Now Uḍḍīyāna Bandha: Since by this bandha the prāṇa flies upward through suṣumṇā, therefore it is called Uḍḍīyāna by the yogis.

This verse introduces Uḍḍīyāna Bandha providing the etymology of its name.Uḍḍīyāna derives from the root uḍ-ḍī which means “to fly upward.”The name perfectly describes the effect: when performed correctly, prāṇa rises through the central suṣumṇā channel like a bird taking flight.

The reference to suṣumṇā is significant.Under ordinary conditions, prāṇa circulates predominantly through iḍā and piṅgalā, the side channels.Only when both channels are balanced and the bandhas applied can prāṇa enter suṣumṇā, the direct path to higher states of consciousness.

The term baddha (bound, bound) indicates that Uḍḍīyāna functions as an energetic lock.Retraction of the abdomen creates a vacuum that literally sucks the prāṇa upward, directing it toward the suṣumṇā rather than allowing it to disperse through the secondary channels.