Having correctly assumed padmāsana, with neck and abdomen aligned, the wise one should close the mouth and exhale vigorously through the nose.

This verse details the body position and the beginning of bhastrikā. Samyak padmāsanaṃ baddhvā emphasizes that the posture must be executed correctly — not approximately. Postural errors during vigorous breathing can cause injuries.

Samagrīvodaraḥ — “with neck and abdomen leveled/aligned” — indicates a straight spine and stable posture. This alignment is crucial for the free flow of prāṇa through suṣumnā.

The mouth remains closed (mukhaṃ saṃyamya) and the exhalation is through the nose (ghrāṇena). Yatnena suggests it must be done with effort or vigor — bhastrikā is an active practice, not a passive one. The exhalation is forced and rapid, like the sound of a blacksmith’s bellows.