Part Three

Ÿ&& `mo J Vmamdbr Ÿ&&

Perfection through Yoga
ADI SANKARA BHAGAVATPADA

dÝXo Jw•Um§ MaUma{dÝXo gÝX{e©VñdmË_gwImd~moYo Ÿ&

OZñ` `o Om“{bH$m`_mZo g§gmahmbmhc_mohxmÝË`¡ Ÿ&&1&&

1. I prostrate before the pair of lotus like feet of my revered preceptor by which was
clearly revealed to me the Self, that is myself, characterized by bliss and knowledge
and which, to people,are doctors nullifying delusion, the deadly poison of transmigratory
existence.
gXm[xdmoŸm{Z gnmXbjb`mdYmZm{Z dg[ÝV bmoHo$ Ÿ&
ZmXmZwgÝYmZg_m{Y_oH§$ _Ý`m_ho _mÝ`V_§ b`mZm_² Ÿ&&2&&

2. There are, in the world, a lakh and a quarter forms of absorptive attentions which
have been spoken of by Sadasiva. We regard only Samadhi associated with
contemplation on Nada to be the worthiest amongst absorptions.

gaoMnya¡a{Zbñ` Hw$å^¡… gdm©gw ZmSrfw {dxmo{YVmgw &

AZmhVm»`mo ~hþ{^… àH$ma¡aÝV… àdV}V gXm {ZZmX: &&3&&

3. Sounds termed Anahata continuously arise internally in variegated forms when the
puri fications of all the Nadis (channels for the flow of Prana) is effected by
retentions of breath accompanied by exhalations and inhalations.
 ZmXmZwgÝYmZ Z_mo@ñVw Vwå`§ Ëdm§ gmYZ§ VÎdnXñ` OmZo Ÿ&
^dËàgmXmËndZoZ gmH§$ {dbr`Vo {dîUwnXo _Zmo _o Ÿ&&4&&
4. O contemplation on Nada ! Salutations to you. I know you to be the means to
attain theTruth. By your grace, my mind, together with breath, dissolves in the
Supreme State.

OmbÝYamoS> çmUZ_yb~ÝYmÄOën[ÝV H$ÊR>moXanm`w_ybmZ² Ÿ&

~ÝYÌ`o@pñ_Ýn[aMr`_mZo ~ÝY…Hw$Vmo XméUH$mbnmxmV² Ÿ&&5&&

5. (Accepts) declare Jalandhara, uddiyana and Moola Bandhas to have the throat,
abdomen and anus respectively, three Bandhas, how can there be any bondage caused
by the noose which is ruthless time ?

AmoS>çmUOmbÝYa_yb~ÝY¡é[Þ{ÐVm`m_waJm“Zm`m_²&
àË`L²>_wIËdmËà{dxÝgwfwåZm§ J_mJ_m¡ _wÄM{V JÝYdmh…&&6&&

6. When the female sepent (Kundali) is awakened by the practice of Uddiyana,

Jalandhara and Moola Bandhas, air, which is directed inwards, enters the Sushumna
and abandons its outgoing and incoming activities.

CËWm{nVmYmahþVmxZmoëH¡$amHwwÄMZ¡: xœXnmZdm`mo…&
gÝVm{nVmÀMÝÐ_g… nVÝVr§ nr`yfYmam§ {n~Vrh YÝ`…Ÿ&&7&&

7. The fortunate one drinks, here, the stream of ambrosia descending from the moon
which has been heated due to constant compression of the air called Apana by which
are kindled the flames of the fire of the Mooladhara.

~ÝYÌ`mä`mg{dnmH$OmVm§ {dd{O©Vm§ aoMH$nyaH$mä`m_² Ÿ&

{dxmof`ÝVt {df`àdmh§ {dÚm§ ^Oo Ho$dbHw$å^ê nm_² Ÿ&&8Ÿ&&
8. I adore that lore of the form of Kevala Kumbhaka (isolated restraint of breath),
which is born of the result of the practice of the three Bandhas, which is bereft of
exhalation and inhalation and which dries up the torrent of sense objects.
 AZmhVo MoV[g gmdYmZ¡aä`mgxya¡aZw^y`_mZm Ÿ
g§ñVpå^Vœmg_Z… àMmam gm O¥å^Vo Ho$dbHw$å^H$lr…Ÿ&&9Ÿ&&
9. There blooms that splendour of Kevala Kumbhaka, which is experienced by
theattentive adepts in practice when the mind is absorbed on the Anahata sound
and which stupefies well, the movements of breath and mind.

ghòx… gÝVw hR>ofw H$wå^m… g§^mì`Vo Ho$dbHw$å^ Ed Ÿ&

Hw$å^moÎm_o `Ì Vw aoMnyam¡ n«mUñ` Z àmH¥$Vd¡H¥$Vm»`m¡ Ÿ&&10Ÿ&&
10. Let there be thousands of Kumbhakas in Hatha Yoga. Kevala Kumbhaka alone
is very esteemed. In that best of Kumbhakas, the inhalation and exhalation of
Prana are said to be neither natural nor modified.

