Yogaśāstra 3.29–34: Navel, Throat, Crown, and Heart

Saṃyama at the navel, throat, kūrma-nāḍī, crown light, and heart yields knowledge of body and citta, ends hunger and thirst, gives stability, and reveals siddhas; prātibha knows everything.

Dr. Ronald Steiner

Laura von Ostrowski

Patañjali Yoga Sūtra 3.29

नाभिचक्रे कायव्यूहज्ञानम् ||29||

nābhi-cakre kāya-vyūha-jñānam ||29|| Analysis ▾ Analysis ▴

nābhi tatpuruṣa-compound lokative	nābhi substantive feminine	navel
cakre lokative singular	cakra substantive neuter	wheel, center
kāya tatpuruṣa-compound genitive	kāya substantive masculine	Body
vyūha tatpuruṣa-compound genitive	vyūha substantive masculine	Arrangement, structure
jñānam nominative singular	jñāna substantive neuter	Knowledge, understanding

Through [Saṃyama] on the navel centre (nābhi-cakre | loc sg), knowledge of the structure of the body [in terms of doṣa, dhātu, and bodily parts] (kāya-vyūha-jñānam | nom sg) [arises].

Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal

Place your hands around the navel and feel the breath in your belly, back, and sides. From this centre, explore how your whole body works together.

Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - modern transfer

According to the Vyāsa-Bhāṣya, saṃyama on the navel center reveals the body’s organization: the three Doṣas wind, bile, and phlegm, and the seven components arranged from outside inward—skin, blood, flesh, sinews, bone, marrow, and semen.

Yoga Śāstra Vyāsa-Bhāṣya

A knowledge of the arrangement of the body (arises in an ascetic), when he performs Sanyama (restraint) with regard to the wheel of the navel.

James R. Ballantyne - 1852

In the circle of the navel, the knowledge of arrangement of the body.

Ganganatha Jha - 1907

[Durch Anwendung der Allzucht] auf das Nabelcakram erfolgt Kenntnis des Körpersystems.

Paul Deussen - 1908

As a result of constraint upon the navel-circle [there arises] knowledge of the arrangement of the body.

James Haughton Woods - 1914

Patañjali Yoga Sūtra 3.30

कण्ठकूपे क्षुत्पिपासानिवृत्तिः ||30||

kaṇṭha-kūpe kṣut-pipāsā-nivṛttiḥ ||30|| Analysis ▾ Analysis ▴

kaṇṭha tatpuruṣa-compound genitive	kaṇṭha substantive masculine	throat
kūpe lokative singular	kūpa substantive masculine	pit
kṣudh dvandva-compound	kṣudh substantive feminine	hunger
pipāsā tatpuruṣa-compound genitive	pipāsā substantive feminine	thirst
nivṛttiḥ nominative singular	nivṛtti substantive feminine	cessation

Through [Saṃyama] on the hollow of the throat (kaṇṭha-kūpe | loc sg), the cessation of hunger and thirst (kṣut-pipāsā-nivṛttiḥ | nom sg) [arises].

Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal

Notice how hunger, thirst, swallowing, and your voice register in the throat area. Take three quiet breaths before deciding how to respond to what your body needs.

Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - modern transfer

The Vyāsa-Bhāṣya locates the hollow of the throat (kaṇṭha-kūpa) below a strand beneath the tongue. Through saṃyama there, hunger and thirst do not afflict the yogin.

Yoga Śāstra Vyāsa-Bhāṣya

A cessation of hunger and thirst (arises in an ascetic), when he performs Sanyama (restraint) with regard to the cavity of the throat.

James R. Ballantyne - 1852

In the throat-pit the cessation of hunger and thirst.

Ganganatha Jha - 1907

[Durch Anwendung der Allzucht] auf die Kehlgrube erfolgt Aufhören des Hungers und des Durstes.

Paul Deussen - 1908

As a result of constraint upon the pit of the throat [there follows] the cessation of hunger and thirst.

James Haughton Woods - 1914

Patañjali Yoga Sūtra 3.31

कूर्मनाड्यां स्थैर्यम् ||31||

kūrma-nāḍyāṃ sthairyam ||31|| Analysis ▾ Analysis ▴

kūrma karmadhāraya-compound	kūrma substantive masculine	tortoise
nāḍyām lokative singular	nāḍī substantive feminine	vein, channel
sthairyam nominative singular	sthairya substantive neuter	firmness, stability

Through [Saṃyama] on the tortoise-shaped inner channel [below the hollow of the throat in the chest] (kūrma-nāḍyām | loc sg), steadiness (sthairyam | nom sg) [arises].

Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal

Like a tortoise, gently draw your attention inward without constricting your body. Feel the space of your chest and the support beneath you until breath and posture meet in quiet steadiness.

Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - modern transfer

The Vyāsa-Bhāṣya locates the tortoise-shaped kūrma-nāḍī in the chest below the hollow of the throat. Saṃyama on it gives a stable stance like that of a snake or monitor lizard.

Yoga Śāstra Vyāsa-Bhāṣya

Steadiness (is produced in an ascetic), when he performs Sanyama (restraint) with regard to the tube (nāḍī) called Kūrma.

