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A winding path leads through plants to a place to sit.
A winding path leads through plants to a place to sit.

Gorakṣaśataka 64–66: From a Familiar Seat to Regular Breath Practice

The teaching on absorption begins with a practice scheme. Historical repetition counts are shown without being presented as a modern training plan.

Dr. Ronald Steiner Dr. Ronald Steiner
Gorakṣaśataka (Original) 64
मृत्युघ्नं सुखदोपायं ब्रह्मानन्दकरं सदा |
mṛtyu-ghnaṃ sukha-dopāyaṃ; brahmānanda-karaṃ sadā | Analysis ▾ Analysis ▴
mṛtyu
upapada-compound
mṛtyu
substantive masculine
 death
ghnam
accusative singular masculine
ghna
adjective
 destroying
sukha
upapada-compound
sukha
substantive neuter
 happiness
da
karmadhāraya-compound
da
adjective
 giving
upāyam
accusative singular
upāya
substantive masculine
 means
brahma
tatpuruṣa-compound genitive
brahman
substantive neuter
 Brahman
ānanda
upapada-compound
ānanda
substantive masculine
 bliss
karam
accusative singular masculine
kara
adjective
 bringing about
sadā
sadā
adverb
 always
पूर्वोक्तेन क्रमेणैव सम्यगासनम् आस्थितः ||64||
pūrvoktena krameṇaiva; samyag āsanam āsthitaḥ ||64|| Analysis ▾ Analysis ▴
pūrva
karmadhāraya-compound
pūrva
adjective
 before
uktena
instrumental case singular masculine past participle passive
vac
verbal root
 through the stated
krameṇa
instrumental case singular
krama
substantive masculine
 in sequence
eva
eva
particle
 indeed; precisely
samyak
samyak
adverb
 accurately
āsanam
accusative singular
āsana
substantive neuter
 the seated posture
āsthitaḥ
nominative singular masculine past participle passive
ā
previx
sthā
verbal root
 having assumed
… which destroys death (mṛtyu-ghnam | acc sg m), is a means of happiness (sukha-da-upāyam | acc sg) and always (sadā) brings the bliss of Brahman (brahma-ānanda-karam | acc sg m). Having properly (samyak) assumed (āsthitaḥ | nom sg m ppp) the seated posture (āsanam | acc sg) in precisely (eva) the sequence (krameṇa | ins sg) described before (pūrva-uktena | ins sg m ppp) …
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal
Here, absorption begins from a familiar starting point. Return to what gives you support and orientation.
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - modern transfer

64ab continues the accusative construction from 63. brahmānanda denotes the bliss of Brahman within the source’s religious understanding of the goal; overcoming death is its claim about liberation.

Apparatus Comment
Gorakṣaśataka (Original) 65
चालनं च सरस्वत्याः कृत्वा प्राणान् निरोधयेत् |
cālanaṃ ca sarasvatyāḥ; kṛtvā prāṇān nirodhayet | Analysis ▾ Analysis ▴
cālanam
accusative singular
cālana
substantive neuter
 moving
ca
ca
particle
 and
sarasvatyāḥ
genitive singular
sarasvatī
substantive feminine
 of Sarasvatī
kṛtvā
absolutus
kṛ
verbal root
 having performed
prāṇān
accusative plural
prāṇa
substantive masculine
 breaths
nirodhayet
3rd person singular aktive optative causative
ni
previx
rudh
verbal root
 one should restrain
प्रथमे दिवसे कार्यं कुम्भकानां चतुष्टयम् ||65||
prathame divase kāryaṃ; kumbhakānāṃ catuṣṭayam ||65|| Analysis ▾ Analysis ▴
prathame
lokative singular masculine
prathama
adjective
 on the first
divase
lokative singular
divasa
substantive masculine
 day
kāryam
nominative singular neuter future participle passive
kṛ
verbal root
 to be done
kumbhakānām
genitive plural
kumbhaka
substantive masculine
 of the retentions
catuṣṭayam
nominative singular
catuṣṭaya
substantive neuter
 set of four
… and (ca) having performed (kṛtvā | abs) the moving (cālanam | acc sg) of Sarasvatī (sarasvatyāḥ | gen sg), one should restrain (nirodhayet | 3p sg act opt caus) the breaths (prāṇān | acc pl). On the first (prathame | loc sg m) day (divase | loc sg), the set of four (catuṣṭayam | nom sg) breath retentions (kumbhakānām | gen pl) is to be performed (kāryam | nom sg n pfp) …
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal
A clear beginning makes regular practice easier. Choose an amount that allows your attention to remain present.
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - modern transfer

The group of four refers to the breath methods named earlier. The numbers in the next verse are reproduced as a historical practice regimen.

Apparatus Comment
Gorakṣaśataka (Original) 66
प्रत्येकं दशसंख्याकं द्वितीये पंचभिस्तथा |
pratyekaṃ daśa-saṃkhyākaṃ; dvitīye paṃcabhis tathā | Analysis ▾ Analysis ▴
pratyekam
pratyekam
adverb
 each
daśa
dvigu-compound
daśa
numeral
 ten
saṃkhyākam
nominative singular neuter
saṃkhyāka
adjective
 in number
dvitīye
lokative singular masculine
dvitīya
adjective
 on the second
pañcabhiḥ
instrumental case plural
pañcan
numeral
 by five
tathā
tathā
adverb
 likewise
विंशत्य् अलं तृतीये ऽह्नि पंचवृद्ध्या दिने दिने ||66||
viṃśaty alaṃ tṛtīye 'hni; paṃca-vṛddhyā dine dine ||66|| Analysis ▾ Analysis ▴
viṃśati
nominative singular
viṃśati
substantive feminine
 twenty
alam
alam
particle
 enough
tṛtīye
lokative singular neuter
tṛtīya
adjective
 on the third
ahni
lokative singular
ahan
substantive neuter
 day
pañca
tatpuruṣa-compound instrumental case
pañcan
numeral
 five
vṛddhyā
instrumental case singular
vṛddhi
substantive feminine
 with an increase
dine
lokative singular
dina
substantive neuter
 on the day
dine
lokative singular
dina
substantive neuter
 on the day
… each (pratyekam) ten times (daśa-saṃkhyākam | nom sg n); on the second [day] (dvitīye | loc sg m), likewise (tathā), with five [more] (pañcabhiḥ | ins pl). On the third (tṛtīye | loc sg n) day (ahni | loc sg), twenty (viṃśati | nom sg) suffice (alam); with an increase of five (pañca-vṛddhyā | ins sg), day (dine | loc sg) by day (dine | loc sg) …
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal
An increase needs proportion and feedback. Regularity can matter more than a larger number each day.
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - modern transfer

The text elliptically assumes “five more”. alam, “enough”, at twenty is in tension with the ensuing daily increase; I leave both visible and do not turn them into a present-day training plan.

Apparatus Comment

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Dr. Ronald Steiner

Dr. Ronald Steiner

AYI Expert teacher

From 89075 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 ›

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