Haṭhatattvakaumudī 10.39*2–41: Merucālaka: Practising Ameru and allowing Meru to arise

Under the heading Merucālaka, the text distinguishes Ameru and Meru. It describes measured breath retention and Meru arising naturally after prolonged practice.

Dr. Ronald Steiner

Haṭhatattvakaumudī 10.39*2

अथ मेरुचालकः |

atha meru-cālakaḥ | Analysis ▾ Analysis ▴

atha	atha particle	now
meru upapada-compound	meru substantive masculine	Meru
cālakaḥ nominative singular masculine	cālaka adjective	moving

Metre: none

Now (atha) [follows] Merucālaka (meru-cālakaḥ | nom sg m).

Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal

Meru, the mountain in this breathing form's name, can serve as an image of an inner axis. Explore how it invites you to sit upright.

Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - modern transfer

Haṭhatattvakaumudī 10.40

अमेरुमेरुप्रभिदा महेशो द्विधा ऽवदत्कुम्भम् इहादिमो फलः |

ameru-meru-prabhidā maheśo; dvidhā 'vadat kumbham ihādimo phalaḥ | Analysis ▾ Analysis ▴

ameru dvandva-compound	ameru substantive masculine	Ameru
meru tatpuruṣa-compound genitive	meru substantive masculine	and Meru
prabhidā instrumental case singular	pra previx bhid substantive feminine	according to the distinction
maheśaḥ nominative singular	maheśa substantive masculine	Maheśa
dvidhā	dvidhā adverb	twofold
avadat 3rd person singular aktive preterite	vad verbal root	taught
kumbham accusative singular	kumbha substantive masculine	breath retention
iha	iha adverb	here
ādimaḥ nominative singular masculine	ādima adjective	the first
phalaḥ		unclear: fruitful in context; form and syntax unresolved

न वर्धयेद्रोधम् अथो सुसंयमं कृतं यथाशक्ति चिरेण सिद्धिदः ||40||

na vardhayed rodham atho su-saṃyamaṃ; kṛtaṃ yathā-śakti cireṇa siddhi-daḥ ||40|| Analysis ▾ Analysis ▴

na	na particle	not
vardhayet 3rd person singular aktive optative causative	vṛdh verbal root	one should extend
rodham accusative singular	rodha substantive masculine	retention
atho	atho particle	then
su karmadhāraya-compound	su adverb	good
saṃyamam accusative singular	saṃyama substantive masculine	control
kṛtam accusative singular masculine past participle passive	kṛ verbal root	performed
yathā avyayībhāva-compund	yathā adverb	according to
śakti avyayībhāva-compund	śakti substantive feminine	of strength
cireṇa	cireṇa adverb	after a long time
siddhi upapada-compound	siddhi substantive feminine	accomplishment
daḥ nominative singular masculine	da adjective	giving

Metre: Pāda 1: Upendravajrā; Pādas 2–4: Vaṃśastha

Maheśa (maheśaḥ | nom sg) here (iha) taught (avadat | 3p sg act pret) breath retention (kumbham | acc sg) in two forms (dvidhā), according to the distinction between Ameru and Meru (ameru-meru-prabhidā | ins sg). The first [form] (ādimaḥ | nom sg m) bears fruit (phalaḥ). One should not (na) extend (vardhayet | 3p sg act opt caus) the retention (rodham | acc sg). Then (atho), [the following applies]: good control (su-saṃyamam | acc sg), performed (kṛtam | acc sg m ppp) according to one's strength (yathā-śakti), [grants] accomplishment (siddhi-daḥ | nom sg m) after a long time (cireṇa).

Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal

I provisionally understand ādimaḥ phalaḥ as “The first [form] bears fruit”.

I construe na with vardhayet: “One should not extend the retention.” Despite the case shift, I join accusative su-saṃyamaṃ kṛtam and nominative siddhidaḥ as “good control … [grants] accomplishment”.

Translation Comment

Adapt the extent of your practice to how you feel now. On some days, simply maintaining or simplifying a familiar form calls for attention.

Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - modern transfer

atho GDJ2007 ] mathā GDJ2007-b

Critical Apparatus

Haṭhatattvakaumudī 10.41

अमुम् अभ्यसतः पुंसो नैसर्गिकमेरुसम्भूतिः |

amum abhyasataḥ puṃso, naisargika-meru-sambhūtiḥ | Analysis ▾ Analysis ▴

amum accusative singular masculine	adas pronoun dem	this
abhyasataḥ genitive singular masculine present participle active	abhi previx as verbal root	of the practitioner
puṃsaḥ genitive singular	puṃs substantive masculine	of the person
naisargika karmadhāraya-compound	naisargika adjective	natural
meru tatpuruṣa-compound genitive	meru substantive masculine	of Meru
sambhūtiḥ nominative singular	sambhūti substantive feminine	arising

बहुभिः कालैर् भूयादगण्यपुण्यैः परासुमतेः ||41||

bahubhiḥ kālair bhūyād, agaṇya-puṇyaiḥ parāsumateḥ ||41|| Analysis ▾ Analysis ▴

bahubhiḥ instrumental case plural masculine	bahu adjective	many
kālaiḥ instrumental case plural	kāla substantive masculine	after periods of time
bhūyāt 3rd person singular aktive precative	bhū verbal root	may arise
agaṇya karmadhāraya-compound	agaṇya adjective	countless
puṇyaiḥ instrumental case plural	puṇya substantive neuter	through merits
parāsumateḥ		unclear

Metre: Upagīti

Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal

Give an exercise time to become familiar. Notice when you still consciously arrange its steps and when they begin to feel natural.

Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - modern transfer

puṃso GDJ2007 ] puṃsau GDJ2007-b

parā GDJ2007 ] parāḥ GDJ2007-b

Critical Apparatus

Haṭhatattvakaumudī 10.39*2–41: Merucālaka: Practising Ameru and allowing Meru to arise

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