Without rāja yoga, the earth has no value; without rāja yoga, the night is not beautiful; without rāja yoga, even the most elaborate mudrās lack splendor.

A verse that establishes the subordination of haṭha yoga to rāja yoga. Contrary to those who see these traditions as separate or rival, Svātmārāma integrates them.

Rāja yoga here means the state of samādhi, meditative absorption. The verse states that without this final goal:

• The earth (pṛthvī) — the material world, lacks purpose
• The night (niśā) — the time for meditation, loses its beauty
• The mudrās (vicitrā — however elaborate) — do not shine

The implication is clear: the practices of haṭha yoga (āsana, prāṇāyāma, mudrā) are means, not ends. Accumulating techniques without orienting them toward samādhi is missing the point.

This verse also functions as a transition to chapter 3 on mudrās, reminding us that these powerful practices only make sense in the context of the ultimate goal.