{ÌHy$Q>Zm{åZ pñV{_Vo@ÝVa“o Io ñVpå^Vo Ho$dbHw$å^Ho$Z Ÿ&

àmUm{Zbmo ^mZwxxm‘ ZmS>çm¡ {dhm` gÚmo {db`§ à`m{V Ÿ&&11Ÿ&&
11. When the mind is paralysed by Kevala Kumbhaka, Prana, the air, immediately
abandons the solar (Pingala) and lunar (Ida) Nadis and attains dissolution in the
calm space called Trikoota.

àË`möV… Ho$dbHy$å^Ho$Z à~wÕHw$ÊS>ë`wn^wº xof…&

àmU… àVrMrZnWoZ _ÝX§ {dbr`Vo {dîUwnXmÝVambo Ÿ&&12Ÿ&&
12. Prana, which has been withdrawn by Kevala Kumbhaka and which is the residue
of what has been consumed by the awakened Kundalini, gradually dissolves via the
Sushumna, in the state of Vishnu, the intervening space.
{Za‘x>xmZm§ œgZmoÒ_mZm§ {ZamoYZ¡… Ho$dbHw$å^H$m»`¡…&
CXo{V gd}[ÝX«`d¥{ÎmxyÝ`mo _é„`… H$mo@{n _hm_VrZm_² Ÿ&& 13Ÿ&&
13. Some dissolution of air qualified by bereftness of the function of all the senses arises
for the high-minded ones by means of restraints termed Kevala Kumbhakas, of the
unruly risings of breath.
 Z ¿{ïbú`m{U Z {MÎm~ÝYmo Z XoxH$mbm¡ Z M dm`wamoY…Ÿ&
Z YmaUmÜ`mZn[al_mo dm g_oY_mZo g{V amO`moJo Ÿ&&14Ÿ&&
14. When Raja Yoga has developed well, there are no targets of gaze, no lock of the
mind, no place and time nor restraint of air. Nor again is there the restraint of
mental fixation and concentration.

Axof¿X`mopÁPV¿L²>_`mZm_dpñWVmZm{_h amO`moJo&
Z OmJamo Zm{n gwfw{á^mdmo Z Or{dV§ Zmo _aU§ {d{MÌ_²Ÿ&&15Ÿ&&
15. For those established here in Raja Yoga who have been discarded by the “seen” in its
entirety and who are of the nature of the Seer, there is neither wakefulness nor the
state of sleep. Neither is there life nor death.

Ah§__ËdmÚnhm` gdª lramO`moJo pñWa_mZgmZm_² Ÿ&

Z Ðï¥Vm ZmpñV M ¿X`^md: gm O¥å^Vo Ho$dbg§{dXod Ÿ&&16Ÿ&&
16. For those who have abandoned everything because it is (in essence) egoism and meum
and are firm-minded in Raja Yoga, there is neither the state of a Seer nor perceptivity.
Only isolated consciousness shines.

ZoÌo ``moÝ_of{Z_ofxyÝ`o dm`w`©`m d{O©VaoMnya:Ÿ&

_ZÁ g‘ën{dH$ënxy Ý`§ _ZmoÝ_Zr gm _{` g[ÞYÎmm_² Ÿ&&17Ÿ&&
17. May that Manonmanee abide in me by which the eyes are bereft of opening and
closing, air is devoid of exhalation and inhalation and the mind is free of resolves
and multiple conceptions.

