Haṭhatattvakaumudī 10.24–25*2: Karṣaka and Sahaja: From drawing in to natural retention

In Karṣaka, breath becomes longer and subtler; Sahaja denotes its natural retention without force. The text links this with purification, long life and inner sound.

Dr. Ronald Steiner

Haṭhatattvakaumudī 10.24

कर्षके प्रविहिते किल कुम्भे श्वासको भवति दीर्घतरो ऽणुः |

karṣake pravihite kila kumbhe; śvāsako bhavati dīrghataro 'ṇuḥ | Analysis ▾ Analysis ▴

karṣake lokative absolutus singular masculine	karṣaka adjective	drawing in
pravihite lokative absolutus singular masculine past participle passive	pra previx vi previx dhā verbal root	when performed
kila	kila particle	as it is said
kumbhe lokative absolutus singular	kumbha substantive masculine	during breath retention
śvāsakaḥ nominative singular	śvāsaka substantive masculine	breath
bhavati 3rd person singular aktive present	bhū verbal root	becomes
dīrghataraḥ nominative singular masculine comperative	dīrgha adjective	longer
aṇuḥ nominative singular masculine	aṇu adjective	subtle

नो बलात्स्थितिगतौ श्वसनस्य संधृतिः स सहजः शुभकुम्भः ||24||

no balāt sthiti-gatau śvasanasya; saṃdhṛtiḥ sa sahajaḥ śubha-kumbhaḥ ||24|| Analysis ▾ Analysis ▴

no	no particle	not
balāt ablative singular	bala substantive neuter	through force
sthiti tatpuruṣa-compound genitive	sthiti substantive feminine	of remaining
gatau lokative singular	gati substantive feminine	in the state
śvasanasya genitive singular	śvasana substantive neuter	of breathing
saṃdhṛtiḥ nominative singular	saṃdhṛti substantive feminine	retention
saḥ nominative singular masculine	tad pronoun dem	this
sahajaḥ nominative singular masculine	sahaja adjective	natural
śubha karmadhāraya-compound	śubha adjective	auspicious
kumbhaḥ nominative singular	kumbha substantive masculine	breath retention

Metre: Svāgatā

Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal

Notice whether you can sense very subtle movements of breathing alongside the more obvious ones. Let the transitions happen without deliberately extending them.

Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - modern transfer

kila kumbhe śvāsako GDJ2007 ] kilakumbhaśvāsake GDJ2007-b

Critical Apparatus

Haṭhatattvakaumudī 10.25

नाडीशुद्धिं तथारोग्यं सुसुखं दीर्घजीवितम् |

nāḍī-śuddhiṃ tathārogyaṃ; su-sukhaṃ dīrgha-jīvitam | Analysis ▾ Analysis ▴

nāḍī tatpuruṣa-compound genitive	nāḍī substantive feminine	of the channels
śuddhim accusative singular	śuddhi substantive feminine	purification
tathā	tathā adverb	likewise
ārogyam nominative singular	ārogya substantive neuter	health
su karmadhāraya-compound	su adverb	very
sukham nominative singular	sukha substantive neuter	well-being
dīrgha karmadhāraya-compound	dīrgha adjective	long
jīvitam nominative singular	jīvita substantive neuter	life

नादश्रुतिः पापनाशः सहजाभ्यासतो भवेत् ||25||

nāda-śrutiḥ pāpa-nāśaḥ; sahajābhyāsato bhavet ||25|| Analysis ▾ Analysis ▴

nāda tatpuruṣa-compound genitive	nāda substantive masculine	of sound
śrutiḥ nominative singular	śruti substantive feminine	hearing
pāpa tatpuruṣa-compound genitive	pāpa substantive neuter	of evil
nāśaḥ nominative singular	nāśa substantive masculine	destruction
sahaja tatpuruṣa-compound genitive	sahaja adjective	of the natural Kumbha
abhyāsataḥ	abhyāsatas adverb	through practice
bhavet 3rd person singular aktive optative	bhū verbal root	should arise

Metre: Anuṣṭubh

Through practising the natural [Kumbha] (sahajābhyāsataḥ), [the following] should arise (bhavet | 3p sg act opt): purification of the channels (nāḍī-śuddhim | acc sg), likewise (tathā) health (ārogyam | nom sg), great well-being (su-sukham | nom sg), long life (dīrgha-jīvitam | nom sg), hearing sound (nāda-śrutiḥ | nom sg) [and] destruction of evil (pāpa-nāśaḥ | nom sg).

Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal

After practising, notice how you feel and what you hear. Record small or unexpected observations as well.

Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - modern transfer

Haṭhatattvakaumudī 10.25*1

इति सहजकुम्भगुणाः |

iti sahaja-kumbha-guṇāḥ | Analysis ▾ Analysis ▴

iti	iti particle	thus end
sahaja karmadhāraya-compound	sahaja adjective	natural
kumbha tatpuruṣa-compound genitive	kumbha substantive masculine	of breath retention
guṇāḥ nominative plural	guṇa substantive masculine	effects

Metre: none

Thus (iti) [end] the effects of the natural breath retention (sahaja-kumbha-guṇāḥ | nom pl).

Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal

What experience do you associate with an unforced breath? Make your description as concrete as your perception allows.

Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - modern transfer

Haṭhatattvakaumudī 10.25*2

इति कर्षककुम्भसहजकुम्भौ |

iti karṣaka-kumbha-sahaja-kumbhau | Analysis ▾ Analysis ▴

iti	iti particle	thus end
karṣaka karmadhāraya-compound	karṣaka adjective	drawing in
kumbha dvandva-compound	kumbha substantive masculine	breath retention
sahaja karmadhāraya-compound	sahaja adjective	natural
kumbhau nominative dual	kumbha substantive masculine	both breath retentions

Metre: none

Thus (iti) [end] the drawing-in and natural breath retentions (karṣaka-kumbha-sahaja-kumbhau | nom du).

Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal

Explore the difference between deliberately shaping a movement of breath and allowing a breath to happen. Each engages your attention differently.

Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - modern transfer

Continue with AYI Free

Illustrations: AI-generated.

Editor

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 ›

Messages and ratings

0 messages

Please log in to write a message. Go to login

No messages yet.

Haṭhatattvakaumudī 10.24–25*2: Karṣaka and Sahaja: From drawing in to natural retention

Continue with AYI Free

Choose your privacy settings.

Adjust your preferences.

Optional