Haṭhatattvakaumudī 10.112–141: Bhastrikā: Rapid breathing followed by retention

In Bhastrikā, breath moves like a bellows. Retention and exhalation on the left follow; the text promises stronger inner fire and the loosening of three knots.

Dr. Ronald Steiner

Haṭhatattvakaumudī 10.11*2

अथ भस्त्रिकाकुम्भकः |

atha bhastrikā-kumbhakaḥ | Analysis ▾ Analysis ▴

atha	atha particle	now
bhastrikā karmadhāraya-compound	bhastrikā substantive feminine	bellows
kumbhakaḥ nominative singular	kumbhaka substantive masculine	breath retention

Metre: none

Now (atha) [follows] the bellows breath retention (bhastrikā-kumbhakaḥ | nom sg).

Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal

The bellows evokes a breath in strong motion. This image draws attention to rhythm, drive and how you use effort.

Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - modern transfer

bhastrikā GDJ2007 ] bhastikā GDJ2007-b

Critical Apparatus

Haṭhatattvakaumudī 10.12

स्थित्वाब्जे समकन्धरोदरतनुः संयम्य यत्नान् मुखं घ्राणेनाशु सुपूर्य संश्लिषति हृत्कण्ठे कपालावधि |

sthitvābje sama-kandharodara-tanuḥ, saṃyamya yatnān mukhaṃ; ghrāṇenāśu supūrya saṃśliṣati hṛt,-kaṇṭhe kapālāvadhi | Analysis ▾ Analysis ▴

sthitvā absolutus	sthā verbal root	having stood, having sat
abje lokative singular	abja substantive neuter	in the lotus
sama bahuvrīhi-compund	sama adjective	straight
kandhara dvandva-compound	kandhara substantive masculine	neck
udara dvandva-compound	udara substantive neuter	belly
tanuḥ nominative singular masculine	tanu substantive feminine	having a body
saṃyamya absolutus	sam previx yam verbal root	having closed
yatnāt ablative singular	yatna substantive masculine	with care
mukham accusative singular	mukha substantive neuter	the mouth
ghrāṇena instrumental case singular	ghrāṇa substantive neuter	through the nose
āśu	āśu adverb	quickly
supūrya absolutus	su previx pṝ verbal root	having filled well
saṃśliṣati 3rd person singular aktive present	sam previx śliṣ verbal root	it clings
hṛt dvandva-compound	hṛd substantive neuter	heart
kaṇṭhe lokative singular	kaṇṭha substantive masculine	in the throat
kapāla avyayībhāva-compund	kapāla substantive neuter	skull
avadhi	avadhi adverb	up to

सम्यग्धृतं यया विरिच्य पुनर् अप्य् आपूर्य वेगादनु हृत्य प्रावधि केवलं पुनर् अपि त्यक्त्वा पुनः पूरयेत् ||12||

samyag dhṛtaṃ yayā viricya punar apy, āpūrya vegād anu; hṛtya prāvadhi kevalaṃ punar api, tyaktvā punaḥ pūrayet ||12|| Analysis ▾ Analysis ▴

samyak	samyak adverb	proper
dhṛtam accusative singular masculine past participle passive	dhṛ verbal root	held
yayā instrumental case singular feminine	yad pronoun rel	through which
viricya absolutus	vi previx ric verbal root	having released
punar	punar adverb	again
api	api particle	also
āpūrya absolutus	ā previx pṝ verbal root	having filled
vegāt ablative singular	vega substantive masculine	with force
anu	anu adverb	afterwards
hṛtya absolutus	hṛ verbal root	having brought in
prā		unclear
avadhi		unclear
kevalam	kevalam adverb	alone
punar	punar adverb	again
api	api particle	also
tyaktvā absolutus	tyaj verbal root	having let go
punaḥ	punar adverb	again
pūrayet 3rd person singular aktive optative causative	pṝ verbal root	one should fill

Metre: Śārdūlavikrīḍita

Having taken a seat (sthitvā | abs) in the lotus [posture] (abje | loc sg), with neck, abdomen and trunk straight (sama-kandharodara-tanuḥ | nom sg m), [and] carefully (yatnāt | abl sg) closed (saṃyamya | abs) the mouth (mukham | acc sg), [one should] quickly (āśu) fill [the body] well (supūrya | abs) through the nose (ghrāṇena | ins sg). [The breath] makes contact (saṃśliṣati | 3p sg act pres) in the heart and throat (hṛt-kaṇṭhe | loc sg), as far as the skull (kapālāvadhi).

