Dattātreyayogaśāstra 143–145: Raising Apāna through the Root Lock

Heel pressure and contraction of the pelvic floor carry Apāna upward and unite Prāṇa, Apāna, Nāda, and Bindu as the ground of yogic perfection.

Dr. Ronald Steiner

Nils Jacob Liersch 24.07.2019

Dattātreyayogaśāstra 143

षण्मासमभ्यसेन्मृत्युं जयत्येव न संशयः |

ṣaṇ-māsam abhyasen mṛtyuṃ; jayaty eva na saṃśayaḥ | Analysis ▾ Analysis ▴

ṣaṭ karmadhāraya-compound	ṣaṭ numeral	six
māsam accusative singular	māsa substantive masculine	months
abhyaset 3rd person singular aktive optative	abhi previx as verbal root	should practise
mṛtyum accusative singular	mṛtyu substantive masculine	death
jayati 3rd person singular aktive present	ji verbal root	conquers
eva	eva particle	certainly
na	na particle	not
saṃśayaḥ nominative singular	saṃśaya substantive masculine	doubt

मूलबन्धं तु यो नित्यमभ्यसेत्स च योगवित् ||143||

mūla-bandhaṃ tu yo nityam; abhyaset sa ca yoga-vit ||143|| Analysis ▾ Analysis ▴

mūla tatpuruṣa-compound genitive	mūla substantive masculine	root
bandham accusative singular	bandha substantive masculine	lock
tu	tu particle	but
yaḥ nominative singular masculine	yad pronoun	whoever
nityam	nityam adverb	regularly
abhyaset 3rd person singular aktive optative	abhi previx as verbal root	should practise
saḥ nominative singular masculine	tad pronoun	he
ca	ca particle	and
yoga upapada-compound	yoga substantive masculine	yoga
vit nominative singular masculine	vid adjective	knower

Metre: Anuṣṭubh

Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal

After six months of such practice, death is said to be conquered. One who regularly practises Mūlabandha is called a knower of yoga.

Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - modern transfer

jayaty JM2024 ] jayed DYŚ

Critical Apparatus

Dattātreyayogaśāstra 144

गुदं पार्ष्ण्या तु संपीड्य योनिमाकुञ्चयेद्बलात् |

gudaṃ pārṣṇyā tu saṃpīḍya; yonim ākuñcayed balāt | Analysis ▾ Analysis ▴

gudam accusative singular	guda substantive masculine	anus
pārṣṇyā instrumental case singular	pārṣṇi substantive feminine	with the heel
tu	tu particle	now
saṃpīḍya absolutus	sam previx pīḍ verbal root	having pressed
yonim accusative singular	yoni substantive feminine	perineum
ākuñcayet 3rd person singular aktive optative	ā previx kuñc verbal root	should contract
balāt ablative singular	bala substantive neuter	forcefully

वारं वारं यथा चोर्ध्वं समायाति समीरणः ||144||

vāraṃ vāraṃ yathā cordhvaṃ; samāyāti samīraṇaḥ ||144|| Analysis ▾ Analysis ▴

vāram accusative singular	vāra substantive masculine	time
vāram accusative singular	vāra substantive masculine	after time
yathā	yathā adverb	so that
ca	ca particle	also
ūrdhvam	ūrdhvam adverb	upward
samāyāti 3rd person singular aktive present	sam previx ā previx yā verbal root	moves
samīraṇaḥ nominative singular	samīraṇa substantive masculine	breath

Metre: Anuṣṭubh

Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal

The heel presses the anal region while the perineum is repeatedly contracted, directing the breath upward.

Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - modern transfer

gudaṃ pārṣṇyā tu saṃpīḍya yonim JM2024 ] gude pārṣṇiṃ tu sampīḍya vāyum DYŚ

Critical Apparatus

Dattātreyayogaśāstra 145

प्राणापानौ नादबिन्दू मूलबन्धेन चैकताम् |

prāṇāpānau nāda-bindū; mūla-bandhena caikatām | Analysis ▾ Analysis ▴

prāṇa dvandva-compound	prāṇa substantive masculine	Prāṇa
apānau nominative dual	apāna substantive masculine	Apāna
nāda dvandva-compound	nāda substantive masculine	Nāda
bindū nominative dual	bindu substantive masculine	Bindu
mūla tatpuruṣa-compound genitive	mūla substantive masculine	root
bandhena instrumental case singular	bandha substantive masculine	through the lock
ca	ca particle	and
ekatām accusative singular	ekatā substantive feminine	unity

गत्वा योगस्य संसिद्धिं यच्छतो नात्र संशयः ||145||

gatvā yogasya saṃsiddhiṃ; yacchato nātra saṃśayaḥ ||145|| Analysis ▾ Analysis ▴

gatvā absolutus	gam verbal root	having reached
yogasya genitive singular	yoga substantive masculine	in yoga
saṃsiddhim accusative singular	saṃ previx siddhi substantive feminine	complete success
yacchataḥ 3rd person dual aktive present	yam verbal root	they bestow
na	na particle	not
atra	atra adverb	here
saṃśayaḥ nominative singular	saṃśaya substantive masculine	doubt

Metre: Anuṣṭubh

Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal

Through Mūlabandha, Prāṇa and Apāna, inner sound and bindu, are brought into union; this is said to yield complete success in yoga.

Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - modern transfer

yacchato JM2024 ] yacchatau DYŚ

Critical Apparatus

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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 ›

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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Dattātreyayogaśāstra 143–145: Raising Apāna through the Root Lock

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