Haṭha Pradīpikā 3.27
सोमसूर्याग्निसंबन्धो जायते चामृताय वै |
मृतावस्था समुत्पन्ना ततो मृत्युभयं कुतः ||27||
Metre: Anuṣṭubh
The union of moon, sun, and fire (soma-sūrya-agni-saṃbandhaḥ | nom sg) arises (jāyate | 3p sg med pres), and (ca) indeed (vai) leads to immortality (amṛtāya | dat sg); when the death-like state (mṛta-avasthā | nom sg) has arisen (samutpannā | nom sg f ppp), whence (kutaḥ), then (tataḥ), could fear of death (mṛtyu-bhayam | nom sg) come?
Mahāvedha unites moon, sun, and fire and leads to a state of profound stillness; from this, deathlessness is said to arise.
According to Brahmānanda, moon, sun, and fire stand here for Iḍā, Piṅgalā, and Suṣumṇā. Their “meeting” occurs when Prāṇa enters the middle channel. The resulting “state of death” again does not mean the practitioner's death, but the absence of the breath current in the two side channels; only afterward is the breath exhaled slowly.
mṛtyubhayaṃ kutaḥ MBHDL2026 ] vāyuṃ virecayet NS1882
The union of the Idâ and the Pingalâ is effected, in order to bring about immortality. When the air becomes as it were dead (by leaving its course through the Idâ and the Pingalâ) (i.e., when it has been kept confined), then it should be expelled.
Then takes place the union of the Moon, Sun and Fire (Ida, Pingala and Sushumna) that leads to the immortality. The body assumes a deathlike aspect. Then he should breathe out.
Die Vereinigung (des Athems) von Soma (Ida), Sûrya (Pingala) und Agni (Sushumna) wird zum Zweck der Unsterblichkeit vollbracht. Es entsteht ein Zustand des Todtseins (d. h. des Nichtfunktionirens); dann athme man wieder aus.
Haṭha Pradīpikā 3.28
महावेधो ऽयमभ्यासान् महासिद्धिप्रदायकः |
वलीपलितवेपघ्नः सेव्यते साधकोत्तमैः ||28||
Metre: Anuṣṭubh
Through practice (abhyāsāt | abl sg), this Mahāvedha (mahāvedho’yam | nom sg) bestows great accomplishment (mahā-siddhi-pradāyakaḥ | nom sg m); it destroys wrinkles, grey hair, and trembling (valī-palita-vepa-ghnaḥ | nom sg m) and is practised (sevyate | 3p sg pas pres) by the foremost practitioners (sādhakottamaiḥ | ins pl).
Through practice, Mahāvedha is said to bestow great Siddhi and dispel the signs of aging. Eminent practitioners therefore cultivate it.
The practice of this Mahâ Vedha, the giver of great Siddhis, destroys old age, grey hair, and shaking of the body, and therefore it is practised by the best masters.
This is Maha Vedha and confers great Siddhis when practised. This removes the wrinkles and grey hair consequent on old age. So this is greatly esteemed by the practiser.
Dieser Mahavedha verleiht, wenn man ihn übt, grossen Erfolg; als Mittel gegen Runzeln, graue Haare und Zittern wird er von den ausgezeichnetsten Yogin verehrt.
Haṭha Pradīpikā 3.29
एतत्त्रयं महागुह्यं जरामृत्युविनाशनम् |
वह्निवृद्धिकरं चैव अणिमादिगुणप्रदम् ||29||
Metre: Anuṣṭubh
This triad (etat trayam | nom sg) is a great secret (mahā-guhyam | nom sg n), destroys old age and death (jarā-mṛtyu-vināśanam | nom sg n), brings about the growth of the fire (vahni-vṛddhi-karam | nom sg n), and indeed (caiva) bestows the powers beginning with Aṇimā (aṇimā-ādi-guṇa-pradam | nom sg n).