Having released (viricya | abs) the properly (samyak) held [breath] (dhṛtam | acc sg m ppp) through that [nostril] (yayā | ins sg f), [one should] also (api) fill [it] in (āpūrya | abs) again (punar) with force (vegāt | abl sg), afterwards (anu) bring [it] in (hṛtya | abs) alone (kevalam), also (api) let [it] go (tyaktvā | abs) again (punar), [and] fill [the body] (pūrayet | 3p sg act opt caus) again (punaḥ).

Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal

I supply the breath as the subject of saṃśliṣati and connect feminine yayā with an implied nostril. I connect “alone” with bringing the breath in.

Translation Comment

As you sit, sense the relationship between your neck, trunk and abdomen. Then follow your natural breath, noticing how one movement gives way to the next.

Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - modern transfer

sthitvābje GDJ2007 ] sthitvā'jye GDJ2007-b

ghrāṇenāśu GDJ2007 ] ghrāṇenāpyu GDJ2007-b

saṃśliṣati GDJ2007 ] saṃśliṣyati GDJ2007-b

samyag dhṛtaṃ GDJ2007 ] samyadṛdhanta(?) GDJ2007-a

yayā GDJ2007 ] yathā GDJ2007-b

prāvadhi ke(?) GDJ2007 ] śarvādhake GDJ2007-b

Critical Apparatus

Haṭhatattvakaumudī 10.13

इत्थं शश्वदुपाचरेदिति यथा भस्त्रेव सञ्चालयेद्देहस्थं पवनं तथैव मतिना सञ्चालयेद्बुद्धिमान् |

itthaṃ śaśvad upācared iti yathā, bhastreva sañcālayed; deha-sthaṃ pavanaṃ tathaiva matinā, sañcālayed buddhimān | Analysis ▾ Analysis ▴

ittham	ittham adverb	in this way
śaśvat	śaśvat adverb	constant
upācaret 3rd person singular aktive optative	upa previx car verbal root	one should proceed
iti	iti particle	thus
yathā	yathā particle	as
bhastrā nominative singular	bhastrā substantive feminine	bellows
iva	iva particle	as
sañcālayet 3rd person singular aktive optative causative	sam previx cal verbal root	one should move
deha upapada-compound	deha substantive masculine	body
stham accusative singular masculine	stha adjective	situated
pavanam accusative singular	pavana substantive masculine	the breath
tathā	tathā adverb	thus
eva	eva particle	indeed
matinā		unclear: with full attention in context
sañcālayet 3rd person singular aktive optative causative	sam previx cal verbal root	one should move
buddhimān nominative singular masculine	buddhimat adjective	intelligent

श्रान्तिः स्याद्तु यदा तदा निजतनौ सूर्येण संपूरयेत्पूर्णं स्वोदरम् आकलय्य मरुता मन्दं तथा पूरयेत् ||13||

śrāntiḥ syād tu yadā tadā nija-tanau, sūryeṇa saṃpūrayet; pūrṇaṃ svodaram ākalayya marutā, mandaṃ tathā pūrayet ||13|| Analysis ▾ Analysis ▴

śrāntiḥ nominative singular	śrānti substantive feminine	fatigue
syāt 3rd person singular aktive optative	as verbal root	it may occur
tu	tu particle	but
yadā	yadā adverb	when
tadā	tadā adverb	then
nija karmadhāraya-compound	nija adjective	one's own
tanau lokative singular	tanu substantive feminine	in the body
sūryeṇa instrumental case singular	sūrya substantive masculine	through the sun
saṃpūrayet 3rd person singular aktive optative causative	sam previx pṝ verbal root	one should fill completely
pūrṇam accusative singular neuter past participle passive	pṝ verbal root	filled
sva karmadhāraya-compound	sva pronoun pers 3p	one's own
udaram accusative singular	udara substantive neuter	belly
ākalayya absolutus	ā previx kal verbal root	having envisaged
marutā instrumental case singular	marut substantive masculine	with breath
mandam	mandam adverb	slowly
tathā	tathā adverb	likewise
pūrayet 3rd person singular aktive optative causative	pṝ verbal root	one should fill

