Verse 14

Amritnada

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

नोच्छ्वसेन्न च निश्वासेत् गात्राणि नैव चालयेत् । एवं भावं नियुञ्जीयात् कुम्भकस्येति लक्षणम् ॥१४॥

Padapatha (Word Split)

न । उच्छ्वसेत् । न । च । निश्वासेत् । गात्राणि । न । एव । चालयेत् । एवम् । भावम् । नियुञ्जीयात् । कुम्भकस्य । इति । लक्षणम् ॥

IAST Transliteration

nocchvasen na ca niśvāset gātrāṇi naiva cālayet | evaṃ bhāvaṃ niyuñjīyāt kumbhakasyeti lakṣaṇam ||14||

Translation

மூச்சை உள்ளே இழுக்கவும் வேண்டாம், வெளியே விடவும் வேண்டாம்; உடல் உறுப்புகளைச் சிறிதும் அசைக்க வேண்டாம்; இவ்வாறான நிலையில் தன்னை நிலைநிறுத்த வேண்டும்—இதுவே கும்பகத்தின் இலக்கணம்.

Academic Translation

One should neither inhale nor exhale, and should not move the limbs at all; one should apply oneself to such a state—this is the characteristic of retention (kumbhaka).

Verse Context

• Nirodha (cessation/stilling) as a support for samādhi and Self-abidance
• Mahavakya: Indirect: bodily and respiratory stillness supports contemplative absorption in ‘tat tvam asi’/‘ahaṃ brahmāsmi’ by reducing distraction and vṛtti-flow.
• Atharva
• Chandas: Anuṣṭubh (śloka)