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Pātañjala Yoga Sūtras • Chapter 02

Sādhana Pāda

साधनपादः

Portion on Spiritual Practice & Disciplines

Total: 55 Verses • Citations: YS 2.1–55 • 11 Lexicon Terms • Page 2 of 2 (Verses 25 shown)
जातिदेशकालसमयानवच्छिन्नाः सार्वभौमा महाव्रतम्
English Translation
These vows are not restricted by class, place, time, or circumstance.
व्याख्या / Traditional Commentary & Notes
Unrestricted by class (jāti), place (deśa), time (kāla), or circumstance (samaya), these restraints (yamāḥ) are universal (sārvabhaumā) and constitute the great vow (mahāvratam)
शौचसन्तोषतपःस्वाध्यायेश्वरप्रणिधानानि नियमाः
English Translation
Observances of cleanliness, contentment, austerity, self-study, and surrender to Ishvara are necessary.
व्याख्या / Traditional Commentary & Notes
Cleanliness (śauca), Contentment (santoṣa), Fervor or Ardor (tapaḥ), Self-study (svādhyāya), and Surrender to the divine (īśvara-praṇidhāna) are the Observances (niyamāḥ))
वितर्कबाधने प्रतिपक्षभावनम्
English Translation
When disturbed by negative thoughts, I cultivate the opposite.
व्याख्या / Traditional Commentary & Notes
Counteract (bādhane) unwholesome mind states (vitarka) by cultivating (bhāvanam) their opposites (pratipakṣa)
वितर्का हिंसादयः कृतकारितानुमोदिता लोभक्रोधमोहपूर्वका मृदुमध्याधिमात्रा दुःखाज्ञानानन्तफला इति प्रतिपक्षभावनम्
English Translation
Thoughts of violence, whether done, caused to be done, or approved, and whether motivated by greed, anger, or delusion, and whether mild, moderate, or intense, result in endless suffering and ignorance. Thus, I cultivate the opposite thoughts.
व्याख्या / Traditional Commentary & Notes
Unwholesome thoughts (vitarkā), such as violence (hiṁsā), whether performed (kṛta), instigated (kārita), or endorsed (anumoditā), stem from greed (lobha), anger (krodha), or delusion (moha). These thoughts may vary in intensity—mild (mṛdu), moderate (madhya), or intense (adhimātra). Recognizing that such actions result in unending (ananta) suffering (duḥkha) and ignorance (ajñāna) constitutes the cultivation of their opposite (pratipakṣa-bhāvanam).
अहिंसाप्रतिष्ठायां तत्सन्निधौ वैरत्यागः
English Translation
When I am established in non-violence, hostility ceases in my presence.
व्याख्या / Traditional Commentary & Notes
On the establishment (pratiṣṭhāyām) of non-injury (ahiṁsā), in that (tat) presence (sannidhau), there is a cessation (tyāgaḥ) of hostility (vaira)
सत्यप्रतिष्ठायां क्रियाफलाश्रयत्वम्
English Translation
When I am firmly established in truthfulness, my actions and their results become aligned.
व्याख्या / Traditional Commentary & Notes
When truthfulness (satya) is firmly established (pratiṣṭhāyām), actions (kriyā) and their outcomes (phala) rest upon (āśrayatvam) it
अस्तेयप्रतिष्ठायां सर्वरत्नोपस्थानम्
English Translation
When I am established in non-stealing, all treasures present themselves to me.
व्याख्या / Traditional Commentary & Notes
On the establishment (pratiṣṭhāyām) of non-stealing (asteya) in the yogi, all (sarva) jewels (ratna) stand near in order to serve (upasthānam)
ब्रह्मचर्यप्रतिष्ठायां वीर्यलाभः
English Translation
When I am established in celibacy, I gain great vitality.
व्याख्या / Traditional Commentary & Notes
When celibacy or continence (brahmacarya) is established (pratiṣṭhāyām), vigor (vīrya) is gained(lābhaḥ)
अपरिग्रहस्थैर्ये जन्मकथन्तासम्बोधः
English Translation
When I am established in non-possessiveness, I understand the purpose of my past and future lives.
व्याख्या / Traditional Commentary & Notes
When non-possessiveness (aparigraha) is firmly established (sthairye), there arises knowledge (sambodhaḥ) of the
शौचात्स्वाङ्गजुगुप्सा परैरसंसर्गः
English Translation
From cleanliness, I develop distaste for my own body and non-contact with others.
व्याख्या / Traditional Commentary & Notes
From cleanliness (śaucāt), there arises distaste (jugupsā) for one’s own body (svāṅga) and disinterest in contact (asaṁsargaḥ) with others (paraiḥ).
सत्त्वशुद्धिसौमनस्यैकाग्र्येन्द्रियजयात्मदर्शनयोग्यत्वानि च
English Translation
From purity, I gain clarity of mind, cheerfulness, one-pointedness, control of the senses, and fitness for self-realization.
व्याख्या / Traditional Commentary & Notes