James R. Ballantyne - 1852

In the tortoise-tube, steadiness.

Ganganatha Jha - 1907

[Durch Anwendung der Allzucht] auf die Kūrmanāḍī erfolgt Festigkeit.

Paul Deussen - 1908

[As a result of constraint] upon the tortoise-tube [there follows] motionlessness [of the mind-stuff].

James Haughton Woods - 1914

Patañjali Yoga Sūtra 3.32

मूर्धज्योतिषि सिद्धदर्शनम् ||32||

mūrdha-jyotiṣi siddha-darśanam ||32|| Analysis ▾ Analysis ▴

mūrdhan tatpuruṣa-compound lokative	mūrdhan substantive masculine	vertex, head
jyotiṣi lokative singular	jyotis substantive neuter	Light
siddha tatpuruṣa-compound genitive	siddha substantive masculine	accomplished one, master
darśanam nominative singular	darśana substantive neuter	seeing, sight

Through [Saṃyama] on the light at the crown (mūrdha-jyotiṣi | loc sg), vision of the Siddhas [perfected beings] (siddha-darśanam | nom sg) [arises].

Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal

Imagine a quiet light above the crown of your head. Let it remind you of people whose clarity inspires you, and embody one of their qualities in your posture.

Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - modern transfer

The Vyāsa-Bhāṣya locates a radiant light inside the skull. Through saṃyama on it, the yogin sees the Siddhas who move through the space between heaven and earth.

Yoga Śāstra Vyāsa-Bhāṣya

A sight of the Siddhas (is produced in an ascetic), when he performs Sanyama (restraint) with regard to the light in the head.

James R. Ballantyne - 1852

In the coronal light, Vision of the Perfect Ones.

Ganganatha Jha - 1907

[Durch Anwendung der Allzucht] auf das Licht im Kopfe erfolgt ein Schauen der Siddha.

Paul Deussen - 1908

[As a result of constraint] upon the light in the head [there follows] the sight of the Siddhas.

James Haughton Woods - 1914

Patañjali Yoga Sūtra 3.33

प्रातिभाद्वा सर्वम् ||33||

prātibhād vā sarvam ||33|| Analysis ▾ Analysis ▴

prātibhāt ablative singular	prātibha substantive neuter	intuitive insight
vā	vā particle	or
sarvam accusative singular neuter	sarva adjective	everything

Or (vā), through intuitive insight [as the precursor of discriminative knowledge] (prātibhāt | abl sg), [the yogin knows] everything (sarvam | acc sg n).

Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal

Give a question your full attention, then set it aside and notice what appears. Return to any sudden insight later and examine it calmly.

Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - modern transfer

The Vyāsa-Bhāṣya equates prātibha with tāraka and calls it a precursor of knowledge born of discrimination, as the light of dawn precedes the sun. When this knowledge arises, the yogin knows everything.

Yoga Śāstra Vyāsa-Bhāṣya

James R. Ballantyne - 1852

Or, from intuition (or insight), everything.

Ganganatha Jha - 1907

Oder aus der [im vorigen Sūtram genannten] Prātibha [erfolgt Kenntnis] von Allem.

Paul Deussen - 1908

Or as a result of vividness (prātibha) [the yogin discerns] all.

James Haughton Woods - 1914

Patañjali Yoga Sūtra 3.34

हृदये चित्तसंवित् ||34||

hṛdaye citta-saṃvit ||34|| Analysis ▾ Analysis ▴

hṛdaye lokative singular	hṛdaya substantive neuter	Heart
citta tatpuruṣa-compound genitive	citta substantive neuter	Perceptual space, mind
saṃvit nominative singular	saṃvid substantive feminine	Awareness, understanding

Through [Saṃyama] in the heart [as the locus of Citta] (hṛdaye | loc sg), knowledge of Citta (citta-saṃvit | nom sg) [arises].

Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal

Place one hand over the heart space and feel breath, pulse, and mood. Let your inner state become clear without defining it.

Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - modern transfer

The Vyāsa-Bhāṣya describes a small lotus-shaped chamber in the heart, within the body’s “city of Brahman,” where cognition is present. Saṃyama there gives direct knowledge of Citta.

Yoga Śāstra Vyāsa-Bhāṣya

A knowledge of the internal organ (citta) (arises in an ascetic), when he performs Sanyama (restraint) with regard to the heart.

James R. Ballantyne - 1852

In the heart, knowledge of mind.

Ganganatha Jha - 1907

[Durch Anwendung der Allzucht] auf das Herz erfolgt ein Innewerden des Cittam.

Paul Deussen - 1908

[As a result of constraint] upon the heart [there arises] consciousness of the mind-stuff.

James Haughton Woods - 1914

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Dr. Ronald Steiner

From Ulm

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 ›

Laura von Ostrowski

Ich bin 2004 das erste Mal mit Yoga in Berührung gekommen und habe seitdem unendlich viele Facetten kennengelernt. Einerseits die vielfältigen praktischen Seiten von Yoga - in Form verschiedener Ausbildungen (500 h... more ›

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Yogaśāstra 3.29–34: Navel, Throat, Crown, and Heart

Yogaśāstra 3.29–34: Navel, Throat, Crown, and Heart

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