Caturthopadeśaḥ (Samādhi) · Verse 7
घृतं गुडं च भुञ्जीत अध्वा-प्रथम-याम-गे | वायौ प्रविष्टे सुषुम्नायां केवलः कुम्भकस्तथा
ghṛtaṃ guḍaṃ ca bhuñjīta adhvā-prathama-yāma-ge | vāyau praviṣṭe suṣumnāyāṃ kevalaḥ kumbhakas tathā
One should eat ghee and jaggery before the first hour of the day. When the wind enters suṣumṇā, kevala kumbhaka arises.
A verse with practical indications and description of the attainment:
Ghṛtaṃ guḍaṃ ca — ghee (clarified butter) and guḍa (brown sugar, jaggery). This combination appears frequently in haṭha yoga texts as recommended diet:
- Ghee lubricates, nourishes tissues, calms vāta
- Guḍa provides quick energy
Adhvā-prathama-yāma-ge — before the first part of the path/day. Indicates early morning practice on an empty stomach except for this light food.
Vāyau praviṣṭe suṣumnāyām — when prāṇa enters suṣumṇā. This is the central event of all haṭha yoga: prāṇa leaves iḍā and piṅgalā and flows through the central channel.
Kevalaḥ kumbhakaḥ — absolute kumbhaka, spontaneous retention. It is not voluntary retention but the natural cessation of breathing when prāṇa becomes still.