(Besides, from Cleanliness) arises purity (śuddhi) of disposition (sattva), cheerfulness (saumanasya), one-pointed focus (eka-agrya), mastery over the senses (indriya-jaya), and (ca) readiness (yogyatva) for perceiving (darśana) the Self (ātma)
सन्तोषादनुत्तमसुखलाभः
English Translation
From contentment, I attain supreme happiness.
व्याख्या / Traditional Commentary & Notes
From contentment (santoṣa), the attainment (lābhaḥ) of unsurpassed (anuttama) happiness (sukha) arises
कायेन्द्रियसिद्धिरशुद्धिक्षयात्तपसः
English Translation
From austerity, I destroy impurities and gain mastery over my body and senses.
व्याख्या / Traditional Commentary & Notes
From austerity (tapas), the destruction (kṣaya) of impurities (aśuddhi) results in the perfection (siddhi) of the body (kāya) and senses (indriya)
स्वाध्यायादिष्टदेवतासम्प्रयोगः
English Translation
From self-study, I gain communion with my chosen deity.
व्याख्या / Traditional Commentary & Notes
Communion (samprayogaḥ) with the chosen (iṣṭa) deity (devatā) is obtained from self-study (svādhyāyāt)
समाधिसिद्धिरीश्वरप्रणिधानात्
English Translation
From surrender to Ishvara, I attain perfection in meditation.
व्याख्या / Traditional Commentary & Notes
The perfection (siddhiḥ) of meditative absorption (samādhi) [is achieved] through (praṇidhānāt) devotion to the Unafflicted pure awareness (īśvara)
स्थिरसुखमासनम्
English Translation
My posture is stable and comfortable.
व्याख्या / Traditional Commentary & Notes
Posture (āsanam) should be steady (sthira) and comfortable (sukham)
प्रयत्नशैथिल्यानन्तसमापत्तिभ्याम्
English Translation
By relaxation of effort and absorption into the infinite, I perfect my posture.
व्याख्या / Traditional Commentary & Notes
Letting go of trying (prayatna-śaithilya), abiding in timelessness (ananta-samāpatti)
ततो द्वन्द्वानभिघातः
English Translation
From this, I am undisturbed by the dualities.
व्याख्या / Traditional Commentary & Notes
Thereby (tataḥ), one is undisturbed (anabhighātaḥ) by dualities (dvandva)
तस्मिन्सति श्वासप्रश्वासयोर्गतिविच्छेदः प्राणायामः
English Translation
When this is accomplished, I regulate my breath to control the flow of inhalation and exhalation, which is pranayama.
व्याख्या / Traditional Commentary & Notes
When that (tasmin sati) is achieved, regulation (gati-vicchedaḥ) of inhalation (śvāsa) and exhalation (praśvāsa) is prāṇāyāma
वाह्याभ्यन्तरस्तम्भवृत्तिः देशकालसङ्ख्याभिः परिदृष्टो दीर्घसूक्ष्मः
English Translation
My breath retention, internal and external, is regulated by place, time, and number, and becomes prolonged and subtle.
व्याख्या / Traditional Commentary & Notes
Prāṇāyāma comprises the modifications (vṛttiḥ) of breath—external exhalation (bāhya), internal inhalation (abhyantara), and cessation (stambha)—which are measured (paridṛṣṭaḥ) by location (deśa), duration (kāla), and count (saṅkhyā), resulting in a breath that is prolonged (dīrgha) and subtle (sūkṣma)
वाह्याभ्यन्तरविषयाक्षेपी चतुर्थः
English Translation
The fourth type of pranayama surpasses the internal and external objects.
व्याख्या / Traditional Commentary & Notes
The fourth stage (caturthaḥ) [of prāṇāyāma] transcends external (vāhya) and internal (abhyantara) breath [regulation], rendering the objects of the senses (viṣaya) non-disturbing (akṣepī).
ततः क्षीयते प्रकाशावरणम्
English Translation
From this practice, the covering of the light diminishes.
व्याख्या / Traditional Commentary & Notes
Then (tataḥ), the veil (āvaraṇam) that obscures illumination (prakāśa) is dissolved (akṣīyate)
धारणासु च योग्यता मनसः
English Translation
My mind becomes fit for concentration.
व्याख्या / Traditional Commentary & Notes
And (ca) the mind (manasaḥ) attains readiness (yogyatā) for concentration (dhāraṇāsu)
स्वविषयासम्प्रयोगे चित्तस्य स्वरूपानुकार इवेन्द्रियाणां प्रत्याहारः
English Translation
Withdrawal of the senses occurs when they no longer follow external objects, but imitate the nature of the mind.
व्याख्या / Traditional Commentary & Notes
Withdrawal (pratyāhāraḥ) of the senses (indriyāṇāṃ) occurs when the mind (cittasya), disengaged (asaṃprayoge) from its own (sva) sensory objects (viṣaya), imitates (anukāra) its true nature (svarūpa), as if (iva)
ततः परमा वश्यतेन्द्रियाणाम्
English Translation
From this, I attain supreme control over my senses.
व्याख्या / Traditional Commentary & Notes
Thus, the supreme (paramā) mastery (vaśyatā) over the senses (indriyāṇām).
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