One should exhale appropriately, inhale appropriately, and retain appropriately. Thus perfection is attained.

This verse emphasizes the word yukta (appropriate, correct, adequate) six times through the repetition yuktaṃ yuktaṃ. This repetition intensifies the message: each phase of breathing must be executed with precision and awareness.

The three phases are: tyajet (exhale/release), pūrayet (inhale/fill), and badhnīyāt (retain/bind). The order presented — beginning with exhalation — is significant. Many teachers instruct that completely emptying the lungs before inhaling allows for deeper and more effective breathing.

The final promise is siddhi — perfection or attainment of powers. When the three phases are practiced with correct proportion, rhythm, and attitude, the yogī reaches the higher states. The simplicity of the instruction contrasts with its depth: years of practice refine the understanding of what “appropriate” truly means in each moment.