Haṭha Pradīpikā 2.54-2.56: Sītkārī

Sītkārī works with sound in the mouth and nose; it is associated with beauty, freedom from hunger and thirst, and mastery of the body.

Dr. Ronald Steiner

Haṭha Pradīpikā 2.54

सीत्कां दद्यात्सदा वक्त्रे घ्राणे चैव विजृम्भिकाम् |

sītkāṃ dadyāt sadā vaktre; ghrāṇe caiva vijṛmbhikām | Analysis ▾ Analysis ▴

sītkām accusative singular	sītkā substantive feminine	the Sītkā sound
dadyāt 3rd person singular aktive optative	dā verbal root	he should make, produce
sadā	sadā adverb	constantly
vaktre lokative singular	vaktra substantive neuter	in the mouth
ghrāṇe lokative singular	ghrāṇa substantive neuter	in the nose
ca	ca particle	and
eva	eva particle	indeed
vijṛmbhikām accusative singular	vijṛmbhikā substantive feminine	opening, widening

एवम् अभ्यासयोगेन कामदेवो द्वितीयकः ||54||

evam abhyāsa-yogena; kāma-devo dvitīyakaḥ ||54|| Analysis ▾ Analysis ▴

evam	evam adverb	thus, in this way
abhyāsa tatpuruṣa-compound genitive	abhyāsa substantive masculine	practice
yogena instrumental case singular	yoga substantive masculine	through application
kāma tatpuruṣa-compound genitive	kāma substantive masculine	love, desire
devaḥ nominative singular	deva substantive masculine	god
dvitīyakaḥ nominative singular masculine	dvitīyaka adjective	a second

Metre: Anuṣṭubh

Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal

In Sītkā, a cooling hissing sound is made in the mouth while the nostrils remain open. The text describes its effect poetically: the yogi becomes beautiful and attractive like a second Kāma.

Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - modern transfer

In Sītkārī, according to Brahmānanda, the tongue rests between the lips; one inhales through the mouth with a hissing sound and exhales through both nostrils. The Kumbhaka, though not explicitly mentioned, is included because Sītkārī is called a Kumbhaka. Even after long practice, one should never exhale through the mouth, since this is said to diminish strength.

Brahmānanda's Jyotsnā - 19th c.

dadyāt sadā MBHDL2026 ] kuryāt tathā NS1882

ghrāṇe caiva MBHDL2026 ] ghrāṇenaiva NS1882

Critical Apparatus

Sîtkârî is performed by drawing in the air through the mouth, keeping the tongue between the lips. The air thus drawn in should not be expelled through the mouth. By practising in this way, one becomes next to the God of Love in beauty.

Pancham Sinh - 1915

Putting the tongue between the lips and drawing the breath in the mouth with a hissing sound the Pûraka should be made, and then the Rechaka by the two nostrils only (and not by the mouth). This is called Sitkari. By repeating this one becomes a second god of beauty.

Srinivasa Iyangar - 1893

Mit dem Munde mache man den Laut „sit" (d. h. man lege die Zunge zwischen die Lippen und ziehe die Luft ein, Comm.) und durch die Nase athme man aus (vijrimbhikam kuryât nach Com. = recakah karyah). Durch das Ausführen dieser Uebung wird man ein zweiter Kâmadeva.

Hermann Walter - 1893

Haṭha Pradīpikā 2.55

योगिनीचक्रसामान्यः सृष्टिसंहारकारकः |

yoginī-cakra-sāmānyaḥ; sṛṣṭi-saṃhāra-kārakaḥ | Analysis ▾ Analysis ▴

yoginī tatpuruṣa-compound genitive	yoginī substantive feminine	of yoginīs
cakra tatpuruṣa-compound genitive	cakra substantive neuter	circle, assembly
sāmānyaḥ nominative singular masculine	sāmānya adjective	sharing, belonging
sṛṣṭi dvandva-compound	sṛṣṭi substantive feminine	creation, production
saṃhāra dvandva-compound	saṃhāra substantive masculine	dissolution, destruction
kārakaḥ nominative singular masculine	kāraka adjective	producing, causing