Metre: Śārdūlavikrīḍita

[One] should continually (śaśvat) proceed (upācaret | 3p sg act opt) in this way (ittham), thus (iti) [runs the instruction]: as (yathā) a bellows (bhastrā | nom sg) would, as it were (iva), set [air] in motion (sañcālayet | 3p sg act opt caus), just so (tathaiva) the intelligent person (buddhimān | nom sg m) should move (sañcālayet | 3p sg act opt caus) the breath (pavanam | acc sg) within the body (deha-stham | acc sg m), with full attention (matinā). But (tu) when (yadā) fatigue (śrāntiḥ | nom sg) arises (syāt | 3p sg act opt) in one's own body (nija-tanau | loc sg), then (tadā) [one] should inhale fully (saṃpūrayet | 3p sg act opt caus) through the sun [the right nostril] (sūryeṇa | ins sg): having envisaged (ākalayya | abs) one's own belly (svodaram | acc sg) as full (pūrṇam | acc sg n ppp), [one] should thus (tathā) fill [it] (pūrayet | 3p sg act opt caus) slowly (mandam) with breath (marutā | ins sg).

Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal

The proximity of buddhimān supports interpreting matinā as “with full attention”; the regular instrumental of mati would be matyā.

The final pūrayet elaborates the same inhalation. I understand ākalayya as mentally anticipating the complete filling.

Translation Comment

Take tiredness during practice seriously as feedback. Allow yourself to slow down or finish the exercise.

Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - modern transfer

śaśvadupācarediti GDJ2007 ] śaśvaḍyācarediti GDJ2007-b

matinā sañcālayed GDJ2007 ] matinā stañcālayed GDJ2007-b

saṃpūrayet conj. ed. ] saṃrecayet GDJ2007

Critical Apparatus

Haṭhatattvakaumudī 10.14

नासामध्यमम् अन्तरेण सुदृढं स तर्जनीभ्यां ततः कुम्भं पूर्ववदाविधाय पवनं तं रेचयेद्वामया |

nāsā-madhyamam antareṇa sudṛḍhaṃ, sa tarjanībhyāṃ tataḥ; kumbhaṃ pūrvavad āvidhāya pavanaṃ, taṃ recayed vāmayā | Analysis ▾ Analysis ▴

nāsā tatpuruṣa-compound genitive	nāsā substantive feminine	of the nose
madhyamam accusative singular	madhyama substantive neuter	middle, central region
antareṇa	antareṇa particle	without
sudṛḍham	sudṛḍham adverb	very firmly
saḥ nominative singular masculine	tad pronoun dem	he
tarjanībhyām instrumental case dual	tarjanī substantive feminine	with the index and middle fingers
tataḥ	tatas adverb	afterwards
kumbham accusative singular	kumbha substantive masculine	breath retention
pūrvavat	pūrvavat adverb	as before
āvidhāya absolutus	ā previx vi previx dhā verbal root	having performed
pavanam accusative singular	pavana substantive masculine	the breath
tam accusative singular masculine	tad pronoun dem	that
recayet 3rd person singular aktive optative causative	ric verbal root	one should release
vāmayā instrumental case singular feminine	vāma adjective	through the left

भस्त्राख्यः खलु कुम्भकः स्यति कफं पित्तं समीरं सुषुम्णाङ्गस्थं दुःकफम् अग्निदस्त्रिगुणजग्रन्थित्रयोद्भेदकः ||14||

bhastrākhyaḥ khalu kumbhakaḥ syati kaphaṃ, pittaṃ samīraṃ suṣumṇā;ṅga-sthaṃ duḥ-kapham agni-das tri-guṇa-ja,-granthi-trayodbhedakaḥ ||14|| Analysis ▾ Analysis ▴

bhastrā upapada-compound	bhastrā substantive feminine	bellows
ākhyaḥ nominative singular masculine	ākhya adjective	called
khalu	khalu particle	certainly
kumbhakaḥ nominative singular	kumbhaka substantive masculine	breath retention
syati 3rd person singular aktive present	so verbal root	it removes
kapham accusative singular	kapha substantive masculine	phlegm
pittam accusative singular	pitta substantive neuter	bile
samīram accusative singular	samīra substantive masculine	wind
suṣumnā tatpuruṣa-compound genitive	suṣumnā substantive feminine	of Suṣumṇā, the central channel
aṅga upapada-compound	aṅga substantive neuter	region
stham accusative singular masculine	stha adjective	situated
duḥ karmadhāraya-compound	dus previx	bad
kapham accusative singular	kapha substantive masculine	phlegm
agni upapada-compound	agni substantive masculine	digestive fire (according to Meulenbeld 1974, p. 437)
daḥ nominative singular masculine	da adjective	giving
tri dvigu-compound	tri numeral	three
guṇa upapada-compound	guṇa substantive masculine	fundamental quality
ja karmadhāraya-compound	ja adjective	arisen
granthi tatpuruṣa-compound genitive	granthi substantive masculine	of the knot
traya upapada-compound	traya substantive neuter	triad
udbhedakaḥ nominative singular masculine	udbhedaka adjective	breaking open

