Caturtha-prakaraṇam (Nāḍī-śuddhi) · Verse 10

स एव ब्रह्मविच्छ्रेष्ठः स सम्पूज्यो नरोत्तमः । आत्मस्थवह्निनैव त्वं योगजेन द्विजोत्तमे ॥

sa eva brahmavicchreṣṭhaḥ sa sampūjyo narottamaḥ | ātmas thavahninaiva tvaṃ yogajena dvijottame ||

This verse elevates the yogī to a position of profound reverence, designating them as brahma-viccheṣṭa, “the most excellent among those who know Brahman,” a superlative title signifying a level of understanding far surpassing mere intellectual knowledge. The description of the yogī’s state – with the “fire of yoga established in the ātman” – powerfully evokes the transformative effect of prāṇāyāma and meditation, where the energetic flow of prāṇa is consciously directed inward, ultimately harmonizing with the core of being. The term dvija – signifying a twice-born individual, often associated with those who have undergone a ritual purification – underscores the yogī’s transition from a mundane existence to one imbued with spiritual significance. This verse, therefore, isn’t merely a descriptive statement but a commendation of a realized practitioner, highlighting the culmination of disciplined practice and the attainment of a state of profound unity with the ultimate reality, mirroring the aspirations found within the Upaniṣads and the ultimate goal of samādhi.