Haṭha Pradīpikā 2.34-2.36: Naulī and Kapālabhātī

Naulī moves the abdomen and strengthens the fire; Kapālabhātī is named as a bellows-like technique that dries up Kapha.

Dr. Ronald Steiner

Haṭha Pradīpikā 2.34

अमन्दावर्तवेगेन तुन्दं सव्यापसव्यतः |

amandāvarta-vegena; tundaṃ savyāpasavyataḥ | Analysis ▾ Analysis ▴

amanda karmadhāraya-compound	amanda adjective	fierce, rapid
āvarta tatpuruṣa-compound genitive	āvarta substantive masculine	whirl, eddy
vegena instrumental case singular	vega substantive masculine	with speed, momentum
tundam accusative singular	tunda substantive neuter	the abdomen
savya dvandva-compound	savya adjective	left, to the left side
apasavyataḥ	apasavyatas adverb	right, to the opposite side

नतांसो भ्रमयेदेषा लौली गौडैः प्रशस्यते ||34||

natāṃso bhramayed eṣā; laulī gauḍaiḥ praśasyate ||34|| Analysis ▾ Analysis ▴

nata bahuvrīhi-compund past participle passive	nam verbal root	lowered, bent
aṃsaḥ nominative singular masculine	aṃsa substantive masculine	whose shoulder, with shoulders
bhramayet 3rd person singular aktive optative causative	bhram verbal root	he should rotate
eṣā nominative singular feminine	etad pronoun dem	this
laulī nominative singular	laulī substantive feminine	Laulī, cleansing technique
gauḍaiḥ instrumental case plural	gauḍa substantive masculine	by the Gauḍas, people of Gauḍa
praśasyate 3rd person singular passive present	pra previx śaṃs verbal root	is praised, recommended

Metre: Anuṣṭubh

Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal

With the shoulders lowered, the yogi rapidly rotates the abdomen left and right like a powerful whirlpool. This technique, praised by the Gauḍas, is called Laulī.

Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - modern transfer

bhramayed MBHDL2026 ] bhrāmayed NS1882

Critical Apparatus

Sitting on the toes with heels raised above the ground, and the palms resting on the ground, and in this bent posture the belly is moved forcibly from left to right just, as in vomiting. This is called by adepts the Nauli Karma.

Pancham Sinh - 1915

With the head bent down, one should turn right and left the intestines of the stomach with the slow motion of a small eddy in the river. This is called Nauli by the Siddhas.

Srinivasa Iyangar - 1893

Mit der Schnelligkeit eines raschen Strudels bewege man mit gebeugten Schultern den Unterleib nach links und rechts. Dies wird von den Vollendeten Nauli genannt.

Hermann Walter - 1893

Haṭha Pradīpikā 2.35

तुन्दाग्निसंदीपनपाचनादि संधायिकानन्दकरी सदैव |

tundāgni-saṃdīpana-pācanādi; saṃdhāyikānanda-karī sadaiva | Analysis ▾ Analysis ▴

tunda tatpuruṣa-compound lokative	tunda substantive neuter	in the abdomen
agni tatpuruṣa-compound genitive	agni substantive masculine	of the fire
saṃdīpana dvandva-compound	saṃdīpana substantive neuter	kindling, stimulating
pācana dvandva-compound	pācana substantive neuter	digestion
ādi tatpuruṣa-compound accusative	ādi substantive neuter	and the like
saṃdhāyikā nominative singular feminine	saṃdhāyin adjective	producing, causing
ānanda tatpuruṣa-compound accusative	ānanda substantive masculine	joy, bliss
karī nominative singular feminine	karin adjective	making, causing
sadā	sadā adverb	always
eva	eva particle	indeed

अशेषदोषामयशोषणी च हठक्रियामौलिरियं च लौली ||35||

aśeṣa-doṣāmaya-śoṣaṇī ca; haṭha-kriyā-maulir iyaṃ ca laulī ||35|| Analysis ▾ Analysis ▴

aśeṣa karmadhāraya-compound	aśeṣa adjective	entirely, all
doṣa dvandva-compound	doṣa substantive masculine	doṣa, disorder
āmaya dvandva-compound	āmaya substantive masculine	disease, ailment
śoṣaṇī nominative singular feminine	śoṣaṇī adjective	drying up, diminishing
ca	ca particle	and
haṭha tatpuruṣa-compound genitive	haṭha substantive masculine	of Haṭha
kriyā tatpuruṣa-compound genitive	kriyā substantive feminine	practice, action
mauliḥ nominative singular	mauli substantive masculine	crown, highest
iyam nominative singular feminine	idam pronoun dem	this
ca	ca particle	and
laulī nominative singular	laulī substantive feminine	Laulī

Metre: Upajāti

Laulī (laulī | nom sg) brings about the kindling of the abdominal fire, digestion, and the like (tunda-agni-saṃdīpana-pācana-ādi-saṃdhāyikā | nom sg f) and always (sadā eva) produces joy (ānanda-karī | nom sg f). It makes all doṣas and diseases disappear (aśeṣa-doṣa-āmaya-śoṣaṇī | nom sg f), and (ca) this (iyam | nom sg f) is the crown of the Haṭha practices (haṭha-kriyā-mauliḥ | nom sg).

Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal

Laulī kindles the fire in the abdomen, promotes digestion, and brings joy. It is said to make Doṣas and diseases disappear and is regarded as the crown of Haṭha practices.

Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - modern transfer

Brahmānanda calls Nauli the crown of the Haṭha cleansings not only because of its effects. His instructions for Dhauti and Vasti also require Nauli to move the cloth or water in the abdomen. Its preeminence therefore follows from its supporting role in other procedures.

Brahmānanda's Jyotsnā - 19th c.

tundāgnisaṃdīpanapācanādi MBHDL2026 ] mandāgnisandīpanapācanādi NS1882

Critical Apparatus

It removes dyspepsia, increases appetite and digestion, and is like the goddess of creation, and causes happiness. It dries up all the disorders. This Nauli is an excellent exercise in Haṭha Yoga.

Pancham Sinh - 1915

This Nauli, the most important of all the Hatha Yoga practices, drives away the dullness of the gastric fire, increases the digestive power, produces a pleasing sensation and destroys all diseases.

Srinivasa Iyangar - 1893

Nauli, diese Krone der Uebungen des Hatha, bringt in Ordnung das Aufflammen eines langsamen Verdauungsfeuers und die weitere Verdauung, schafft Wonne und beseitigt (eig. trocknet aus) sämmtliche Krankheiten der drei humores.

Hermann Walter - 1893

Haṭha Pradīpikā 2.36

भस्त्रावल्लोहकारस्य रेचपूरौ सुसंभ्रमौ |

bhastrāval loha-kārasya; reca-pūrau su-saṃbhramau | Analysis ▾ Analysis ▴

bhastrāvat	bhastrāvat adverb	like a bellows
loha tatpuruṣa-compound genitive	loha substantive neuter	iron
kārasya genitive singular	kāra substantive masculine	of the maker, the smith
reca dvandva-compound	reca substantive masculine	exhalation, emptying
pūrau nominative dual	pūra substantive masculine	inhalation, filling
su karmadhāraya-compound	su previx	very, especially
saṃbhramau nominative dual masculine	saṃbhrama adjective	rapidly, forcefully moved

कपालभातिर्विख्याता कफदोषविशोषिणी ||36||

kapāla-bhātir, vikhyātā; kapha-doṣa-viśoṣiṇī ||36|| Analysis ▾ Analysis ▴

kapāla tatpuruṣa-compound genitive	kapāla substantive neuter	of the skull
bhātiḥ nominative singular	bhāti substantive feminine	illumination, Kapālabhāti
vikhyātā nominative singular feminine past participle passive	vi previx khyā verbal root	known, renowned
kapha tatpuruṣa-compound accusative	kapha substantive masculine	kapha, phlegm
doṣa tatpuruṣa-compound accusative	doṣa substantive masculine	disorder, doṣa
viśoṣiṇī nominative singular feminine present participle active	vi previx śuṣ verbal root	drying up, diminishing

Metre: Anuṣṭubh

Like the bellows of a blacksmith (bhastrāvat loha-kārasya | gen sg), exhalation and inhalation (reca-pūrau | nom du) are very rapid (su-saṃbhramau | nom du m). Kapālabhāti (kapāla-bhātiḥ | nom sg) is known (vikhyātā | nom sg f ppp) as a technique that dries up the disorder of phlegm (kapha-doṣa-viśoṣiṇī | nom sg f pca).

Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal

In Kapālabhāti, inhalation and exhalation follow each other very rapidly, like the bellows of a blacksmith. The technique is said to dry up disorders of Kapha.

Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - modern transfer

susaṃbhramau MBHDL2026 ] sasaṃbhramau NS1882

kaphadoṣaviśoṣiṇī MBHDL2026 ] kaphadoṣaviśoṣaṇī NS1882

Critical Apparatus

When inhalation and exhalation are performed very quickly, like a pair of bellows of a blacksmith, it dries up all the disorders from the excess of phlegm, and is known as Kapâla Bhâti.

Pancham Sinh - 1915

Perform Rechaka and Puraka rapidly like the bellows of a black-smith. This is called Kapala-Bhati, and destroys the diseases of the phlegm.

Srinivasa Iyangar - 1893

Gleich dem Blasbalg eines Schmiedes athma man hastig aus und ein. Dies wird Kapalabhati genannt und beseitigt die Phlegmakrankheiten.

Hermann Walter - 1893

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Dr. Ronald Steiner

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The "Yoga Doc" - Dr. Ronald Steiner is the founder of the AYI method. This method links traditional Ashtanga Yoga with innovative Yogatherapy and living Philosophy. This forms a practice that is personal for each and... more ›

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Haṭha Pradīpikā 2.34-2.36: Naulī and Kapālabhātī

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