DYS 69–72: Avoid and Support
DYS 69–72: Avoid and Support

Dattātreyayogaśāstra 69–72: Unhelpful Habits and Beneficial Food

A lean body appears as a further sign. Salt, mustard, sour, hot, dry, and pungent food, overeating, sexual contact, frequent travel, tending a fire, and the company of rogues should be avoided; milk, ghee, sweet food, and moderate eating support practice.

Dr. Ronald Steiner Dr. Ronald Steiner Nils Jacob Liersch Nils Jacob Liersch
Dattātreyayogaśāstra 69
कृशत्वं च शरीरस्य तदा जायेत निश्चितम् |
kṛśatvaṃ ca śarīrasya; tadā jāyeta niścitam | Analysis ▾ Analysis ▴
kṛśatvam
nominative singular neuter
adjective
suffix
leanness
ca
particle
and
śarīrasya
genitive singular
substantive neuter
of the body
tadā
adverb
then
jāyeta
3rd person singular medial optative
verbal root
it should arise
niścitam
adverb
certainly
तदा वर्ज्यानि वक्ष्यामि योगविघ्नकराणि तु ||69||
tadā varjyāni vakṣyāmi; yoga-vighna-karāṇi tu ||69|| Analysis ▾ Analysis ▴
tadā
adverb
then
varjyāni
accusative plural neuter future participle passive
verbal root
things to be avoided
vakṣyāmi
1st person singular future
verbal root
I shall teach
yoga
tatpuruṣa-compound genitive
substantive masculine
yoga
vighna
tatpuruṣa-compound accusative
substantive masculine
obstacle
karāṇi
accusative plural neuter
adjective
causing
tu
particle
but
Metre: Anuṣṭubh
Leanness (kṛśatvam | nom sg n) of the body (śarīrasya | gen sg) is then (tadā) sure (niścitam) to arise (jāyeta | 3p sg med opt). Next (tadā) I shall state (vakṣyāmi | 1p sg fut) the things to be avoided (varjyāni | acc pl n pfp), namely those that create obstacles to yoga (yogavighnakarāṇi | acc pl n).
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal
The body becomes leaner. Dattātreya now turns to the things that obstruct yoga.
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - modern transfer
jāyeta JM2024 ] jāyet tu DYŚ
Critical Apparatus
Dattātreyayogaśāstra 70
लवणं सर्षपश्चाम्लमुष्णं रूक्षं च तीक्ष्णकम् |
lavaṇaṃ sarṣapaś cāmlam; uṣṇaṃ rūkṣaṃ ca tīkṣṇakam | Analysis ▾ Analysis ▴
lavanam
accusative singular
substantive neuter
salt
sarṣapaḥ
nominative singular
substantive masculine
mustard
ca
particle
and
amlam
accusative singular neuter
adjective
sour food
uṣṇam
accusative singular neuter
adjective
hot food
rūkṣam
accusative singular neuter
adjective
dry food
ca
particle
and
tīkṣṇakam
accusative singular neuter
tīkṣṇaka
adjective
spicy food
अतीव भोजनं त्याज्यं स्त्रीसंगं गमनं बहु ||70||
atīva bhojanaṃ tyājyaṃ; strī-saṃgaṃ gamanaṃ bahu ||70|| Analysis ▾ Analysis ▴
atīva
previx
particle
exceedingly
bhojanam
accusative singular
substantive neuter
eating, food
tyājyam
accusative singular neuter future participle passive
verbal root
to be avoided
strī
tatpuruṣa-compound genitive
substantive feminine
woman
saṃgam
accusative singular
substantive masculine
company, association
gamanam
accusative singular
substantive neuter
travelling
bahu
accusative singular neuter
adjective
much, frequently
Metre: Anuṣṭubh
Salt (lavaṇam | acc sg), mustard (sarṣapaḥ | nom sg), sour food (amlam | acc sg), hot food (uṣṇam | acc sg n), dry food (rūkṣam | acc sg n), and spicy food (tīkṣṇakam | acc sg n) [are to be avoided]. Excessive (atīva) eating (bhojanam | acc sg), the company of women (strīsaṃgam | acc sg), and much travelling (gamanaṃ bahu | acc sg) are also to be avoided (tyājyam | acc sg n pfp).
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal
Salt, mustard, sour, hot, dry, and spicy food, overeating, the company of women, and frequent travel are to be avoided.
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - modern transfer
sarṣapaś JM2024 ] sarṣapaṃ DYŚ

