Yājñavalkya’s opening in this verse, following the affirmation of Gārgī’s capacity, immediately shifts to a precise anatomical description of the sharira, the body, stating it measures ninety-six finger-breadths. This immediately establishes a methodical, quantitative approach to the human form, a stark contrast to the often-intuitive or symbolic representations found in some earlier philosophical traditions. The use of the anga – ‘finger-breadth’ – is significant, grounding the abstract concept of the body in a palpable, measurable unit, reflecting a deep understanding of prāṇa’s circulation and the subtle energies that permeate the being. This emphasis on measurement is characteristic of the later developments in the haṭha yoga system, where the body is viewed as a vessel to be skillfully shaped and directed for the purpose of samādhi, and it anticipates the more detailed explorations of the cakras and nāḍīs found in later yogic texts.