Metre: Śārdūlavikrīḍita; pāda 3: one extra Guru syllable (at the end)

Then (tataḥ) he (saḥ | nom sg m) [should hold] the middle of the nose (nāsā-madhyamam | acc sg) very firmly (sudṛḍham) [closed], without (antareṇa) the index finger [and the middle finger] (tarjanībhyām | ins du). Having performed (āvidhāya | abs) the breath retention (kumbham | acc sg) as before (pūrvavat), [he] should release (recayet | 3p sg act opt caus) that (tam | acc sg m) breath (pavanam | acc sg) through the left [side] (vāmayā | ins sg f). The breath retention (kumbhakaḥ | nom sg) called the bellows (bhastrākhyaḥ | nom sg m) certainly (khalu) removes (syati | 3p sg act pres) phlegm (kapham | acc sg), bile (pittam | acc sg), wind (samīram | acc sg) [and] bad phlegm (duḥ-kapham | acc sg) situated in the region of Suṣumṇā (suṣumṇāṅga-stham | acc sg m). [It] produces digestive fire (agni-daḥ | nom sg m) [and] breaks open the three knots arising from the three fundamental qualities (tri-guṇa-ja-granthi-trayodbhedakaḥ | nom sg m).

Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal

Antareṇa, “without”, normally takes an accusative; here I take it with the instrumental dual tarjanībhyām. Drawing on HP 2.65 (MBHDL2024), I interpret this as an associative dual: the index and middle fingers.

Translation Comment

The image of knots can suggest tension you are holding. As you sit, explore where you brace unnecessarily and where you can yield a little.

Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - modern transfer

Haṭhatattvakaumudī 10.14*1

इति सर्वदोषमलशोषणः सर्वपीडाहर आमाजीर्णजारणो भस्त्रिकाकुम्भकः |

iti sarva-doṣa-mala-śoṣaṇaḥ sarva-pīḍā-hara āmājīrṇa-jāraṇo bhastrikā-kumbhakaḥ | Analysis ▾ Analysis ▴

iti	iti particle	thus
sarva karmadhāraya-compound	sarva pronoun quant	all
doṣa tatpuruṣa-compound genitive	doṣa substantive masculine	of the doṣa, the pathogenic factor (according to Meulenbeld 1974, pp. 469–470)
mala upapada-compound	mala substantive neuter	impurity (according to Meulenbeld 1974, pp. 488–489)
śoṣaṇaḥ nominative singular masculine	śoṣaṇa adjective	drying up
sarva karmadhāraya-compound	sarva pronoun quant	all
pīḍā upapada-compound	pīḍā substantive feminine	distress
haraḥ nominative singular masculine	hara adjective	removing
āma dvandva-compound	āma substantive neuter	undigested matter
ajīrṇa upapada-compound	ajīrṇa substantive neuter	indigestion (according to Meulenbeld 1974, pp. 264–268)
jāraṇaḥ nominative singular masculine	jāraṇa adjective	digesting
bhastrikā karmadhāraya-compound	bhastrikā substantive feminine	bellows
kumbhakaḥ nominative singular	kumbhaka substantive masculine	breath retention

Metre: none

Thus (iti) [is described] the bellows breath retention (bhastrikā-kumbhakaḥ | nom sg), which dries up the impurities of all pathogenic factors (sarva-doṣa-mala-śoṣaṇaḥ | nom sg m), removes all distress (sarva-pīḍā-haraḥ | nom sg m) [and] digests undigested matter [and] remedies indigestion (āmājīrṇa-jāraṇaḥ | nom sg m).

Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal

Give yourself time to absorb an intense experience. An exercise also needs an ending before you turn to the next task.

Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - modern transfer

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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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Haṭhatattvakaumudī 10.112–141: Bhastrikā: Rapid breathing followed by retention

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Haṭhatattvakaumudī 10.11*2–14*1: Bhastrikā: Rapid breathing followed by retention

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Haṭhatattvakaumudī 10.112–141: Bhastrikā: Rapid breathing followed by retention