Caturthopadeśaḥ (Samādhi) · Verse 33
वायुर् बद्धो मनो बद्धं बिन्दुश् चित्तं च निश्चलम् | नाद-सिद्धौ भवेत् सिद्धिः संशयो नास्ति कश्चन
vāyur baddho mano baddhaṃ binduś cittaṃ ca niścalam | nāda-siddhau bhavet siddhiḥ saṃśayo nāsti kaścana
When the air is bound, the mind is bound;when the bindu is fixed, the mind is still.In the achievement of nāda is the achievement;there is no doubt.
This verse summarizes the correlation between the different levels of practice:
Vāyur baddho mano baddham — bound air, bound mind.Control of prāṇa automatically controls the mind.This is the fundamental premise of haṭha yoga, established since Chapter 2.
Bindu citta niścalam — fixed bindu, immobile mind.Bindu is the drop of vital essence;when it is retained and not dispersed, the mind attains perfect stability.
Nāda-siddhau bhavet siddhiḥ — in the attainment of nāda is attainment.Siddhi here means both technical mastery and spiritual realization.He who masters the practice of nāda achieves the goal.
Saṃśayo nāsti kaścana — there is no doubt.Svātmārāma affirms with absolute certainty the efficacy of this path.
The Bihar School points out three correlated paths:
- Prāṇāyāma — control of vāyu
- Vajrolī/conservation — retention of the bindu
- Nāda yoga — sound absorption
Each one affects the others;mastering any facilitates the others.The nāda is presented as the most direct path because it integrates the others.