Upanishads · Yogakuṇḍalinī 2.18
॥
Devanāgarī
आख्यातं खेचरीबीजं तेन योगः प्रसिध्यति । सोमांशनवकं वर्णं प्रतिलोमेन चोद्धरेत्
Transliteration (IAST)
ākhyātaṃ khecarībījaṃ tena yogaḥ prasidhyati | somāṃśanavakaṃ varṇaṃ pratilomena coddharet
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
आख्यातं खेचरी-बीजंākhyātaṃ khecarī-bījaṃproclaimed is the seed of khechari
तेन योगः प्रसिध्यतिtena yogaḥ prasidhyatiby it does the yoga succeed
सोम-अंश-नवकं वर्णंsoma-aṃśa-navakaṃ varṇaṃthe sound — the ninth portion of soma
प्रतिलोमेन च उद्धरेत्pratilomena ca uddharetand in reverse order shall he draw it out
Translation
"Proclaimed is the seed of khechari; by it does the yoga succeed. The sound — the ninth portion of soma — and in reverse order shall he draw it out".
Version
4854e119d8b7 · published Aug 12, 2026, 5:00:00 AM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
The recording of the mantra by riddle begins, a device discussed when reading Devi (9) and Tripura (8): the syllables are not named directly, but by their marks. Here is added the word pratilomena, "in reverse order," discussed when reading Tripuratapini (35, 52). There is no need to repeat what was said about riddling notation; only what pertains to this passage deserves mention.
In the second chapter the cipher appears after the book has declared the necessity of concealment (2.13–14). That is, before us is not accidental obscurity, but the direct fulfillment of the announced rule: the author warned that he would conceal, and he conceals. This is no easier for the reader, but there is honesty in it: the concealer gave warning.
The Vaishnava side, as has been said, goes another way, and it is worth pointing out once more what this means in practice. A mantra recorded in cipher lives only as long as the living chain of teachers holds: break the chain, and the text becomes forever incomprehensible. But a Name spoken aloud is restored from any copy and needs no one.
Herein, I think, lies the chief advantage of the open way: it outlives those who transmit it.