Limbs of Astanga Yoga: Section I - 3.28.1-12 Kapila Describes The
Limbs of Astanga Yoga: Section I - 3.28.1-12 Kapila Describes The
Section I - 3.28.1-12 Kapila describes the a. Pranayama: Doshas of body are destroyed
limbs of Astanga Yoga b. Dharana: Sins are destroyed
c. Pratyahara: Association with sense objects is
1 – Kapila to Devahuti: destroyed
Let Me describe to you Bhakti Misra Yoga, following d. Dhyana: Uncontrollable qualities are destroyed
which the mind attains the joyful spiritual path
12 – When the mind becomes steady by the practice
2-4 – Yama and Niyama: of Yama, niyama and other angas, one should
(i) sva-dharmäcaraëaàçaktyä (ii) vidharmäc ca meditate on the Supreme Lord by looking at the tip
nivartanam (iii) daivätlabdhenasantoña (iv) ätmavit- of the nose
caraëaarcanam (v)grämya-dharma-nivåttih
(vi)mokña-dharma-ratih (v)mita-medhyädanaà (vi) Section II - 3.28.13-18 Description of the form
çaçvadvivikta-kñema-sevanam (vii) ahiàsä (viii) of the Lord for performing Dharana
satyam (ix) asteyaà (x) yävad-artha-parigrahaù (xi)
brahmacaryaà (xii)tapaù (xiii) çaucaà (xiv) 13-18 – Description of the form:
svädhyäyaù (xv) puruñaarcanam (xvi) maunam prasanna-vadanämbhojaà
padma-garbhäruëekñaëam
5-6 – Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, nélotpala-dala-çyämaà
Dhyana and Samadhi: çaìkha-cakra-gadä-dharam
a) Asana: One should attain steadiness by
mastering correct asanas One should meditate on that form with joyful, lotus
b) Pranayama: Control the breath face (prasanna-vadanaambhojaà), red lotus eyes
c) Pratyahara: Withdraw the senses from material (padma-garbhaaruëékñaëam), and complexion like a
objects and turn them towards the heart using blue lotus (néla-utpala-dala-çyämaà), holding
the mind conch, cakra and club (çaìkha-cakra-gadä-dharam).
d) Dharana: Fix the Prana at one spot among the
various cakras by the mind lasat-paìkaja-kiïjalka-
e) Dhyana: One should meditate on the pastimes of péta-kauçeya-väsasam
the spiritual world çrévatsa-vakñasaà bhräjat
f) Samadhi: One should then attain Samadhi of the kaustubhämukta-kandharam
mind
He wears silk cloth the color of glowing lotus pollen
7 – If the mind is contaminated, one should try to (lasat-paìkaja-kiïjalka-péta-kauçeya-väsasam), has
control it by (i) Control of Prana (ii) Intelligence Çrévatsa on his chest (çrévatsa-vakñasaà), and the
brilliant Kaustubha on his neck (bhräjat kaustubha-
8 – Asana requirements: One should practice ämukta-kandharam).
control of breath by:
(i) Mastering the asanas (ii) Establish the seat in a matta-dvirepha-kalayä
clean place (iii) Sit in svastika asana (iv) Keep body parétaà vana-mälayä
straight parärdhya-hära-valaya-
kiréöäìgada-nüpuram
9-10 – Mind control through Pranayama:
a. One should purify the passage for prana by He wears a garland (parétaàvana-mälayä) filled with
practice of Kumbhaka, Puraka and Recaka, so the sweet humming of intoxicated bees (matta-
that the mind becomes steady dvirepha-kalayä).He wears priceless (parärdhya)
b. Very soon the mind of such a yogi becomes pure necklaces, bracelets, crown, arm bands and anklets
(hära-valaya-kiréöäìgada-nüpuram).
11 – What is accomplished by the practice of
Pranayama, Pratyahara and Dharana:
käïcé-guëollasac-chroëià One should meditate on the Lord’s lotus foot
hådayämbhoja-viñöaram (saïcintayed bhagavataç caraëäravindaà) marked
darçanéya tamaà çäntaà with (läïchana äòhyam) a thunderbolt, elephant
mano-nayana-vardhanam goad, flag, and lotus (vajra-aìkuça-dhvaja-saroruha),
which destroys (ähata) the great darkness of the
His hips shine with the cords of his belt (käïcé-guëa- heart (mahad-hådaya andhakäram) with the
ullasat-çroëià). He sits in the lotus heart of the brilliance (jyotsnäbhir) of the array (cakraväla) of
devotees (hådayämbhoja-viñöaram). He is most his gleaming (vilasan), raised (uttuìga), red (rakta)
attractive to see (darçanéya tamaà), peaceful toenails (nakha).
