaimed to be of triple that number.'

Verse 15 (markandeya.39.15)

निमेषोन्मेषणे मात्रा कालो लघ्वक्षरस्तथा । प्राणायामस्य संख्यार्थं स्मृतो द्वादशमात्रिकः॥ ३९.१५ ॥

nimeṣonmeṣaṇe mātrā kālo laghvakṣarastathā prāṇāyāmasya saṁkhyārthaṁ smṛto dvādaśamātrikaḥ

'A mātrā is the time of a single closing and opening of the eye, equal also to the time taken to utter a short syllable; twelve such mātrās are reckoned as the basic count for prāṇāyāma.'

Verse 16 (markandeya.39.16)

प्रथमेन जयेत्स्वेदं मध्यमेन च वेपथुम् । विषादं हि तृतीयेन जयेद्दोषाननुक्रमात्॥ ३९.१६ ॥

prathamena jayetsvedaṁ madhyamena ca vepathum viṣādaṁ hi tṛtīyena jayeddoṣānanukramāt

'By the first grade one conquers sweating, by the middling, trembling, and by the third one conquers despondency—thus the faults are overcome in due order.'

Verse 17 (markandeya.39.17)

मृदुत्वं सेव्यमानास्तु सिंहशार्दूलकुञ्जराः । यथा यान्ति तथा प्राणो वश्यो भवति योगिनः॥ ३९.१७ ॥

mṛdutvaṁ sevyamānāstu siṁhaśārdūlakuñjarāḥ yathā yānti tathā prāṇo vaśyo bhavati yoginaḥ

'Just as lions, tigers, and elephants, when properly tended, come to gentleness, so too the yogi's breath becomes obedient through gradual practice.'

Verse 18 (markandeya.39.18)

वश्यं मत्तं यथेच्छातो नागं नयति हस्तिपः । तथैव योगी छन्देन प्राणं नयति साधितम्॥ ३९.१८ ॥

vaśyaṁ mattaṁ yathecchāto nāgaṁ nayati hastipaḥ tathaiva yogī chandena prāṇaṁ nayati sādhitam

'Just as the mahout leads a subdued, rutting elephant wherever he wishes, so too the yogi, once it is mastered, leads the breath according to his will.'

Verse 19 (markandeya.39.19)

यथा हि साधितः सिंहो मृगान्हन्ति न मानवान् । तद्वन्निषिद्धपवनः किल्बिषं न नृणां तनुम्॥ ३९.१९ ॥

yathā hi sādhitaḥ siṁho mṛgānhanti na mānavān tadvanniṣiddhapavanaḥ kilbiṣaṁ na nṛṇāṁ tanum

'Just as a trained lion kills deer and not men, so too the restrained breath destroys sin, not the bodies of men.'

Verse 20 (markandeya.39.20)

तस्माद्युक्तः सदा योगी प्राणायामपरो भवेत् । श्रूयतां मुक्तिफलदं तस्यावस्थाचतुष्टयम्॥ ३९.२० ॥

tasmādyuktaḥ sadā yogī prāṇāyāmaparo bhavet śrūyatāṁ muktiphaladaṁ tasyāvasthācatuṣṭayam

'Therefore the yogi, ever disciplined, should be devoted to prāṇāyāma; hear now of its four states, which bestow the fruit of liberation.'

Verse 21 (markandeya.39.21)

ध्वस्तिः प्राप्तिस्तथा संवित्प्रसादश्च महीपते । स्वरूपं शृणु चैतेषां कथ्यमानमनुक्रमात्॥ ३९.२१ ॥

dhvastiḥ prāptistathā saṁvitprasādaśca mahīpate svarūpaṁ śṛṇu caiteṣāṁ kathyamānamanukramāt

'They are dhvasti, prāpti, saṁvit, and prasāda, O king; now hear their nature, described in due order.'

