Yoga s

Verses, Translation and Commentary 177
Verse 40
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udānajayāt jala paṅka kaṇṭakādiṣu asaṇgaḥ
utkrāntiḥ ca
udāna – air which rises from the throat and enters the head; jayāt – from
the conquest of; jala – water; paṅka – mud; kaṇṭaka – thorns; ādiṣi – and
similar aspects; asaṅgaḥ – non contact; utkrāntiḥ – rising above; ca – and.
By mastery over the air
which rises from the throat into the head,
a yogi can rise over or not have contact
with water, mud or sharp objects.
Commentary:
Udana vayu is the air which moves up from the throat area to the top of the
head. Initially a yogi controls that in kuṇḍalini yoga practice, when he is able to
force the apana air, the lowest most polluted air in the body, up and out of the
body through the spinal column. Sometimes for convenience sake, one is able
to cross water or mud or sharp objects, miraculously even though one may not
willfully exhibit such perfectional power, which was demonstrated by many
great yogis before and by Lord Jesus Christ.
Certain animals have the natural power since their spirit use forms which are
able to suppressed and regulate the udana vayu. Of course, a yogi’s exhibition
of that siddhi is something different. The expression of miracles, even though it
helps a yogi on occasion, can cause impediments under other conditions.
These exhibitions are not recommended. Śrī Patañjali lists these not to
encourage their use but to alert student yogis of the landmarks of yoga
practice.
Verse 41
smanjyaJJvlnm!
samānajayāt jvalanam
samāna – digestive energy; jayāt – conquest; jvalanam – shining, burning,
blazing, with firey glow.
By conquest of the samana digestive force,
a yogi’s psyche blazes or shines with a fiery glow.
Commentary:
Conquest of the samana digestive force comes by the practice of kuṇḍalini
yoga which entails various āsanas combined with prāṇāyāma, especially
bhastrika prāṇāyāma. By that a yogi gets control over diet. He purifies the navel
region of the body. This sets the stage for purification of the sexual functions
which opens a gate for the yogi to attack the muladhar anal region. After this
is achieved in the downward course, it must be achieved in the up-ward course,
as the prāṇa is pushed down and forces the apana energy to move upwards