Vīrāsana — the hero posture. The vīra is the noble warrior, one who faces danger with courage and honor. This posture requires that same serene determination.

“Facilitator of happiness” (sukha-sādhanam). Curiously, Vīrāsana is described as comfortable (sukha) despite its apparent intensity. Once mastered, it is one of the most comfortable postures for long sitting.

The description is brief: one foot between the two — that is, kneeling with the buttocks between the heels. It is the natural sitting posture in traditional India, and remains so in many rural regions.