Verse 22 (markandeya.39.22)

कर्मणामिष्टदुष्टानां जायते फलसंक्षयः । चेतसोऽपकषायत्वं यत्र सा ध्वस्तिरुच्यते॥ ३९.२२ ॥

karmaṇāmiṣṭaduṣṭānāṁ jāyate phalasaṁkṣayaḥ cetaso 'pakaṣāyatvaṁ yatra sā dhvastirucyate

'That state in which the fruits of both desired and undesired actions become destroyed, and the mind becomes free of impurity—that is called dhvasti.'

Verse 23 (markandeya.39.23)

ऐहिकामुष्मिकान्कामांल्लोभमोहात्मकात्स्वयम् । निरुध्यास्ते सदा योगी प्राप्तिः सा सार्वकालिकी॥ ३९.२३ ॥

aihikāmuṣmikānkāmāṁllobhamohātmakātsvayam nirudhyāste sadā yogī prāptiḥ sā sārvakālikī

'That in which the yogi, of his own accord, ever restrains all desires—of this world and the next—born of greed and delusion, that ever-abiding state is called prāpti.'

Verse 24 (markandeya.39.24)

अतीतानागतानर्थान्विप्रकृष्टतिरोहितान् । विजानातीन्दुसूर्यर्क्षग्रहाणां ज्ञानसम्पदा॥ ३९.२४ ॥

atītānāgatānarthānviprakṛṣṭatirohitān vijānātīndusūryarkṣagrahāṇāṁ jñānasampadā

'He comes to know things past and future, distant and hidden, through the wealth of knowledge gained through meditation on the moon, sun, stars, and planets.'

Verse 25 (markandeya.39.25)

तुल्यप्रभावस्तु यदा योगी प्राप्नोति संविदम् । तदा संविदिति ख्याता प्राणायामस्य सा स्थितिः॥ ३९.२५ ॥

tulyaprabhāvastu yadā yogī prāpnoti saṁvidam tadā saṁviditi khyātā prāṇāyāmasya sā sthitiḥ

'When the yogi attains this power of equal, all-encompassing knowing, then that state of prāṇāyāma is proclaimed as saṁvit.'

Verse 26 (markandeya.39.26)

यान्ति प्रसादं येनास्य मनः पञ्च च वायवः । इन्द्रियाणीन्द्रियार्थाश्च स प्रसाद इति स्मृतः॥ ३९.२६ ॥

yānti prasādaṁ yenāsya manaḥ pañca ca vāyavaḥ indriyāṇīndriyārthāśca sa prasāda iti smṛtaḥ

'That by which his mind, the five vital breaths, the senses, and the objects of the senses all attain serenity—that is remembered as prasāda.'

Verse 27 (markandeya.39.27)

शृणुष्व च महीपाल प्राणायामस्य लक्षणम् । युञ्जतश्च सदा योगं यादृग्विहितमासनम्॥ ३९.२७ ॥

śṛṇuṣva ca mahīpāla prāṇāyāmasya lakṣaṇam yuñjataśca sadā yogaṁ yādṛgvihitamāsanam

'Hear now, O king, the characteristics of prāṇāyāma, and what posture is prescribed for one who constantly practises yoga.'

Verse 28 (markandeya.39.28)

पद्ममर्धासनञ्चापि तथा स्वस्तिकमासनम् । आस्थाय योगं युञ्जीत कृत्वा च प्रणवं हृदि॥ ३९.२८ ॥

padmamardhāsanañcāpi tathā svastikamāsanam āsthāya yogaṁ yuñjīta kṛtvā ca praṇavaṁ hṛdi

'Taking up the lotus posture, or the half-posture, or likewise the auspicious svastika posture, one should practise yoga, having fixed the sacred syllable Om in the heart.'

