Kevala kumbhaka — absolute, spontaneous retention. It is the summit of prāṇāyāma, where breathing is suspended naturally without effort.

“Supreme, most secret” — the highest state, not revealed to the unprepared. “Means of liberation” — it directly leads to mokṣa.

Unlike sahita kumbhaka (retention with effort), kevala occurs when prāṇa flows freely through suṣumnā and external breathing becomes unnecessary.