{MÎmopÝX«`mUm§{Ma[ZJ«hoU œgàMmao x{_Vo `_rÝÐm:Ÿ&

{ZdmVXrnm Bd {ZÁbm“m… _ZmoÝ_Zr_J³{Y`mo ^dpÝV Ÿ&&18Ÿ&&

18. When, by the prolonged control of the mind and senses, the activity of
breath is stupefied, foremost of restrained ones, who are of motionless
limbs, like lamps in a windless place, become those whose minds are
immersed in Manonmanee.
 CÝ_Ý`dñWm{YJ_m` {dÛZ² Cnm`_oH§$ Vd {Z{X©xm_: Ÿ&
nX`ÝZwXmgrZV`m ànÄM§ g§H$ën_wÝ_yb` gmdYmZ… Ÿ&&19Ÿ&&
19. O learned one ! We indicate the sole means to attain the Unmanee state. Behold the
universe with indifference and, being attentive, uproot your Sankalpas (resolves).
àgø g§H$ënna§namUm§ g§^oXZo gÝVVgmdYmZ_² Ÿ
Ambå~ZmxmXnMr`_mZ§ xZ¡… xZ¡… xmpÝV_wn¡{V MoV: Ÿ&&20&&
20. Greatly forbear: The mind that is constantly vigilant in wiping out the sequences of
Sankalpas, which are and which is decaying due to the destruction of its basis,
gradually attains peace.
{Zœmgboon¡{Z©^¥V¡: xara¡Z}Ìmå~wO¡aY©{Z_r{bV¡Á
Am{d^©dÝVr__ZñH$_wÐm_mbmoH$`m_mo _w{Znw§“dmZm_² Ÿ&& 21Ÿ&&
21. We behold the manifesting stamp of mindlessnesss of adept sages which is accompanied
by absence of breath, motionless of bodies and partial opening of lotus like eyes.
A_r `_rÝX«m: ghOm_ZñH$mXh§__Ëdo [x{Wbm`_mZo Ÿ&
_Zmo{VJ§ _méVd¥{ÎmxyÝ`§ JÀN>pÝV ^md§ JJZmdxof_² Ÿ&&22&&
22. When, on account of the natual Amanaska, egoism and meum are severed, these
foremost of self-controlled ones attain the state which transcends the mind, is devoid
of the function of wind and is the residue of space.
{ZdV©`ÝVt {Z{Ibo{ÝX²>`m{U àdV©`ÝVt na_mË_`moJ_² Ÿ&
g§{dÝ_`t Vm§ ghOm_ZñH$m§ H$Xm J{_î`m{_ JVmÝ`^md…Ÿ&&23&&
23. When shall I, bereft of other states, attain the that natural Amanaska which
retracts all the senses, engages union with the Supreme and is of the nature of
consciousness.
àË`{½d_xm©{Vx`oZ nw§gm§ n«mMrZJÝYofw nbm{`Vofw Ÿ&
àmXw^©doËH$m{MXOmS>ç{ZÐm n«nÄM{MÝVm§ n[adO©`ÝVr Ÿ&&24Ÿ&&
24. When people’s ancient tendencies retreat by virtue of the excellence of enquiry regarding
the Self, there arises some uninert sleep which eradicates thought of the universe.
 {dpÀN>Þg§H$ën{dH$ën_ybo {Z: xof{Z_y©{bVH$_©Ombo Ÿ&
{ZaÝVamä`mg{ZVmÝV^X«m gm O¥å^Vo `mo{J{Z `moJ{ZÐm Ÿ&&25Ÿ&&
25. When the source of resolves and options is rent as under and the web of actions is
uprooted in its entirety, there shines for the Yogi that Yoga Nidra which is without
interstices, which has fearlessness for its goddess of fortune and by attaining which
there is complete auspiciousness.
{dlm[ÝV_mgmÚ Vwar`Vëno {dœmÚdñWm{ÌV`mon[añWo &
g§{dÝ_`t H$m_{n gd©H$mb§ {ZX«m§ gIo {Z{d©x {Z{d©H$ënm_²Ÿ&&26Ÿ&&
26. O friend !Having attained repose on the bed, Turiya, which is atop the triad of
states of Viswa, etc., forever the sleep, characterized by consciousness, in which all
conceptions are absent.
àH$mx_mZo na_mË_^mZm¡ ZX`Ë`{dÚm{V{_ao g_ñVo &
Ahmo ~wYm {Z_©b¿ï`mo@{n {H${ÄMÞ nX`{ÝV OJËg_J«_² Ÿ&&27&&
27. When the sun, Paramatma, is shining and the darkness, ignorance, is destroyed
completely, the wise ones, though they have clear sight, do not perceive even an iota of
the universe. How surprising !
[g[Õ§ VWm{dY_Zmo{db`m§ g_mYm¡ lrx¡bûm¥“Hw$haofw H$XmonbËñ`o Ÿ&
Jm̧ `Xm __ bVm: n[adoï`[ÝV H$U} `Xm {daM`{ÝV IJmÁ ZrS>mZ²Ÿ&&28Ÿ&&
28. When shall I, in the caves on the mountain peaks in Srisailam, attain, in Samadhi,
such perfection in the aforesaid dissolution of the mind that creepers shall entwine
my body and birds shall build nests in my ear ?
{dMaVw _{Vaofm {Z{d©H$ëno g_mYm¡ Hw$MH$bx`wJo dm H¥$îUgmaojUmZm_²Ÿ&
MaVw OS>_Vo dm gÁOZmZm§ _Vo dm _[VH¥$VJwUXmofm _m§ {d^w§ Z ñn¥x{ÝVŸ&&29&&
29. Let this mind be engrossed in Nirvikalpa Samadhi or on the pair of pitcher-like
breasts, of damsels with spotted-antelope like eyes. Alternatively, let it meditate on
the view of a dull-witted one or on the propensity of noble minded ones. The
virtuous and faulty deeds of the mind do not touch Me who am all-pervasive.
(Translated by R.M. Umesh, Madras.)