न क्षुधा न तृषा निद्रा नैवालस्यं प्रजायते ||55||

na kṣudhā na tṛṣā nidrā; naivālasyaṃ prajāyate ||55|| Analysis ▾ Analysis ▴

na	na particle	no
kṣudhā nominative singular	kṣudhā substantive feminine	hunger
na	na particle	no
tṛṣā nominative singular	tṛṣā substantive feminine	thirst
nidrā nominative singular	nidrā substantive feminine	sleep
na	na particle	not
eva	eva particle	even
ālasyam nominative singular	ālasya substantive neuter	lethargy, fatigue
prajāyate 3rd person singular medial present	pra previx jan verbal root	arises

Metre: Anuṣṭubh

Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal

Sītkā is described here as having powerful effects: connection with the circle of Yoginīs, creative power, and freedom from hunger, thirst, the pressure of sleep, and lethargy.

Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - modern transfer

He is regarded adorable by the Yoginîs and becomes the destroyer of the cycle of creation, He is not afflicted with hunger, thirst, sleep or lassitude.

Pancham Sinh - 1915

Among the multitude of women he becomes an object of admiration; he is able to do and undo; and feels neither hunger, thirst, nor indolence.

Srinivasa Iyangar - 1893

Er wird gleich (an Zaubermacht) dem Kreise der Yoginî und ist im Stande die sichtbare Welt zu vernichten. In ihm entstehen weder Hunger, noch Durst, noch Schlaf, noch Trägheit.

Hermann Walter - 1893

Haṭha Pradīpikā 2.56

भवेत्स्वच्छन्ददेहश्च सर्वोपद्रववर्जितः |

bhavet svacchanda-dehaś ca; sarvopadrava-varjitaḥ | Analysis ▾ Analysis ▴

bhavet 3rd person singular aktive optative	bhū verbal root	he becomes, may be
svacchanda bahuvrīhi-compund	svacchanda adjective	free, according to his will
dehaḥ nominative singular	deha substantive masculine	body
ca	ca particle	and
sarva karmadhāraya-compound	sarva adjective	all, every
upadrava tatpuruṣa-compound ablative	upadrava substantive neuter	disorder, misfortune, affliction
varjitaḥ nominative singular masculine past participle passive	vṛj verbal root	free from, excluded from

अनेन विधिना सत्यं योगीन्द्रो भुविमण्डले ||56||

anena vidhinā satyaṃ; yogīndro bhuvi-maṇḍale ||56|| Analysis ▾ Analysis ▴

anena instrumental case singular neuter	idam pronoun dem	by this
vidhinā instrumental case singular	vidhi substantive masculine	method, prescription
satyam	satyam adverb	truly
yogīndraḥ nominative singular	yogīndra substantive masculine	a lord of yogins
bhuvi tatpuruṣa-compound lokative	bhū substantive feminine	on earth, in the world
maṇḍale lokative singular	maṇḍala substantive neuter	sphere, domain

Metre: Anuṣṭubh

His body becomes freely responsive (svacchanda-dehaḥ | nom sg m) and free from all afflictions (sarva-upadrava-varjitaḥ | nom sg m); through this method (anena vidhinā | ins sg), he truly (satyam) becomes a lord of yogis (yogīndraḥ | nom sg) upon the earth (bhuvi-maṇḍale | loc sg).

Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal

The body is described as free, light, and untroubled. The text calls one who masters this method a true master among yogis.

Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - modern transfer

svacchandadehaś MBHDL2026 ] sattvaṃ ca dehasya NS1882

Critical Apparatus

The Satwa of his body becomes free from all the disturbances. In truth, he becomes the lord of the Yogîs in this world.

Pancham Sinh - 1915

By this practice he gains strength of body, and becoming the lord of Yogis, remains undoubtedly free from injuries of every kind.

Srinivasa Iyangar - 1893

Durch diese Vorschrift wird der Körper stark und der vorzügliche Yogin sicher vor allen Angriffen auf diesem Erdenrund bewahrt.

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 2.54-2.56: Sītkārī

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