Now, Padmāsana: place the right foot on the left thigh and the left foot on the right thigh, crossing the hands behind and firmly holding the toes.

The description of Padmāsana, the lotus posture, begins. This is perhaps the most iconic image of yoga: the meditator seated with crossed legs, feet resting on the opposite thighs.

The described sequence is specific: first the right foot on the left thigh, then the left on the right. This configuration is sometimes called “right lotus” and has particular energetic effects according to tantric tradition.

The instruction to hold the toes from behind (paścimena vidhinā dhṛtvā karābhyām) describes a more advanced variation, sometimes called Baddha Padmāsana (bound lotus). In this version, the arms cross behind the back to reach the feet.

Dṛḍham — “firmly” — emphasizes that the posture must be stable. The lotus is not merely decorative; it is a mechanical structure that closes the lower body and directs energy upward.