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Three bead rows of different lengths suggest graduated durations.
Three bead rows of different lengths suggest graduated durations.

Haṭhatattvakaumudī 10.42–43: Meru: Twelve, twenty-four and thirty-six time units

The discussion of Meru leads to three stages of twelve, twenty-four and thirty-six time units. The text associates them with sweating, trembling and rising.

Dr. Ronald Steiner Dr. Ronald Steiner
Haṭhatattvakaumudī 10.42
तस्य त्रिभूमिकत्वं चिरकालाभ्यासतो भूयात् |
tasya tri-bhūmikatvaṃ, cira-kālābhyāsato bhūyāt | Analysis ▾ Analysis ▴
tasya
genitive singular masculine
tad
pronoun dem
 of that
tri
dvigu-compound
tri
numeral
 three
bhūmikatvam
nominative singular
bhūmikatva
substantive neuter
 having stages
cira
karmadhāraya-compound
cira
adjective
 long
kāla
tatpuruṣa-compound accusative
kāla
substantive masculine
 over a period
abhyāsataḥ
abhyāsatas
adverb
 through practice
bhūyāt
3rd person singular aktive precative
bhū
verbal root
 may arise
द्वादश नैसर्गिकतो ह्य् अधिकाश्चेद्दैवयोगेन ||42||
dvādaśa naisargikato, hy adhikāś ced daiva-yogena ||42|| Analysis ▾ Analysis ▴
dvādaśa
nominative plural feminine
dvādaśa
numeral
 twelve
naisargikataḥ
naisargikatas
adverb
 beyond the natural measure
hi
hi
particle
 for
adhikāḥ
nominative plural feminine
adhika
adjective
 exceeding
cet
cet
particle
 when
daiva
tatpuruṣa-compound genitive
daiva
substantive neuter
 of fate
yogena
instrumental case singular
yoga
substantive masculine
 through the working
Metre: Upagīti
Through practice over a long time (cira-kālābhyāsataḥ), its (tasya | gen sg m) threefold staging (tri-bhūmikatvam | nom sg) may arise (bhūyāt | 3p sg act prec). For (hi), if (cet), through the working of fate (daiva-yogena | ins sg), twelve [time units] (dvādaśa | nom pl f) exceed (adhikāḥ | nom pl f) the natural [measure] (naisargikataḥ), [the following gradation applies].
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal

The conditional sentence begun with cet continues in 10.43. To make the passages readable separately, I supply “[the following gradation applies]” here and resume the time count with “[Twelve]” there.

Translation Comment
Stages can help describe changes in your practice retrospectively. Ask yourself what feels easier, clearer or still difficult after practising for some time.
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - modern transfer
daiva GDJ2007 ] deva GDJ2007-b
Critical Apparatus
Haṭhatattvakaumudī 10.43
मात्रा प्रथमभुवि स्युर् दत्तात्रेयो ऽब्रवीत्द्रवीभावे |
mātrā prathama-bhuvi syur, dattātreyo 'bravīt dravī-bhāve | Analysis ▾ Analysis ▴
mātrāḥ
nominative plural
mātrā
substantive feminine
 units of time
prathama
karmadhāraya-compound
prathama
numeral
 first
bhuvi
lokative singular
bhū
substantive feminine
 at the stage
syuḥ
3rd person plural aktive optative
as
verbal root
 should be
dattātreyaḥ
nominative singular
dattātreya
substantive masculine
 Dattātreya
abravīt
3rd person singular aktive preterite
brū
verbal root
 said
dravī
upapada-compound
drava
adjective
 liquid
bhāve
lokative singular
bhāva
substantive masculine
 in becoming
अस्या द्विगुणं कम्पां त्रिगुणं उत्थापिकां योगे ||43||
asyā dvi-guṇaṃ kampāṃ, tri-guṇaṃ utthāpikāṃ yoge ||43|| Analysis ▾ Analysis ▴
asyāḥ
genitive singular feminine
idam
pronoun dem
 this
dvi
dvigu-compound
dvi
numeral
 two
guṇam
accusative singular neuter
guṇa
substantive masculine
 -fold
kampām
unclear: trembling; grammatical formation unresolved
tri
dvigu-compound
tri
numeral
 three
guṇam
accusative singular neuter
guṇa
substantive masculine
 -fold
utthāpikām
accusative singular feminine
utthāpika
adjective
 raising upwards
yoge
lokative singular
yoga
substantive masculine
 in yoga
Metre: Āryā
[Twelve] time units (mātrāḥ | nom pl) should apply (syuḥ | 3p pl act opt) to the first stage (prathama-bhuvi | loc sg), when [the practitioner is] sweating (dravī-bhāve | loc sg). Dattātreya (dattātreyaḥ | nom sg) said (abravīt | 3p sg act pret): [for the stage of] trembling (kampām), twice (dvi-guṇam | acc sg n) this [stage] (asyāḥ | gen sg f): [twenty-four]; [and for] the raising [stage] (utthāpikām | acc sg f) in yoga (yoge | loc sg), three times [the measure] (tri-guṇam | acc sg n): [thirty-six].
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal

With kampām and utthāpikām, I supply a stage in each case; plural syuḥ supports analysing mātrā as mātrāḥ.

Translation Comment
If you notice warmth, trembling or a sense of lightness during practice, first describe the experience as precisely as you can. Your comfort and ability to remain clearly oriented matter, too.
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - modern transfer
dravībhāve GDJ2007-iast ] dravībhāve 12 GDJ2007-dev
Critical Apparatus

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