(çäntaà), and increases the joy of the mind and eye
(mano-nayana-vardhanam). yac-chauca-niùsåta-sarit-pravarodakena
térthena mürdhny adhikåtena çivaù çivo 'bhüt
apécya-darçanaà çaçvat dhyätur manaù-çamala-çaila-nisåñöa-vajraà
sarva-loka-namaskåtam dhyäyec ciraà bhagavataç caraëäravindam
santaà vayasi kaiçore
bhåtyänugraha-kätaram One should meditate continually upon the Lord’s
lotus feet (dhyäyet ciraà bhagavataç
He is beautiful (apécya-darçanaà), and worshipped caraëäravindam), the water washing which (yat-
by all people (sarva-loka-namaskåtam). He is çauca-udakena), the Ganga (sarit-pravara), flows
eternally fifteen years old (çaçvat kaiçorev ayasi (niùsåta) and makes (abhüt) the auspicious Lord
santaà) and eager to bless his servants (bhåtya- Siva (çivaù) , who holds this Ganga on his head
anugraha-kätaram). (térthena mürdhny adhikåtena), more auspicious
kértanya-tértha-yaçasaà (çivaù). The Lotus feet acts as thunderbolt (vajraà)
puëya-çloka-yaçaskaram which is released amongst mountain of sins (çamala-
dhyäyed devaà samagräìgaà çailanisåñöa) in the meditator’s mind (dhyätur
yävan na cyavate manaù manaù).
One should meditate on this form of the Lord with 23 – Meditation from Foot to Knees:
all his limbs (dhyäyed devaà samagra-aìgaà), who jänu-dvayaà jalaja-locanayä jananyä
is worthy of glorification (kértanya-tértha-yaçasaà), lakñmyäkhilasya sura-vanditayä vidhätuù
who increases the fame of his devotees (puëya-çloka- ürvor nidhäya kara-pallava-rociñä yat
yaçaskaram) until the mind does not deviate (yävan saàlälitaà hådi vibhor abhavasya kuryät
na cyavate manaù). One should fix in the heart (hådikuryät) the two legs
of the Lord (jänu-dvayaàvibhoh) who destroys
Section III - 3.28.20-33 – Dhyana –
material existence (abhavasya), from his foot to his
Meditation on the individual limbs of the Lord knee (jänu), massaged (saàlälitaà) with the
lustrous, bud-like hands (kara-pallava-rociñä) of
19 – With heart filled with pure emotions, one lotus-eyed Lakñmé (jalaja-locanayä lakñmyä), who is
should meditate on the pastimes of the Lord in the worshipped by all the devatäs (akhilasya sura-
spiritual world (Dhyana) vanditayä)and who is mother of Brahmä (vidhätuù
jananyä). She places those lotus feet upon her thighs
20 – After perfecting Dharana (Meditation on the (yat ürvoh nidhäya).
full form of the Lord), one should start Dhyana
(Meditation on the individual limbs) 24 – Meditation on the Thighs:
ürü suparëa-bhujayor adhi çobhamänäv
21-22 – Meditation on the Lotus feet: ojo-nidhé atasikä-kusumävabhäsau
saïcintayed bhagavataç caraëäravindaà vyälambi-péta-vara-väsasi vartamäna-
vajräìkuça-dhvaja-saroruha-läïchanäòhyam käïcé-kaläpa-parirambhi nitamba-bimbam
uttuìga-rakta-vilasan-nakha-cakraväla- He should place in his mind (implied) on the two
jyotsnäbhir ähata-mahad-dhådayändhakäram beautiful (çobhamänäv), powerful thighs of the
Lord(ojo-nidhé ürü), blue like the atasi flower Mandara Mountain (mandara-gireù parivartanena),
(atasikä-kusuma-avabhäsau), as he sits on the and which bestow powers to the devatäsprotecting
shoulders of Garuòa (suparëa-bhujayor adhi), with the planets (adhiloka-pälän). One should meditate
rounded hips (nitamba bimbam) surrounded by a on the arms of the Lord (saïcintayed tat-kara)
belt (käïcé-kaläpa-parirambhi vartamäna) and holding the cakra (daça-çata aram) with unbearable
draped with the best yellow cloth (vyälambi-péta- power (asahya-tejaù) and the conch (çaìkhaà ca),
vara-väsasi). white like a swan in his lotus hand (saroruha-räja-
haàsam).
