SVU 2.12-2.13: Transformation of the Elements and the Body

The five elements and the fire of yoga transform the body; health, lightness, freedom from desire, clarity of appearance and voice mark progress.

Dr. Ronald Steiner

Nils Jacob Liersch 20.10.2022

Śvetāśvatara Upaniṣad 2.12

पृथ्व्यप्तेजो ऽनिलखे समुत्थिते पञ्चात्मके योगगुणे प्रवृत्ते |

pṛthvy ap tejo, 'nila-khe samutthite; pañcātmake, yoga-guṇe pravṛtte | Analysis ▾ Analysis ▴

pṛthivī dvandva-compound	pṛthivī substantive feminine	earth
ap dvandva-compound	ap substantive feminine	water
tejas dvandva-compound	tejas substantive neuter	fire, light
anila dvandva-compound	anila substantive masculine	air, wind
khe lokative singular	kha substantive neuter	in space, ether
samutthite lokative absolutus singular neuter past participle passive	sam previx ud previx sthā verbal root	when they have arisen
pañca dvigu-compound	pañca numeral	five, fivefold
ātmake lokative singular neuter	ātmaka adjective	consisting of parts, having the nature of
yoga tatpuruṣa-compound genitive	yoga substantive masculine	of yoga
guṇe lokative absolutus singular	guṇa substantive masculine	when the quality, power
pravṛtte lokative absolutus singular masculine past participle passive	pra previx vṛt verbal root	has arisen, become active

न तस्य रोगो न जरा न मृत्युः प्राप्तस्य योगाग्निमयं शरीरम् ||12||

na tasya rogo, na jarā na mṛtyuḥ; prāptasya yogā,gni-mayaṃ śarīram ||12|| Analysis ▾ Analysis ▴

na	na particle	not
tasya genitive singular masculine	tad pronoun dem	for him, his
rogaḥ nominative singular	roga substantive masculine	illness
na	na particle	not
jarā nominative singular	jarā substantive feminine	old age
na	na particle	not
mṛtyuḥ nominative singular	mṛtyu substantive masculine	death
prāptasya genitive singular masculine past participle passive	pra previx āp verbal root	of one who has attained
yoga tatpuruṣa-compound genitive	yoga substantive masculine	yoga
agni tatpuruṣa-compound genitive	agni substantive masculine	fire
mayam accusative singular neuter	maya adjective	consisting of, filled with
śarīram accusative singular	śarīra substantive neuter	the body

Metre: Pāda 1: Jagatī with Vaṃśa ending — 11 syllables; Pāda 2: Triṣṭubh with Vajrā ending; Pāda 3: Triṣṭubh with Vajrā ending; Pāda 4: Triṣṭubh with Vajrā ending

Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal

When earth, water, fire, air and space emerge in meditation and the fivefold power of yoga becomes active, the person who has attained a body permeated by the fire of yoga is subject to neither illness nor old age nor death.

Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - modern transfer

The Bhāṣya attributed to Śaṅkara understands the fivefold yogic state as the manifestation of elemental qualities: for example, the scent of earth, the taste of water and corresponding qualities of the other elements. The body of yogic fire is cleansed of faults; illness, old age and death can therefore no longer overcome the yogin.

Śaṅkara's Bhāṣya on the Śvetāśvatara Upaniṣad

Śaṅkarānanda emphasises that every body consists of all five elements. For him, the actual quality of yoga is the fruit of eight-limbed practice and knowledge of the Self, especially freedom from attachment to objects. Like gold in fire, the perishable elemental body is made incandescent by yoga; illness, decay and premature death lose their power.

Śaṅkarānanda's Śvetāśvataropaniṣaddīpikā

Nārāyaṇa presents a detailed elemental dhāraṇā: earth, water, fire, air and space are meditated upon in successive regions of the body with their bīja and associated deity and are finally dissolved into one another. Through mastery of the element under threat, the yogin is said to be able to ward off physical harm and determine the time of death.