Verse 29 (markandeya.39.29)

समः समासनो भूत्वा संहृत्य चरणावुभौ । संवृतास्यस्तथैवोरू सम्यग्विष्टभ्य चाग्रतः॥ ३९.२९ ॥

samaḥ samāsano bhūtvā saṁhṛtya caraṇāvubhau saṁvṛtāsyastathaivorū samyagviṣṭabhya cāgrataḥ

'Sitting erect and evenly poised, having drawn both feet together, closing the mouth, and firmly bracing the thighs in front—'

Verse 30 (markandeya.39.30)

पार्ष्णिभ्यां लिङ्गवृषणावस्पृशन् प्रयतः स्थितः । किञ्चिदुन्नामितशिरा दन्तैर्दन्तान्न संस्पृशेत्॥ ३९.३० ॥

pārṣṇibhyāṁ liṅgavṛṣaṇāvaspṛśan prayataḥ sthitaḥ kiñcidunnāmitaśirā dantairdantānna saṁspṛśet

'—not touching the genitals with the heels, remaining self-controlled, with the head held slightly raised, and the teeth should not touch each other.'

Verse 31 (markandeya.39.31)

सम्पश्यन् नासिकाग्रं स्वं दिशश्चानवलोकयन् । रजसा तमसो वृत्तिं सत्त्वेन रजसस्तथा॥ ३९.३१ ॥

sampaśyan nāsikāgraṁ svaṁ diśaścānavalokayan rajasā tamaso vṛttiṁ sattvena rajasastathā

'Gazing at the tip of one's own nose, not looking about in any direction, suppressing the activity of tamas by rajas, and likewise that of rajas by sattva—'

Verse 32 (markandeya.39.32)

सञ्छाद्य निर्मले सत्त्वे स्थितो युञ्जीत योगवित् । इन्द्रियाणीन्द्रियार्थेभ्यः प्राणादीन्मन एव च॥ ३९.३२ ॥

sañchādya nirmale sattve sthito yuñjīta yogavit indriyāṇīndriyārthebhyaḥ prāṇādīnmana eva ca

'—and, having concealed these, the knower of yoga, established in pure sattva, should discipline the senses away from their objects, and likewise the vital breaths and the mind.'

Verse 33 (markandeya.39.33)

निगृह्य समवायेन प्रत्याहारमुपक्रमेत् । यस्तु प्रत्याहरेत्कामान सर्वाङ्गानीव कच्छपः॥ ३९.३३ ॥

nigṛhya samavāyena pratyāhāramupakramet yastu pratyāharetkāmāna sarvāṅgānīva kacchapaḥ

'Having restrained all these together, one should undertake pratyāhāra. He who withdraws his desires as a tortoise withdraws all its limbs—'

Verse 34 (markandeya.39.34)

सदात्मरतिरेकस्थः वश्यत्यात्मानमात्मनि । स बाह्याभ्यन्तरं शौचं निष्पाद्याकण्ठनाभितः॥ ३९.३४ ॥

sadātmaratirekasthaḥ vaśyatyātmānamātmani sa bāhyābhyantaraṁ śaucaṁ niṣpādyākaṇṭhanābhitaḥ

'—ever delighting in the Self, dwelling in oneness, he subdues the self by the self. Having accomplished purity, outer and inner, from the throat down to the navel—'

Verse 35 (markandeya.39.35)

पूरयित्वा बुधो देहं प्रत्याहारमुपक्रमेत् । प्राणायामा दश द्वौ च धारणा साभिधीयते॥ ३९.३५ ॥

pūrayitvā budho dehaṁ pratyāhāramupakramet prāṇāyāmā daśa dvau ca dhāraṇā sābhidhīyate

'—the wise one, having filled the body with breath, should undertake pratyāhāra. Twelve repetitions of prāṇāyāma are declared to constitute one dhāraṇā.'

Verse 36 (markandeya.39.36)

द्वे धारणे स्मृते योगे योगिभिस्तत्त्वदृष्टिभिः । तथा वै योगयुक्तस्य योगिनो नियतात्मनः॥ ३९.३६ ॥

dve dhāraṇe smṛte yoge yogibhistattvadṛṣṭibhiḥ tathā vai yogayuktasya yogino niyatātmanaḥ

'Two dhāraṇās together are recognized by yogis of true insight as constituting a stage of yoga; and thus, for the yogi disciplined in yoga, with a mind fully controlled—'

Verse 37 (markandeya.39.37)

सर्वे दोषाः प्रणश्यन्ति स्वस्थश्चैवोपजायते । वीक्षते च परं ब्रह्म प्राकृतांश्च गुणान् पृथक्॥ ३९.३७ ॥

sarve doṣāḥ praṇaśyanti svasthaścaivopajāyate vīkṣate ca paraṁ brahma prākṛtāṁśca guṇān pṛthak

'—all faults are destroyed, he becomes established in the Self, and he beholds the supreme Brahman as distinct from the guṇas of material nature.'

