HTK 10.47–47*1: Ghaṭikābandha / Ghaṭibandha

Haṭhatattvakaumudī 10.47–47*1: Ghaṭikābandha / Ghaṭibandha: A water clock for Meru practice

In Ghaṭikābandha, a copper-vessel water clock measures retention to support Meru practice. The closing formula calls the technique Ghaṭibandha.

Dr. Ronald Steiner

Haṭhatattvakaumudī 10.47

ताम्रपात्रघटिकोन्मितकालं तीर्थदर्शितपथेन कुम्भकम् |

tāmra-pātra-ghaṭikonmita-kālaṃ; tīrtha-darśita-pathena kumbhakam | Analysis ▾ Analysis ▴

tāmra tatpuruṣa-compound genitive	tāmra substantive neuter	of copper
pātra karmadhāraya-compound	pātra substantive neuter	vessel
ghaṭikā tatpuruṣa-compound instrumental case	ghaṭikā substantive feminine	by the water clock
unmita bahuvrīhi-compund past participle passive	ud previx mā verbal root	measured
kālam accusative singular masculine	kāla substantive masculine	whose duration is
tīrtha tatpuruṣa-compound instrumental case	tīrtha substantive neuter	by the teacher
darśita karmadhāraya-compound past participle passive causative	dṛś verbal root	shown
pathena instrumental case singular	patha substantive masculine	according to the path
kumbhakam accusative singular	kumbhaka substantive masculine	breath retention

मेरुकुम्भकसुसाधक एषो बन्ध एवं घटिकापदपूर्वः ||47||

meru-kumbhaka-su-sādhaka eṣo; bandha evaṃ ghaṭikā-pada-pūrvaḥ ||47|| Analysis ▾ Analysis ▴

meru karmadhāraya-compound	meru substantive masculine	Meru
kumbhaka upapada-compound	kumbhaka substantive masculine	the breath retention
su karmadhāraya-compound	su adverb	good
sādhakaḥ nominative singular masculine	sādhaka adjective	promoting
eṣaḥ nominative singular masculine	etad pronoun dem	this
bandhaḥ nominative singular	bandha substantive masculine	binding
evam	evam adverb	thus
ghaṭikā karmadhāraya-compound	ghaṭikā substantive feminine	Ghaṭikā
pada bahuvrīhi-compund	pada substantive neuter	word
pūrvaḥ nominative singular masculine	pūrva adjective	having prefixed

Metre: Pāda 1: Svāgatā; Pāda 2: Rathoddhatā; Pādas 3–4: Svāgatā

[One should perform] breath retention (kumbhakam | acc sg), its duration measured with a water clock made from a copper vessel (tāmra-pātra-ghaṭikonmita-kālam | acc sg m), according to the path shown by the teacher (tīrtha-darśita-pathena | ins sg). This binding (eṣaḥ bandhaḥ | nom sg), [which] effectively supports Meru breath retention (meru-kumbhaka-su-sādhakaḥ | nom sg m), thus (evam) has the word Ghaṭikā prefixed (ghaṭikā-pada-pūrvaḥ | nom sg m).

Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal

For kumbhakam, an accusative without a finite verb, I supply “[One should perform]”. I begin a new sentence with the following nominative eṣaḥ bandhaḥ.

Translation Comment

A clock can give your practice a manageable time frame. Within that frame, remain responsive to your own experience.

Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - modern transfer

tāmrapātraghaṭikonmitakālaṃ tīrthadarśitapathena kumbhakam | merukumbhaka GDJ2007 ] om. GDJ2007-b

su conj. ed. ] śubha GDJ2007

Critical Apparatus

iti	iti particle	thus ends
ghaṭi karmadhāraya-compound	ghaṭi substantive feminine	water clock
bandha		unclear: part of the name Ghaṭibandha; ending unresolved
kumbhakaḥ nominative singular	kumbhaka substantive masculine	breath retention

Haṭhatattvakaumudī 10.47–47*1: Ghaṭikābandha / Ghaṭibandha: A water clock for Meru practice

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