25 – Meditation on the Navel and Nipples:
näbhi-hradaà bhuvana-koça-guhodara-sthaà 28 – Meditation on Kaumodaki, Vanamala and
yaträtma-yoni-dhiñaëäkhila-loka-padmam Kaustubha:
vyüòhaà harin-maëi-våña-stanayor amuñya kaumodakéà bhagavato dayitäà smareta
dhyäyed dvayaà viçada-hära-mayükha-gauram digdhäm aräti-bhaöa-çoëita-kardamena
One should meditate on the navel lake of the Lord mäläà madhuvrata-varütha-giropaghuñöäà
(dhyäyed näbhi-hradaà), situated on his abdomen caityasya tattvam amalaà maëim asya kaëöhe
(udara-sthaà), the base of all the worlds (bhuvana-
koça-guha), from which the lotus residence of One should meditate on the Lord’s dear club
Brahmä sprouts (yatra ätma-yoni-dhiñaëa padmam Kaumadaké (kaumodakéà bhagavato dayitäà
vyüòhaà), containing all the planets (akhila-loka). smareta), smeared with the blood (digdhäm-çoëita-
One should meditate upon the two nipples of the kardamena) of the enemy (aräti-bhaöa). One should
Lord (dhyäyed amuñya stanayor dvayaà), like the meditate on His garland (mäläà)surrounded by
best of emeralds (våña-harin-maëi), made white (upaghuñöäà) swarms (varütha) of buzzing (girä)
(gauram) by the light (mayükha) from his shining bees (madhuvrata), and on the pure Kaustubha jewel
pearl necklace (viçada-hära). on his neck (amalaà maëim asya kaëöhe), which
represents jéva-tattva (caityasya tattvam).
26 – Meditation on the Chest and Neck:
vakño 'dhiväsam åñabhasya mahä-vibhüteù 29-30 – Meditation on Lotus face:
puàsäà mano-nayana-nirvåtim ädadhänam bhåtyänukampita-dhiyeha gåhéta-mürteù
kaëöhaà ca kaustubha-maëer adhibhüñaëärthaà saïcintayed bhagavato vadanäravindam
kuryän manasy akhila-loka-namaskåtasya yad visphuran-makara-kuëòala-valgitena
vidyotitämala-kapolam udära-näsam
One should meditate on the Lord’s chest (kuryät
manasy åñabhasya vakñah), the special residence of One should meditate on the lotus face of the Lord
Mahä-lakñmé (adhiväsam mahä-vibhüteù), which (saïcintayed bhagavato vadanäravindam) who
bestows pleasure to the minds and eyes of men accepts forms in this world (iha gåhéta-mürteù) out
(puàsäà mano-nayana-nirvåtim ädadhänam). One of compassion for his servants (bhåtya anukampita-
should meditate on neck of the Lord (kaëöhaà), dhiyä). That face has a raised nose (udära-näsam)
respected by all the worlds (akhila-loka- and clear cheeks (amala-kapolam) glittering
namaskåtasya), which is made beautiful by the (vidyotita) with the movements (valgitena) of his
Kaustubha jewel (kaustubha-maëer adhi-bhüñaëa- sparkling makara earrings (visphuran-makara-
arthaà). kuëòala).
27 – Meditation on Arms:
bähüàç ca mandara-gireù parivartanena yac chré-niketam alibhiù parisevyamänaà
nirëikta-bähu-valayän adhiloka-pälän bhütyä svayä kuöila-kuntala-vånda-juñöam
saïcintayed daça-çatäram asahya-tejaù ména-dvayäçrayam adhikñipad abja-netraà
çaìkhaà ca tat-kara-saroruha-räja-haàsam dhyäyen manomayam atandrita ullasad-bhru