Verse 38 (markandeya.39.38)

व्योमादिपरमाणूंश्च तथात्मानमकल्मषम् । इत्थं योगी यताहारः प्राणायामपरायणः॥ ३९.३८ ॥

vyomādiparamāṇūṁśca tathātmānamakalmaṣam itthaṁ yogī yatāhāraḥ prāṇāyāmaparāyaṇaḥ

'He beholds too the subtle atoms of space and the other elements, and likewise the stainless Self—such is the yogi, moderate in food, wholly devoted to prāṇāyāma.'

Verse 39 (markandeya.39.39)

जितां जितां शनैर्भूमिमारोहेत यथा गृहम् । दोषान् व्याधींस्तथा मोहमाक्रान्ता भूरनिर्जिता॥ ३९.३९ ॥

jitāṁ jitāṁ śanairbhūmimāroheta yathā gṛham doṣān vyādhīṁstathā mohamākrāntā bhūranirjitā

'One should ascend, step by step, each conquered stage, just as one climbs to the roof of a house; for advancing to an unconquered stage brings on faults, diseases, and delusion.'

Verse 40 (markandeya.39.40)

विवर्धयति नारोहेत्तस्माद् भूमिमनिर्जिताम् । प्राणानामुपसंरोधात् प्राणायाम इति स्मृतः॥ ३९.४० ॥

vivardhayati nārohettasmād bhūmimanirjitām prāṇānāmupasaṁrodhāt prāṇāyāma iti smṛtaḥ

'These only increase further; therefore one should not ascend to an unconquered stage. Because of this restraining of the vital breaths, it is called prāṇāyāma.'

Verse 41 (markandeya.39.41)

धारणेत्युच्यते चेयं धार्यते यन्मनो यथा । शब्दादिभ्यः प्रवृत्तानि यदक्षाणि यतात्मभिः॥ ३९.४१ ॥

dhāraṇetyucyate ceyaṁ dhāryate yanmano yathā śabdādibhyaḥ pravṛttāni yadakṣāṇi yatātmabhiḥ

'This is called dhāraṇā because the mind is thereby held fixed in a given way. When the senses, which naturally move toward sound and the other sense-objects, are, by those who have mastered themselves—'

Verse 42 (markandeya.39.42)

प्रत्याह्रियन्ते योगेन प्रत्याहारस्ततः स्मृतः । उपायश्चात्र कथितो योगिभिः परमर्षिभिः॥ ३९.४२ ॥

pratyāhriyante yogena pratyāhārastataḥ smṛtaḥ upāyaścātra kathito yogibhiḥ paramarṣibhiḥ

'—drawn back by yoga, it is then called pratyāhāra. And the great sages, foremost among yogis, have declared here a further method for this—'

Verse 43 (markandeya.39.43)

येन व्याध्यादयो दोषा न जायन्ते हि योगिनः । यथा तोयार्थिनस्तोयं यन्त्रनालादिभिः शनैः॥ ३९.४३ ॥

yena vyādhyādayo doṣā na jāyante hi yoginaḥ yathā toyārthinastoyaṁ yantranālādibhiḥ śanaiḥ

'—by which the faults of disease and the like do not arise for the yogi. Just as one who seeks water draws it slowly, through a mechanism or a pipe—'

Verse 44 (markandeya.39.44)

आपिबेयुस्तथा वायुं पिबेद्योगी जितश्रमः । प्राङ्नाभ्यां हृदये चात्र तृतीये च तथोरसि॥ ३९.४४ ॥

āpibeyustathā vāyuṁ pibedyogī jitaśramaḥ prāṅnābhyāṁ hṛdaye cātra tṛtīye ca tathorasi

'—and so drinks it, so too the yogi, having conquered fatigue, should drink in the breath—first at the navel, then at the heart, and thirdly at the chest.'

