Dvitīyopadeśaḥ (Āsana) · Verse 3
धनुर्मृतगुप्ता च मत्स्येन्द्रो गोरक्षकः | पश्चिमोत्तानकश्चैव उत्कटः संकटस्तथा ||
dhanurmṛtaguptā ca matsyendro gorakṣakaḥ | paścimottānakaścaiva utkaṭaḥ saṃkaṭastathā ||
The catalogue continues. Dhanur (bow), mṛta (dead/corpse — what we call śavāsana today), guptā (hidden), matsyendra (Lord of the Fish — seated twist), gorakṣa (of Gorakṣanāth, legendary master), paścimottāna (intense west/posterior extension), utkaṭa (powerful), saṃkaṭa (challenging/arduous).
The inclusion of mṛta (corpse posture) as an active āsana is interesting. In the classical tradition, śavāsana is not merely final relaxation but a practice of simulating death to liberate attachment to the body.
Matsyendra and gorakṣa honor the founders of the Nātha lineage. Āsanas carry the historical memory of the tradition.