Yoga sutras from Patanjali

Link to Original Document

The most important versus from Patanjali on Yoga come from Chapter

तस्मिन्सति श्वासप्रश्वासयोर्गतिविच्छेदः प्राणायामः ॥ २.४९॥

tasminsati śvāsapraśvāsayorgativicchedaḥ prāṇāyāmaḥ .. 2.49..

• tasmin = upon that (perfection of meditation posture)
• asti = being accomplished
• shvasa = inhalation
• prashvsayoh = exhalation
• gati = of the uncontrolled movements
• vichchhedah = slowing, softening or braking of the force behind
• pranayamah = expansion of prana, regulation of breath

After that ( doing asana or correct posture), (next step is) pranayama (which is) interrupting the flow of inhalation (and) exhalation.

बाह्याभ्यन्तरस्तम्भवृत्तिर्देशकालसंख्याभिः

परिदृष्टो दीर्घसूक्ष्मः ॥ २.५०॥

bāhyābhyantarastambhavṛttirdeśakālasaṃkhyābhiḥ

paridṛṣṭo dīrghasūkṣmaḥ .. 2.50..

• bahya = external
• abhyantara = internal
• stambha = holding, restraint, suspension, stationary, retention, cessation,

transition

• vrittih = operations, activities, fluctuations, modifications, changes, or various

forms of the mind-field

• desha = place, spot, space, location
• kala = time, period, duration
• sankhyabhih = count
• paridrishtah = observe the landscape
• dirgha = made long, prolonged, slow
• sukshmah = and subtle, fine

Cessation of vritti (thought waves) (both) internal and external (of) space, time and count, observe the subtle (prana) (which is now) slow

बाह्याभ्यन्तरविषयाक्षेपी चतुर्थः ॥ २.५१॥

bāhyābhyantaraviṣayākṣepī caturthaḥ .. 2.51..

• bahya = external
• abhyantara = internal
• vishaya = region, spheres, realms, fields
• akshepi = going beyond, surpassing, setting aside
• chaturthah = the fourth

(then with practice),( both) internal and external objects of desires, (vishaya) are given up, (this is the) fourth (pranayama)

ततः क्षीयते प्रकाशावरणम् ॥ २.५२॥

tataḥ kṣīyate prakāśāvaraṇam .. 2.52..

• tatah = then, thereby, thence, from that
• kshiyate = is destroyed, thinned, diminishes, vanishes
• prakasha = light, illumination
• avaranam = veil, covering

The covering of light is thereby thinned

धारणासु च योग्यता मनसः ॥ २.५३॥

dhāraṇāsu ca yogyatā manasaḥ .. 2.53..

• dharanasu = for concentration, for dharana
• cha = and
• yogyata = fitness, preparedness, qualification, capability
• manasah = mind

(after this), the mind is ready for dharana ( a step of before dhayana)

स्वविषयासंप्रयोगे चित्तस्वरूपानुकार इवेन्द्रियाणां प्रत्याहारः ॥ २.५४॥

svaviṣayāsaṃprayoge cittasvarūpānukāra ivendriyāṇāṃ pratyāhāraḥ .. 2.54..

• sva = their own
• vishaya = objects, region, spheres, realms, fields
• asamprayoge = not coming into contact with, non-conjunction, cessation of

engagement

• chitta = of the mind field
• svarupe = own form, own nature (sva = own; rupe = form, nature)
• anukarah = imitate, resemble, follow, be engaged with
• iva = like, as though, as it were
• indriyanam = mental organs of actions and senses (indriyas)
• pratyaharah = withdrawal of the indriyas (the senses), bringing inward

Disconnecting the self from the objects of pleasure, the senses (5 motor and 5 sensory) return back to pure mind, (this is) pratyahar.

ततः परमा वश्यतेन्द्रियाणाम् ॥ २.५५॥

॥ इति पतञ्जलि-विरचिते योग-सूत्रे द्वितीयः साधन-पादः ॥

tataḥ paramā vaśyatendriyāṇām .. 2.55..

.. iti patañjali-viracite yoga-sūtre dvitīyaḥ sādhana-pādaḥ ..

Then, supreme mastery of senses (10 senses 5 motor and 5 sensory) is achieved

This concludes the second chapter of Yoga sutra Sadhan Pada, written by Patanjali

• tatah = then, thereby, thence, from that
• parama = highest, supreme, ultimate, perfected
• vashyata = mastery, control, being willed
• indriyanam = of the mental organs of actions and senses (indriyas)

So, how can we control the mind?. It is very very difficult. How can one go into samadhi, merging into God or pure self? There are certain steps to be followed. One has to break the constant habit of identifying with the three bodies. Merely thinking you are God or pure consciousness is quite laughable. Reading wont help you. One must undertake a specific method.

However, knowing the steps is not enough. One has to do it properly. How do you know you are doing it properly. So Patanjali explains if you do it properly these are the things that will happen. He has described the steps in sequence. This is not the sequence which we read in texts. His sequence is as follows

1. Asana (not listed by me here it is shloka 48
2. Breath control (shloka 49)
3. Pranayama (shloka 50)
4. Kevali pranayama (shloka 51)
5. Now the light of self slowly becomes more evident (shloka 52)
6. In time, the mind will be able to remain sustained in pure light (shloka 53)
7. Pratyahar – the senses will turn inward (shloka 54)
8. Finally you have mastery over the senses. (shloka 55)

This is the method of Raj Yoga. I believe it to be the safest way.

I have written about this in greater detail elsewhere.

I have re written the translated steps here

After that ( doing asana or correct posture), (next step is) pranayama (which is) interrupting the flow of inhalation (and) exhalation.

Cessation of vritti (thought waves) (both) internal and external (of) space, time and count, observe the subtle (prana) (which is now) slow

(then with practice),( both) internal and external objects of desires, (vishaya) are given up, (this is the) fourth (pranayama)

The covering of light is thereby thinned

(after this), the mind is ready for dharana ( a step of before dhayana)

Disconnecting the self from the objects of pleasure, the senses (5 motor and 5 sensory) return back to pure mind, (this is) pratyahar.

Then, supreme mastery of senses (10 senses 5 motor and 5 sensory) is achieved

This concludes the second chapter of Yoga sutra Sadhan Pada, written by Patanjali