Verse 45 (markandeya.39.45)

कण्ठे मुखे नासिकाग्रे नेत्रभ्रूमध्यमूर्धसु । किञ्च तस्मात्परस्मिंश्च धारणा परमा स्मृता॥ ३९.४५ ॥

kaṇṭhe mukhe nāsikāgre netrabhrūmadhyamūrdhasu kiñca tasmātparasmiṁśca dhāraṇā paramā smṛtā

'At the throat, the mouth, the tip of the nose, the eyes, the space between the brows, the crown of the head, and even beyond that—there the highest dhāraṇā is declared.'

Verse 46 (markandeya.39.46)

दशैता धारणा प्राप्य प्राप्रोत्यक्षरसाम्यताम् । नाध्मातः क्षुधितः श्रान्तो न च व्याकुलचेतनः॥ ३९.४६ ॥

daśaitā dhāraṇā prāpya prāprotyakṣarasāmyatām nādhmātaḥ kṣudhitaḥ śrānto na ca vyākulacetanaḥ

'Having attained these ten dhāraṇās, one attains equality with the Imperishable, being neither bloated, nor hungry, nor exhausted, nor troubled in mind.'

Verse 47 (markandeya.39.47)

युञ्जीत योगं राजेन्द्र ! योगी सिद्ध्यर्थमादृतः । नातिशीते न चोष्णे वै न द्वन्द्वे नानिलात्मके॥ ३९.४७ ॥

yuñjīta yogaṁ rājendra ! yogī siddhyarthamādṛtaḥ nātiśīte na coṣṇe vai na dvandve nānilātmake

'O king, the yogi, intent on attaining perfection, should practise yoga neither in excessive cold, nor heat, nor amid any pair of opposites, nor in a windy place—'

Verse 48 (markandeya.39.48)

कालेष्वेतेषु युञ्जीत न योगं ध्यानतत्परः । सशब्दाग्निजालभ्यासे जीर्णगोष्ठे चतुष्पथे॥ ३९.४८ ॥

kāleṣveteṣu yuñjīta na yogaṁ dhyānatatparaḥ saśabdāgnijālabhyāse jīrṇagoṣṭhe catuṣpathe

'—one devoted to meditation should not practise yoga at such times or places: where fire crackles with noise, in a ruined cow-shed, at a crossroads,'

Verse 49 (markandeya.39.49)

शुष्कपर्णचये नद्यां श्मशाने ससरीसृपे । सभये कूपतीरे वा चैत्यवल्मीकसञ्चये॥ ३९.४९ ॥

śuṣkaparṇacaye nadyāṁ śmaśāne sasarīsṛpe sabhaye kūpatīre vā caityavalmīkasañcaye

'—in a heap of dry leaves, in a river, in a cremation ground infested with reptiles, in a fearful place, on the bank of a well, or at a shrine-tree or an anthill.'

Verse 50 (markandeya.39.50)

देशेष्वेतेषु तत्त्वज्ञो योगाभ्यासं विवर्जयेत् । सत्त्वस्यानुपपत्तौ च देशकालं विवर्जयेत्॥ ३९.५० ॥

deśeṣveteṣu tattvajño yogābhyāsaṁ vivarjayet sattvasyānupapattau ca deśakālaṁ vivarjayet

'The knower of truth should avoid the practice of yoga in such places; and wherever sattva cannot arise, he should avoid that place and time altogether.'

