When purification of the nāḍīs is achieved, external signs appear: the body becomes slender and luminous.

This verse describes the visible signs (cihnāni bāhyataḥ — “external signs”) that indicate real progress in nāḍī śuddhi (channel purification). These signs are objective, not imagined, and can be observed by the practitioner themselves and by others.

Kṛśatā means “slenderness” or “leanness.” As the nāḍīs become purified, metabolism optimizes, eliminating excess weight without effort. This is not the thinness of illness or deprivation, but the natural lightness of an efficient energy system.

Kānti means “luminosity,” “luster,” or “radiance.” The skin acquires a healthy glow, the eyes shine, there is a radiant quality to the practitioner’s presence. In Ayurvedic terms, this reflects an increase in ojas (vitality) and tejas (subtle fire).

The word niścitam (“with certainty” or “definitely”) emphasizes that these signs are reliable. If someone practices prāṇāyāma correctly for sufficient time, these changes will occur. Their absence after prolonged practice suggests that something in the method or conditions needs adjustment.