Nārāyaṇa's Śvetāśvataropaniṣaddīpikā

Vijñānabhagavat associates the five elements with the maṇḍalas and powers Nivṛtti, Pratiṣṭhā, Vidyā, Śānti and Śāntyatīta. The yogin identifies with each level and withdraws the grosser into the subtler. Mastery means that the elements can be freely directed; at the same time, the identification 'I am the body' falls away.

Vijñānabhagavat's Śvetāśvataropaniṣadvivaraṇa

pṛthvyaptejo'nilakhe LV1958 ] pṛthivyaptejo'nilakhe ASS1927

mṛtyuḥ LV1958 ] duḥkham LV1958-app

Critical Apparatus

Aus Erde, Wasser, Feuer, Luft und Äther dann Fünffach entwickelt sich die Yoga-Tugend; Der weiß nichts mehr von Krankheit, Alter, Leiden, Der einen Leib erlangt aus Yogafeuer.

Paul Deussen - 1921

When the fivefold quality of Yoga has been produced, Arising from earth, water, fire, air, and space,<1> No sickness, no old age, no death has he Who has obtained a body made out of the fire of Yoga.
<1: That is, the five cosmic elements.>

Robert Hume - 1921

When Earth, water, fire, air, and ether have been conquered, and when, (therefore), the characteristic of yoga (consisting in the control of the five elements) has been achieved (then) no disease, no old age, and no death (will be) his (who has) acquired a body full of the fire of yoga.

Siddhesvar Varma Shastri - 1916

Aus Erde, Wasser, Feuer, Luft und Äther dann Fünffach entwickelt sich die Yoga-Tugend; Der weiß nichts mehr von Krankheit, Alter, Leiden, Der einen Leib erlangt aus Yogafeuer.

Paul Deussen - 1897

When, as earth, water, light, heat, and ether arise, the fivefold quality of Yoga takes place<1>, then there is no longer illness, old age, or pain<2> for him who has obtained a body, produced by the fire of Yoga.
<1: The Yogaguna is described as the quality of each element, i.e. smell of the earth, taste of water, &c. It seems that the perception of these gunas is called yogapravritti. Thus by fixing the thought on the tip of the nose, a perception of heavenly scent is produced; by fixing it on the tip of the tongue, a perception of heavenly taste; by fixing it on the point of the palate, a heavenly colour; by fixing it on the middle of the tongue, a heavenly touch; by fixing it on the roof of the tongue, a heavenly sound. By means of these perceptions the mind is supposed to be steadied, because it is no longer attracted by the outward objects themselves. See Yoga-sūtras I, 35.>
<2: Or no death, na mrityuh, B.>

F. Max Müller - 1884

When (in the Yogi’s body) composed of earth, water, light, air and ether, the five-fold qualities which mark concentration (v. the next verse), are manifest, then there is no disease, or age, or pain for him, who has obtained the body burning with the fire of concentration.

Edward Röer - 1853

Śvetāśvatara Upaniṣad 2.13

लघुत्वमारोग्यमलोलुपत्वं वर्णप्रसादः स्वरसौष्ठवं च |

laghutvam ārogyam, alolupatvaṃ; varṇa-prasādaḥ, svara-sauṣṭhavaṃ ca | Analysis ▾ Analysis ▴

laghutvam nominative singular	laghutva substantive neuter	lightness, agility
ārogyam nominative singular	ārogya substantive neuter	health
alolupatvam nominative singular	alolupatva substantive neuter	freedom from desire, non-covetousness
varṇa tatpuruṣa-compound genitive	varṇa substantive masculine	of colour, appearance
prasādaḥ nominative singular	prasāda substantive masculine	clarity, purity
svara tatpuruṣa-compound genitive	svara substantive masculine	of the voice
sauṣṭhavam nominative singular	sauṣṭhava substantive neuter	beauty, excellence
ca	ca particle	and