Verse 51 (markandeya.39.51)

नासतो दर्शनं योगे तस्मात्तत्परिवर्जयेत् । देशानेताननादृत्य मूढत्वाद्यो युनक्ति वै॥ ३९.५१ ॥

nāsato darśanaṁ yoge tasmāttatparivarjayet deśānetānanādṛtya mūḍhatvādyo yunakti vai

'There is no vision of truth in yoga practised in unfavorable places; therefore one should avoid these. He who, out of folly, disregards these warnings and practises yoga regardless—'

Verse 52 (markandeya.39.52)

विघ्राय तस्य वै दोषा जायन्ते तन्निबोध मे । बाधिर्यं जडता लोपः स्मृतेर्मूकत्वमन्धता॥ ३९.५२ ॥

vighrāya tasya vai doṣā jāyante tannibodha me bādhiryaṁ jaḍatā lopaḥ smṛtermūkatvamandhatā

'—for him, afflictions arise as obstacles; learn these from me: deafness, dullness, loss of memory, muteness, blindness,'

Verse 53 (markandeya.39.53)

ज्वरश्च जायते सद्यस्तत्तदज्ञानयोगिनः । प्रमादाद्योगिनो दोषा यद्येते स्युश्चिकित्सितम्॥ ३९.५३ ॥

jvaraśca jāyate sadyastattadajñānayoginaḥ pramādādyogino doṣā yadyete syuścikitsitam

'—and fever too arises suddenly for the ignorant yogi in each such case. If these faults arise for a yogi through negligence, there is a remedy for them.'

Verse 54 (markandeya.39.54)

तेषां नाशाय कर्तव्यं योगिनां तन्निबोध मे । स्त्रिग्धां यवागूमत्युष्णां भुक्त्वा तत्रैव धारयेत्॥ ३९.५४ ॥

teṣāṁ nāśāya kartavyaṁ yogināṁ tannibodha me strigdhāṁ yavāgūmatyuṣṇāṁ bhuktvā tatraiva dhārayet

'Learn from me what yogis should do to destroy these afflictions. Having eaten rich, very hot gruel, one should hold the concentration right there,'

Verse 55 (markandeya.39.55)

वात-गुल्मप्रशान्त्यर्थमुदावर्ते तथोदरे । यवागूं वापि पवनं वायुग्रन्थिं प्रतिक्षिपेत्॥ ३९.५५ ॥

vāta-gulmapraśāntyarthamudāvarte tathodare yavāgūṁ vāpi pavanaṁ vāyugranthiṁ pratikṣipet

'for the pacifying of flatulent tumors, as well as in colic and abdominal disorders; one should counter the knot of wind either with gruel or with the breath.'

Verse 56 (markandeya.39.56)

तद्वत्कम्पे महाशैलं स्थिरं मनसि धारयेत् । विघाते वचसो वाचं बाधिर्ये श्रवणेन्द्रियम्॥ ३९.५६ ॥

tadvatkampe mahāśailaṁ sthiraṁ manasi dhārayet vighāte vacaso vācaṁ bādhirye śravaṇendriyam

'Likewise, in trembling, one should fix in the mind a great, immovable mountain; for loss of speech, meditate on speech itself; and for deafness, on the organ of hearing.'

Verse 57 (markandeya.39.57)

यथैवाम्रफलं ध्यायेत् तृष्णार्तो रसनेन्द्रिये । यस्मिन् यस्मिन् रुजा देहे तस्मिंस्तदुपकारिणीम्॥ ३९.५७ ॥

yathaivāmraphalaṁ dhyāyet tṛṣṇārto rasanendriye yasmin yasmin rujā dehe tasmiṁstadupakāriṇīm

'One tormented by thirst should meditate on a mango fruit through the organ of taste; and wherever pain occurs in the body, the dhāraṇā helpful for it should be applied there.'

Verse 58 (markandeya.39.58)

धारयेद्धारणामुष्णे शीतां शीते च दाहिनीम् । कीलं शिरसि संस्थाप्य काष्ठं काष्ठेन ताडयेत्॥ ३९.५८ ॥

dhārayeddhāraṇāmuṣṇe śītāṁ śīte ca dāhinīm kīlaṁ śirasi saṁsthāpya kāṣṭhaṁ kāṣṭhena tāḍayet

'In heat, one should hold a cooling concentration; in cold, a warming one. For loss of memory, having fixed a peg upon the head in imagination, one should strike wood with wood,'

Verse 59 (markandeya.39.59)

लुप्तस्मृतेः स्मृतिः सद्यो योगिनस्तेन जायते । द्यावापृथिव्यौ वाय्वग्री व्यापिनावपि धारयेत्॥ ३९.५९ ॥

luptasmṛteḥ smṛtiḥ sadyo yoginastena jāyate dyāvāpṛthivyau vāyvagrī vyāpināvapi dhārayet

'by which memory is instantly restored to the yogi whose memory had been lost. One should also hold heaven and earth, and wind and fire, in concentration as all-pervading.'