strīsaṃgaṃ gamanaṃ bahu JM2024 ] strīsaṃgamanam eva ca DYŚ
Critical Apparatus
Dattātreyayogaśāstra 71
अग्निसेवा तु संत्यज्या धूर्तगोष्ठीश्च संत्यजेत् |
agni-sevā tu saṃtyajyā; dhūrta-goṣṭhīś ca saṃtyajet | Analysis ▾ Analysis ▴
agni
tatpuruṣa-compound genitive
substantive masculine
fire
sevā
nominative singular
substantive feminine
tending, service
tu
particle
but
saṃtyajyā
nominative singular feminine future participle passive
previx
verbal root
to be completely abandoned
dhūrta
tatpuruṣa-compound instrumental case
substantive masculine
rogue, cheat
goṣṭhīḥ
accusative plural
substantive feminine
gatherings
ca
particle
and
saṃtyajet
3rd person singular aktive optative
previx
verbal root
he should avoid
उपायं च प्रवक्ष्यामि क्षिप्रयोगप्रसिद्धये ||71||
upāyaṃ ca pravakṣyāmi; kṣipra-yoga-prasiddhaye ||71|| Analysis ▾ Analysis ▴
upāyam
accusative singular
substantive masculine
means, method
ca
particle
and
pravakṣyāmi
1st person singular future
previx
verbal root
I shall teach
kṣipra
karmadhāraya-compound
adjective
quick, rapid
yoga
tatpuruṣa-compound lokative
substantive masculine
yoga
prasiddhaye
dative singular
substantive feminine
for success; for accomplishment
Metre: Anuṣṭubh
Tending a fire (agnisevā | nom sg) is to be completely abandoned (saṃtyajyā | nom sg f pfp), and (ca) he should avoid (saṃtyajet | 3p sg act opt) gatherings of rogues (dhūrtagoṣṭhīḥ | acc pl). I shall now teach (pravakṣyāmi | 1p sg fut) a means (upāyam | acc sg) for quick success in yoga (kṣiprayogaprasiddhaye | dat sg).
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal
The practitioner should also avoid tending fires and associating with rogues. The text now presents means for quick success in yoga.
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - modern transfer
saṃtyajyā dhūrtagoṣṭhīś ca saṃtyajet JM2024 ] santyājyā dhūrttagoṣṭhīś ca santyajet DYŚ

kṣiprayogaprasiddhaye JM2024 ] kṣipraṃ yogasya siddhaye DYŚ
Critical Apparatus
Dattātreyayogaśāstra 72
क्षीरं घृतं च मिष्टान्नं मिताहारश्च शस्यते |
kṣīraṃ ghṛtaṃ ca miṣṭānnaṃ; mitāhāraś ca śasyate | Analysis ▾ Analysis ▴
kṣīram
accusative singular
substantive neuter
milk
ghṛtam
accusative singular
substantive neuter
ghee
ca
particle
and
miṣṭa
karmadhāraya-compound
adjective
sweet, pleasant
annam
accusative singular
substantive neuter
food
mita
karmadhāraya-compound
adjective
measured
āhāraḥ
nominative singular
substantive masculine
food
ca
particle
and
śasyate
3rd person singular passive present
verbal root
is prescribed
पूर्वोक्तकाले कुर्वीत पवनाभ्यासमेव च ||72||
pūrvokta-kāle kurvīta; pavanābhyāsam eva ca ||72|| Analysis ▾ Analysis ▴
pūrva
karmadhāraya-compound
adjective
previously, earlier
ukta
karmadhāraya-compound past participle passive
verbal root
prescribed
kāle
lokative singular
substantive masculine
at the time
kurvīta
3rd person singular medial optative
verbal root
he should perform
pavana
tatpuruṣa-compound genitive
substantive masculine
breath
abhyāsam
accusative singular
substantive masculine
practice
eva
particle
precisely
ca
particle
and
Metre: Anuṣṭubh
Milk (kṣīram | acc sg), ghee (ghṛtam | acc sg), sweet food (miṣṭānnam | acc sg), and (ca) a measured diet (mitāhāraḥ | nom sg) are prescribed (śasyate | 3p sg pas pres). He should perform (kurvīta | 3p sg med opt) breath practice (pavanābhyāsam | acc sg) at the previously stated times (pūrvoktakāle | loc sg).
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal
Milk, ghee, sweet food, and measured eating are recommended. Breath practice continues at the stated times.
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - modern transfer
kṣīraṃ ghṛtaṃ JM2024 ] ghṛtaṃ kṣīraṃ DYŚ

kurvīta JM2024 ] kūrvīta DYŚ
Critical Apparatus

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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 ›

Nils Jacob Liersch

Meine Begeisterung für Yoga, indische Philosophie und Sanskrit führte mich zum Studium der Indologie und Religionswissenschaft an der Universität Heidelberg. Seit 2004 befinde ich mich auf meinem persönlichen Yogaweg... more ›

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Vielen Dank, Ronald für das Teilen und strukturieren dieses wertvollen Wissens!
B.K.S. Iyengar soll im Vergleich der Asana und der Pranayama Praxis gesagt haben: "Die Früchte im Pranayama hängen höher, schmecken aber süßer!" Das kann ich nur bestätigen!