Now the āsanas are described. In ancient times, the ṛṣis such as Vasiṣṭha taught eighty-four lakhs of āsanas.

This verse formally introduces the section on āsanas and establishes their origin in the tradition of the great Vedic sages. The mention of Vasiṣṭha, one of the seven ṛṣis (saptaṛṣi), confers scriptural authority upon these teachings.

The number “eighty-four lakhs” (8,400,000) is symbolic rather than literal. In Indian tradition, this number represents the totality of life forms. Legend holds that Śiva taught one āsana for each living species, suggesting that each posture contains the energetic essence of that life form.

This vast number also indicates that physical yoga is a practically inexhaustible field. However, as we will see in the following verses, Svātmārāma will select only the most essential postures for the serious practitioner.