Mahāmudrā, Mahābandha, and Mahāvedha form a great secret. They are said to overcome old age and death, strengthen the inner fire, and bestow Siddhis.
caiva aṇimādiguṇapradam MBHDL2026 ] caiva hy aṇimādiguṇapradam NS1882
These THREE are the great secrets. They are the destroyers of old age and death, increase the appetite, confer the accomplishments of Anima, etc.
These three Bandhas that ward off death and old-age, increase the gastric fire and confer the Siddhis, Anima, &c., and should be carefully kept secret.
Diese drei sollen sehr geheim gehalten werden; sie vernichten Alter und Tod, vermehren das Verdauungsfeuer und verleihen übernatürliche Kräfte wie Animâ u. s. w.
Haṭha Pradīpikā 3.30
अष्टधा क्रियते चैतद् यामे यामे दिने दिने |
पुण्यसंभारसंभावि पापौघभिदुरं सदा ||30||
Metre: Anuṣṭubh
This (etat | nom sg n) is practised (kriyate | 3p sg pas pres) eightfold (aṣṭa-dhā), at every three-hour period (yāme yāme | loc sg), day after day (dine dine | loc sg). It produces an abundance of merit (puṇya-saṃbhāra-saṃbhāvi | nom sg n) and always (sadā) breaks apart the flood of demerit (pāpa-ogha-bhiduram | nom sg n).
This threefold practice is performed eight times during each period of the day, day after day. It is said to increase merit and break through a flood of negative effects.
The threefold practice of Mahāmudrā, Mahābandha, and Mahāvedha is to be performed eight times during each Yāma, a period of about three hours. Brahmānanda understands this as a recurring daily practice and connects it with the accumulation of merit and the reduction of harmful consequences from previous actions.
caitad MBHDL2026 ] caiva NS1882
puṇyasaṃbhārasaṃbhāvi MBHDL2026 ] puṇyasaṃbhārasandhāya NS1882
puṇyasaṃbhārasaṃbhāvi MBHDL2026 ] puṇyasaṃbhārasandhāya NS1882
They should, be practised in 8 ways, daily and hourly. They increase collection of good actions and lessen the evil ones. People, instructed well, should begin their practice, little by little, first.
Diese Uebungen sollen täglich ausgeführt werden, acht Mal alle drei Stunden; sie verleihen (dem Uebenden) grosses Verdienst und, wenn sie Anfangs mit Mass ausgeführt werden, vernichten sie immer eine Menge von Sünden bei denen, welche die richtige Methode besitzen.
Haṭha Pradīpikā 3.31
सम्यक्शिक्षावतामेव स्वल्पं प्रथमसाधने |
वह्निस्त्रीपथसेवानाम् आदौ वर्जनमादिशेत् ||31||
Metre: Anuṣṭubh
Only (eva) to those who have been properly instructed (samyak-śikṣā-vatām | gen pl) should it be given in small measure (svalpam | acc sg n) at the beginning of practice (prathama-sādhane | loc sg); at the outset (ādau | loc sg), one should prescribe (ādiśet | 3p sg act opt) avoidance (varjanam | acc sg) of frequenting fire, women, and roads (vahni-strī-patha-sevānām | gen pl).
This practice belongs only in the hands of those who have been properly instructed. At first it is practised in moderation; fire, sexual distraction, and wandering about are to be avoided.
For Brahmānanda, the high number of repetitions applies only to people who have received correct instruction from a guru within the tradition. Even they should practise only a little at first and increase the duration gradually. The commentary thus explicitly places the impressive numbers of the previous verse under a principle of progressive habituation.
samyakśikṣāvatām eva svalpaṃ prathamasādhane MBHDL2026 ] transp. NS1882 post HP 3.30b
vahnistrīpathasevānām ādau varjanam ādiśet MBHDL2026 ] om. NS1882
vahnistrīpathasevānām ādau varjanam ādiśet MBHDL2026 ] om. NS1882
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