Verse 60 (markandeya.39.60)

अमानुषात् सत्त्वजाद्वा बाधास्त्वेताश्चिकित्सिताः । अमानुषं सत्त्वमन्तर्योगिनं प्रविशेद्यदि॥ ३९.६० ॥

amānuṣāt sattvajādvā bādhāstvetāścikitsitāḥ amānuṣaṁ sattvamantaryoginaṁ praviśedyadi

'These are the remedies for afflictions arising from non-human beings or other creatures. But if a non-human being should enter within the yogi,'

Verse 61 (markandeya.39.61)

वाय्वग्रीधारणेनैनं देहसंस्थं विनिर्दहेत् । एवं सर्वात्मना रक्षा कार्या योगविदा नृप !॥ ३९.६१ ॥

vāyvagrīdhāraṇenainaṁ dehasaṁsthaṁ vinirdahet evaṁ sarvātmanā rakṣā kāryā yogavidā nṛpa !

'he should burn it out, established as it is within the body, by concentration upon wind and fire. Thus, O king, protection should be undertaken by the knower of yoga with his whole being.'

Verse 62 (markandeya.39.62)

धर्मार्थकाममोक्षाणां शरीरं साधनं यतः । प्रवृत्तिलक्षणाख्यानाद्योगिनो विस्मयात्तथा । विज्ञानं विलयं याति तस्माद् गोप्याः प्रवृत्तयः॥ ३९.६२ ॥

dharmārthakāmamokṣāṇāṁ śarīraṁ sādhanaṁ yataḥ pravṛttilakṣaṇākhyānādyogino vismayāttathā vijñānaṁ vilayaṁ yāti tasmād gopyāḥ pravṛttayaḥ

'Since the body is the means to righteousness, wealth, desire, and liberation, it must be protected. And because, through the disclosure of the signs of yogic attainment, wonder arises, true realization comes to ruin—therefore such attainments should be kept secret.'

Verse 63 (markandeya.39.63)

आलोल्यमारोग्यमनिष्ठुरत्वं गन्धः शुभो मूत्रपुरीषमल्पम् । कान्तिः प्रसादः स्वरसौम्यता च योगप्रवृत्तेः प्रथमं हि चिह्नम्॥ ३९.६३ ॥

ālolyamārogyamaniṣṭhuratvaṁ gandhaḥ śubho mūtrapurīṣamalpam kāntiḥ prasādaḥ svarasaumyatā ca yogapravṛtteḥ prathamaṁ hi cihnam

'Lightness of body, health, freedom from harshness, a pleasant bodily odor, scant urine and feces, radiance, serenity, and gentleness of voice—these indeed are the first signs of progress in yoga.'

Verse 64 (markandeya.39.64)

अनुरागी जनो याति परोक्षे गुणकीर्तनम् । न बभ्यति च सत्त्वानि सिद्धेर्लक्षणमुत्तमम्॥ ३९.६४ ॥

anurāgī jano yāti parokṣe guṇakīrtanam na babhyati ca sattvāni siddherlakṣaṇamuttamam

'People become affectionate toward him and praise his virtues even in his absence, and creatures feel no fear of him—this is the supreme sign of yogic perfection.'

Verse 65 (markandeya.39.65)

शीतोष्णादिभिरत्युग्रैर्यस्य बाधा न विद्यते । न भीतिमेति चान्येभ्यस्तस्य सिद्धिरुपस्थिता॥ ३९.६५ ॥

śītoṣṇādibhiratyugrairyasya bādhā na vidyate na bhītimeti cānyebhyastasya siddhirupasthitā

'He who is not troubled even by the most severe cold, heat, and the like, and who feels no fear from other creatures—for him, perfection has truly arrived.'