Yoga Sūtras of Patañjali योगसूत्र

The practices which make for union with the Soul are: fervent aspiration, spiritual reading, and complete obedience to the Master.

तपःस्वाध्यायेश्वरप्रणिधानानि क्रियायोगः

tapaḥsvādhyāyeśvarapraṇidhānāni kriyāyogaḥ

ta·paḥs·vādh·yā·yeś·va·rap·ra·ṇi·dhā·nā·ni kri·yā·yo·gaḥ

Their aim is, to bring soul-vision, and to wear away hindrances.

समाधिभावनार्थः क्लेशतनूकरणार्थश् च

samādhibhāvanārthaḥ kleśatanūkaraṇārthaś ca

sa·mā·dhi·bhā·va·nār·thaḥ kle·śa·ta·nū·ka·ra·ṇār·thaś ca

These are the hindrances: the darkness of unwisdom, self-assertion, lust hate, attachment.

अविद्यास्मितारागद्वेषाभिनिवेशाः क्लेशाः

avidyāsmitārāgadveṣābhiniveśāