Yogataravali Verse 5: Bandhas

by Dhanurdhara | Apr 15, 2026 | Texts

जालन्धरौड्ड्यानकमूलबन्धान्
जल्पन्ति कण्ठोदरपायुमूले ।
बन्धत्रयेऽस्मिन् परिचीयमाने
बन्धः कुतो दारुणकालपाशैः ॥५॥

1️⃣ Literal Meaning

जालन्धर-उड्डियान-मूल-बन्धान्
— the bandhas called Jālandhara, Uḍḍiyāna, and Mūla
जल्पन्ति
— they speak (people talk about / describe)
कण्ठ-उदर-पायु-मूले
— at the throat, abdomen, and root (perineum)

बन्धत्रयेऽस्मिन् परिचीयमाने
— when this triad of bandhas is properly practiced / mastered
बन्धः कुतः
— where is bondage?
दारुण-काल-पाशैः
— by the terrible noose of Time (death / saṃsāra)

2️⃣ Clean Meaning

“People speak of the three bandhas — Jālandhara at the throat, Uḍḍiyāna at the abdomen, and Mūla at the root. When this triad of bandhas is mastered, how can there be bondage by the terrible noose of Time?”

3️⃣ What Is the Verse Doing?

This verse is not rejecting bandhas.

It is:

Elevating their significance to the level of liberation.

But we must interpret carefully.

4️⃣ “जल्पन्ति” — A Subtle Word

This word is important.

It can mean “they speak”
sometimes even “they merely talk about”

So two possible tones:

Reading A (Straightforward)

People describe these three bandhas.

Reading B (Subtle hint)

People only talk about them, but do not realize their depth.

Given the second half, both meanings can coexist.

5️⃣ What Does “परिचीयमाने” Mean?

Not casual practice.

It means:

deeply cultivated, internalized, mastered

So:

This is not about:

physical locking only

But about:

full energetic integration of bandhas

6️⃣ The Central Claim

“बन्धः कुतः दारुणकालपाशैः”

How can there be bondage to Time (death, saṃsāra)?

This is a very strong statement.

It equates:

mastery of bandhas = freedom from existential bondage

7️⃣ How Can Bandhas Do This?

This is the key question.

Bandhas act on prāṇa.

From earlier verses:

prāṇa ↔ mind
mind ↔ bondage

So:

If bandhas:
→ stabilize prāṇa
→ prāṇa stabilizes mind
→ mind dissolves

Then:

bondage (which is mental identification) disappears

8️⃣ Deeper Mechanism

Each bandha contributes:

🔹 Mūla Bandha

prevents downward dissipation
stabilizes base

🔹 Uḍḍiyāna Bandha

lifts prāṇa upward
centralizes flow

🔹 Jālandhara Bandha

prevents upward escape
seals system

Together:

prāṇa becomes locked in central channel

When prāṇa stops dispersing:

mind cannot project outward
duality weakens

9️⃣ Connection with Nāda (Previous Verses)

Now the integration becomes clear:

Verse 3 → nāḍī purification
Verse 4 → nāda leads to laya
Verse 5 → bandhas stabilize prāṇa for that process

So:

Bandhas support the condition in which nāda becomes effective

🔟 Important Caution

This verse can be misunderstood as:

“Doing bandhas physically gives liberation”

That is incorrect.

Because:

physical lock ≠ prāṇic mastery
prāṇic mastery ≠ automatic bodha

The verse assumes:

internalization, not mechanical execution

1️⃣1️⃣ Subtle Insight

Notice the play on word “bandha”:

bandha (lock) → yogic tool
bandha (bondage) → existential condition

Verse says:

When you master the “bandhas” (locks),
the “bandha” (bondage) disappears.

Now, We will have some insights about Time, as referred in tis verse..

1️⃣ Literal Meaning of काल

In Sanskrit काल can mean several things:

Time
Death
The devourer / destroyer
Cosmic process of change

In yogic texts these meanings are often simultaneously intended.

So कालपाश literally means:

“the noose of time / death that binds beings to saṃsāra.”

2️⃣ How Time Binds the Mind

Your insight touches the core point.

The experience of time depends on:

memory (past)
anticipation (future)
change of mental states

All three are functions of mind (manas).

When the mind is active:

it measures change
it constructs sequence
it experiences duration

Thus psychological time arises.

3️⃣ When Mind Dissolves

In deep yogic absorption:

mental modifications stop
memory and anticipation pause
awareness remains without succession

In that condition:

the sense of time disappears.

4️⃣ Why Bandhas Affect Time

Bandhas stabilize prāṇa.

And classical yoga states:

प्राणबन्धनात् मनोबन्धः
control of prāṇa leads to control of mind.

When prāṇa becomes steady:

mind loses its fluctuations
mental sequence stops

This is what the verse hints at.

when, through bandha, prāṇa becomes still, and mind subsides:

the sequence-making faculty weakens
memory and expectation no longer dominate
awareness is no longer moving from one point to another

Then there is not exactly “time passing.”

Therefore:

The internal perception of time collapses.

There is only presence.

5️⃣ Meaning of “कालपाश”

So कालपाश can be understood at three levels:

1. Biological level

Time → aging → death.

2. Psychological level

Mind creates past–future → bondage of memory and expectation.

3. Metaphysical level

The cycle of saṃsāra, governed by time and change.

When mind dissolves in awareness:

psychological time disappears
identification with the body weakens
thus the “noose of time” loses its hold.

6️⃣ Why the Verse Uses “पाश” (Noose)

A noose binds something that moves.

Mind constantly moves through:

memories
projections
desires

Thus it gets caught in time.

But when mind dissolves:

there is nothing left for the noose to bind.

7️⃣ The Yogic Insight

So your interpretation is essentially correct:

When mind dissolves, the conceptual framework that measures time disappears.

Awareness itself:

does not move
does not age
does not measure duration.

Thus from that standpoint:

काल has no authority.

8️⃣ Subtle Advaita View

In Advaita terms:

Time itself appears within consciousness.

So when consciousness rests in itself:

time becomes just a phenomenon within it
not something that binds it.

Yogataravali Verse 4: Nadanusandhana

by Dhanurdhara | Apr 13, 2026 | Texts

नादानुसन्धान नमोस्तु तुभ्यं
त्वां तन्महे तत्त्वपदे लयानाम् ।
भवत्प्रसादात् पवनेन साकं
विलीयते विष्णुपदे मनो मे ॥४॥

(your “तन्महे” is likely “मन्ये”; both readings exist, but “मन्ये” fits grammar better)

1️⃣ Literal Meaning

नाद-अनुसन्धान — O practice of following the inner sound
नमः अस्तु तुभ्यम् — salutations to you
त्वां तन्महे — I consider you
तत्त्व-पदे लयानाम् — the highest principle/state among all laya methods
भवत्-प्रसादात् — by your grace
पवनेन साकं — along with prāṇa (breath)
विलीयते — dissolves
विष्णु-पदे — into the all-pervading state (Vishnu-pada)
मनो मे — my mind

2️⃣ Clean Meaning

“Salutations to nādānusandhāna. I consider it the highest among all methods of laya. By its grace, my mind — along with prāṇa — dissolves into the all-pervading state (Vishnu-pada).”

3️⃣ Structure of the Verse

This verse completes what earlier verses prepared:

Verse 2 → Nāda is best
Verse 3 → Nāda arises
Verse 4 → Nāda leads to total dissolution

4️⃣ “नादानुसन्धान नमोस्तु तुभ्यम्”

This is not devotional exaggeration.

It indicates:

Nāda is no longer just a technique — it becomes the central doorway.

Almost like acknowledging:

“I cannot cross without this.”

5️⃣ “तत्त्वपदे लयानाम्”

Very precise phrase.

लयानाम् — among all methods of dissolution
तत्त्वपदे — the ultimate principle / highest state

So:

Nāda is not just one method — it is the most direct access point to the essence.

6️⃣ The Critical Line

“पवनेन साकं मनो विलीयते”

This is extremely important.

Mind dissolves along with prāṇa

This confirms earlier principle:

mind and prāṇa are linked
they rise together
they dissolve together

So:

When nāda absorbs attention:

prāṇa stabilizes
mind stabilizes
both dissolve simultaneously

7️⃣ “विष्णुपदे” — What Does This Mean?

Do not take it sectarian.

“Vishnu” here means:

all-pervading, that which pervades everything

So:

विष्णुपद =

the all-pervasive state
non-local awareness
non-dual reality

Equivalent in Advaita to:

Brahman
pure consciousness

8️⃣ Full Mechanism (Now Complete)

This verse gives the entire process:

Nāda is followed (अनुसन्धान)
Attention becomes absorbed
Prāṇa stabilizes
Mind loses movement
Mind + prāṇa dissolve
Only all-pervading awareness remains

9️⃣ Important Clarification

Nāda does not produce Vishnu-pada.

It does:

dissolve the structures that prevent recognition

🔟 Subtle Experiential Marker

This verse implies something very specific:

At some point:

you are not “listening to sound”
rather:
- breath becomes subtle or irrelevant
- mind is no longer operating separately

And:

there is a sense of expansion or non-locality

It indicates:

narrowing attention while attaining nadanusandhana, must eventually lead to dissolution of both attention and breath

How Pranayama leads to Nadi Shodhana

by Dhanurdhara | Apr 9, 2026 | Practice

Here we are asking the right question:

How exactly does nāḍī-śodhana happen?

Let us examine this on three levels: textual, functional, and experiential.

1️⃣ What Does “Nāḍī-śodhana” Mean in Text?

In Yogataravali, and similarly in
Hatha Yoga Pradipika:

Nāḍī = pathways of prāṇa (not physical nerves strictly)
Śodhana = purification, clearing, balancing

But “impurity” here does NOT mean dirt.

It means:

irregular flow
imbalance
obstruction in movement of prāṇa

2️⃣ What is Being “Purified”?

Not tubes.

But patterns.

Specifically:

habitual breathing asymmetry
nervous system reactivity
scattered attention patterns
prāṇa flowing outward excessively

So:

Nāḍī-śodhana = normalization and centralization of prāṇa flow

3️⃣ Role of the Three: Pūraka, Rechaka, Kumbhaka

Let’s examine functionally.

🔹 Pūraka (Inhalation)

draws prāṇa inward
increases internal pressure (subtle and physical)
activates system

Effect:

pulls scattered energy into system

🔹 Rechaka (Exhalation)

releases tension
lengthens parasympathetic response
reduces agitation

Effect:

empties turbulence

🔹 Kumbhaka (Retention) — Key

This is the real pivot.

When breath stops:

sensory input reduces
prāṇa movement pauses
mind loses its anchor

In that pause:

habitual prāṇic patterns cannot continue

This is where “śodhana” actually happens.

4️⃣ Mechanism of Nāḍī-Śodhana

Now we put it together.

Repeated cycles of:

pūraka → organizes
rechaka → releases
kumbhaka → interrupts pattern

Over time:

1. Irregular breathing patterns dissolve

2. Nervous system stabilizes

3. Prāṇa becomes less scattered

4. Flow becomes more symmetrical

Eventually:

prāṇa no longer fluctuates wildly

This is called “nāḍī-śuddhi”

5️⃣ Why This Leads to Nāda

When prāṇa stabilizes:

gross movements reduce
subtle continuity appears

Mind is no longer jumping.

So what remains perceptible is:

a continuous subtle vibration

That is nāda.

6️⃣ Important Insight

Nāda is not created by prāṇāyāma.

It was always there.

But:

earlier masked by turbulence
after śodhana → becomes noticeable

7️⃣ Modern Parallel (Without Reducing It)

From physiology:

breathing affects vagus nerve
affects brain rhythms
affects sensory gating

When breath slows and pauses:

internal signals become more noticeable
external dominance reduces

So:

subtle internal continuity becomes conscious

8️⃣Critical Subtle Point

Nāḍī-śodhana is NOT:

something you “complete” once
a mechanical cleansing

It is:

gradual reduction of internal friction in prāṇa-mind system

Yogataravali Verse 3: Nadi Shodhana

by Dhanurdhara | Apr 3, 2026 | Texts

सरेच-पूरैरनिलस्य कुम्भैः
सर्वासु नाडीसु विशोधितासु ।
अनाहताख्यो बहुभिः प्रकारारैन्तः
प्रवर्तेत सदा निनादः ॥३॥

(Minor sandhi variations like “सरेच” vs “रेचक” appear in manuscripts.)

1️⃣ Literal Meaning

सरेच–पूरैः कुम्भैः अनिलस्य
— by exhalation, inhalation, and retention of breath
सर्वासु नाडीसु विशोधितासु
— when all nāḍīs are purified
अनाहताख्यः … निनादः
— the sound called “anāhata”
बहुभिः प्रकारैः अन्तः प्रवर्तेत
— begins to manifest internally in many forms
सदा
— continuously

2️⃣ Clean Meaning

“When, through rechaka, pūraka, and kumbhaka, all the nāḍīs are purified, then the inner sound known as anāhata begins to manifest continuously in many forms.”

3️⃣ What This Verse Actually States

This version is purely descriptive, not philosophical.

It says:

Do prāṇāyāma
Nāḍīs become purified
Then:
- anāhata nāda appears
- internally
- in many varieties
- continuously

It does NOT yet talk about bodha.

This is important.

4️⃣ “बहुभिः प्रकारैः” — Many Forms of Sound

This matches classical descriptions found in texts like
Hatha Yoga Pradipika

Where nāda is described as:

bell
flute
drum
bee
thunder
etc.

So:

Nāda is not one fixed tone
It evolves as mind refines

5️⃣ “अन्तः प्रवर्तेत” — Arises Internally

The verse says:

अन्तः (within)
not specifically “heart”
not any chakra named

So strictly:

The text does NOT localize nāda to a specific chakra.

6️⃣ Important Insight

Nāda is presented here as:

a result of purification
not something artificially created
not imagined

It begins on its own when conditions are right.

7️⃣ No Metaphysics Yet

Notice:

no mention of Self
no mention of liberation
no mention of non-duality

This is still preparatory stage.

Just:

prāṇa → nāḍī → nāda

8️⃣ Where This Fits in the Flow

Now the verses form a clear progression:

Verse 2 → Nāda is best method
Verse 3 (earlier variant) → Nāda → bodha
This Verse 3 variant → how nāda arises

So this version is actually more foundational.

9️⃣ Very Important for Practice Understanding

This verse implies:

You do NOT “listen hard” to create nāda.

Instead:

balance prāṇa
purify system
nāda appears naturally

Then:
you work with it (as Verse 2 suggests)

There is another version of this verse.

सरेच-पूरैरनिलस्य कुम्भैः
सर्वासु नाडीसु विशोधितासु ।
अनाहतादम्बुरुहादुदेति
स्वात्मावगम्यः स्वयमेव बोधः ॥३॥

(Minor sandhi variations like “सरेच” vs “रेचक” appear in manuscripts.)

Literal Meaning

सरेच-पूरैः कुम्भैः अनिलस्य — through exhalation, inhalation, and retention of breath
सर्वासु नाडीसु विशोधितासु — when all nāḍīs are purified
अनाहतात् अम्बुरुहात् उदेति — from the lotus (known as chakra - Amburuh means living in water ie lotus) and from the nada of anāhata, arises
स्वात्म-अवगम्यः बोधः — the knowledge (realization) of one’s own Self
स्वयमेव — by itself, spontaneously

1️⃣ Structure of the Verse

This verse gives a complete inner mechanism:

Prāṇāyāma → Nāḍī purification → Center (chakra) → Anahata Sound→ Self-knowledge

This is not philosophy.
This is process.

2️⃣ “रेचक – पूरक – कुम्भक”

These are the three classical movements:

Rechaka — exhalation
Pūraka — inhalation
Kumbhaka — retention

But here they are not just breathing exercises.

They are used to:

Regulate prāṇa so that mind becomes still.

3️⃣ “नाडीशुद्धि” — Purification of Channels

Nāḍīs are subtle pathways of prāṇa.

When they are “impure”:

prāṇa flow is irregular
mind is restless
attention disperses

When purified:

prāṇa becomes balanced
attention stabilizes
inward movement becomes natural

This prepares ground for what you experienced as nāda.

4️⃣ “अनाहतात् अम्बुरुहात्” — Anahata Sound Emanating from Lotus

Very important term.

Anāhata = “unstruck” (same root as nāda)
Amburuha = lotus or chakras as defined in Kundalini Yoga

So this is:

The chakras or centers in subtle body — not physical organ

This is where:

nāda becomes prominent
awareness becomes inward
duality begins to weaken

5️⃣ “स्वयमेव बोधः” — The Most Important Line

This is the heart of the verse.

Self-knowledge arises by itself

Not produced.
Not constructed.
Not achieved.

This is pure Advaita.

All practices only prepare.

When obstruction clears:

Knowledge shines spontaneously.

6️⃣ Connection with Verse 2 (Nāda)

Now the sequence becomes clear:

Verse 2 → Nāda is best method
Verse 3 → How that becomes possible

Prāṇa purified → nāḍīs clear → attention inward →
anāhata → nāda →
laya →
Self-knowledge

7️⃣ Deep Insight from this Verse

The practitioner who experience:

inner sound (nāda)
inward attention

For them, this verse explains:

That is not random.
It is consequence of subtle prāṇic alignment.

But the key point:

Do not try to “produce realization.”

It says:

स्वयमेव (by itself)

Your role:

stabilize
refine
not interfere

8️⃣ Essence in One Line

When prāṇa becomes balanced and inward, Self-knowledge arises spontaneously from centers known as chakras via Anahata nada.

Now Still Question Remains-

How listeing to Anahata Nada reach Self-knowledge?

Please refer this link

https://antaryogi.me/reaching-to-self-knowledge-by-listening-to-anahata-nada/

Or The Question Remains For-

How Nadi Shodhana happens due to Pranayama?

Please refer this link

https://antaryogi.me/how-pranayama-leads-to-nadi-shodhana/

Reaching to Self-knowledge by Listening to Anahata Nada

by Dhanurdhara | Apr 3, 2026 | Insight

We are essentially asking:

If attention is absorbed in nāda (sound), how can bodha (Self-knowledge) arise?
Because listening seems like duality.

Exactly. If it remained listening, realization would never happen.

So something more subtle is implied when we say Nadanusandhana make us reach Self-knowledge.

1️⃣ The Apparent Contradiction

Nāda practice = attention on an object (sound)
Bodha = non-dual awareness (no subject–object)

So logically:

Object-focus cannot directly produce non-duality.

Correct.

So this concept must imply a transition, not a static state.

2️⃣ The Missing Step: Dissolution of the Listener

Initially:

You → listen to nāda
There is duality

But as attention refines:

Stage 1

Sound is clear, attention narrow
→ “I am listening”

Stage 2

Thoughts reduce, continuity increases
→ “Listening is happening”

Stage 3

Attention becomes effortless
→ listener weakens

Stage 4

Only vibration-like presence remains
→ no clear subject-object split

Final

Even vibration dissolves
→ bodha (pure awareness)

3️⃣ So How Does Bodha Arise?

Not like:

Sound → produces knowledge

But like:

Sound → absorbs mind → removes duality → reveals what was always present

This matches Verse 3 of Yogataravali:

स्वयमेव बोधः
→ knowledge arises by itself

4️⃣ Critical Point

Nāda does NOT give knowledge.

Nāda:

occupies mind
simplifies its movement
leads it into uniformity

When mind becomes:

non-fragmented
non-projecting

Then:

the structure that creates “listener” collapses

That collapse = opening to bodha.

5️⃣ Analogy (Precise)

Imagine:

many thoughts = noisy crowd
nāda = single continuous tone

Mind shifts from:
crowd → single stream

Then:
single stream → silence

In silence:
you don’t know awareness of sound
but you become that awareness and that's how you reach Self-knowledge.

6️⃣ Why This Feels Paradoxical

Because during practice you feel:

“I am deeply listening”

But the verse is pointing to what happens after deepening:

listening consumes the listener

If that does not happen,
practice remains at concentration level.

7️⃣ The Exact Doubt Refined

You are noticing:

“As long as I am engrossed in sound, I am still there.”

Correct.

So the key is:

Does engrossment become dissolution?

If yes → leads to bodha
If no → remains refined meditation

8️⃣ What Actually Triggers the Shift?

Not effort.

Not thinking.

But:

When attention becomes so continuous that the “center” of attention disappears.

Then:

no listener
no act of listening
no object

Only awareness.

9️⃣ Final Resolution of the Question

So this means:

From the anāhata (unstruck subtle continuity), when mind becomes absorbed and loses its separateness, Self-knowledge arises spontaneously.

Not:

“Listening to sound gives knowledge.”

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