Exhale with measure, inhale with measure, retain with measure. Thus perfection is attained.

This verse is remarkable for its repetitive structure emphasizing the central concept: yukta (measure, proportion, appropriateness). The word appears six times, hammering home the message that moderation and precision are the keys to success.

The three phases of prāṇāyāma are mentioned:

• Tyajet vāyum — exhale (recaka)
• Pūrayet — inhale (pūraka)
• Badhnīyāt — retain (kumbhaka)

Each must be done yuktaṃ yuktam — “with measure and measure,” meaning with perfect proportion. This suggests both the ratio between phases (such as 1:4:2) and suitability to individual capacity.

The final promise is clear: siddhi (perfection, achievement, power). In the haṭha yoga context, siddhi can refer both to mastery of technique and to the yogic powers that arise from it.

This verse counters the human tendency toward excess. It’s not about retaining breath as long as possible or breathing as deeply as possible, but about finding the perfect proportion for each practitioner at each moment of their development.