गन्धः शुभो मूत्रपुरीषमल्पं योगप्रवृत्तिं प्रथमां वदन्ति ||13||

gandhaḥ śubho, mūtra-purīṣam alpaṃ; yoga-pravṛttiṃ, prathamāṃ vadanti ||13|| Analysis ▾ Analysis ▴

gandhaḥ nominative singular	gandha substantive masculine	scent, smell
śubhaḥ nominative singular masculine	śubha adjective	pleasant, pure
mūtra dvandva-compound	mūtra substantive neuter	urine
purīṣam nominative singular	purīṣa substantive neuter	faeces, excretion
alpam nominative singular neuter	alpa adjective	little, scant
yoga tatpuruṣa-compound genitive	yoga substantive masculine	of yoga
pravṛttim accusative singular	pravṛtti substantive feminine	onset, becoming active
prathamām accusative singular feminine	prathama adjective	the first, initial
vadanti 3rd person plural aktive present	vad verbal root	they call, declare

Metre: Triṣṭubh with Vajrā ending

Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal

Lightness, health and freedom from desire, a clear appearance, a melodious voice, a pleasant bodily scent and scant excretions are regarded as the first signs that yoga is taking effect.

Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - modern transfer

The Bhāṣya attributed to Śaṅkara treats the listed characteristics as the first signs of successful yogic practice. In addition to lightness and health, it particularly explains the clear voice, a naturally pleasant bodily scent and scant excretion as effects of a body that is becoming increasingly purified and functioning economically.

Śaṅkara's Bhāṣya on the Śvetāśvatara Upaniṣad

Śaṅkarānanda understands the series as early signs of siddhi. 'Non-greed' is freedom from dependent desire, radiance of complexion means a pleasing appearance, and the voice becomes melodious. The pleasant scent delights all beings; the commentary also suggests that even the yogin's surroundings lose their hostility.

Śaṅkarānanda's Śvetāśvataropaniṣaddīpikā

Nārāyaṇa assigns the bodily signs to the Ārambha stage, the first of four phases of yoga: Ārambha, Ghaṭa, Paricaya and Niṣpatti. The list is thus not a loose collection of marvellous effects but a diagnostic marker of a stage within a more comprehensive model of progress.

Nārāyaṇa's Śvetāśvataropaniṣaddīpikā

varṇaprasādaḥ LV1958 ] varṇaprasādam ASS1927

Critical Apparatus

Behendigkeit, Gesundheit, Unbegehren, Ein klares Antlitz, Lieblichkeit der Stimme, Schöner Geruch, der Ausscheidungen wenig,—Darin betätigt sich zuerst der Yoga.

Paul Deussen - 1921

Lightness, healthiness, steadiness,<1> Clearness of countenance and pleasantness of voice, Sweetness of odor, and scanty excretions—These, they say, are the first stage in the progress of Yoga.
<1: Or, with another reading, alolubhatvam, ‘freedom from desires.’>

Robert Hume - 1921

(The yogis) describe the first commencement of yoga as being lightness of the body, good health, freedom from attachment to senses, brightness of colour, fineness of voice, good smell, and urine and excreta small in quantity.

Siddhesvar Varma Shastri - 1916

Behendigkeit, Gesundheit, Unbegehren, Ein klares Antlitz, Lieblichkeit der Stimme, Schöner Geruch, der Ausscheidungen wenig,—Darin betätigt sich zuerst der Yoga.

Paul Deussen - 1897

The first results of Yoga they call lightness, healthiness, steadiness, a good complexion, an easy pronunciation, a sweet odour, and slight excretions.

F. Max Müller - 1884

When the body is light and without disease, the mind without desire, when the colour is shining, sweet the voice and pleasant the smell, when the excrements are few, they say, the first degree of concentration is gained.

Edward Röer - 1853

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 ›

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 ›

Messages and ratings

2 messages Ø

Please log in to write a message. Go to login

16.07.2026

Der Klang und die Interpretation erreichen mich und machen mich positiv. Wenn möglich wünsche ich mir ein Audio File zum erlernen und verbessern ;-)

29.07.2026

Wau wie schön. Vielen Dank.

SVU 2.12-2.13: Transformation of the Elements and the Body

Continue with AYI Free

Choose your privacy settings.

Adjust your preferences.

Optional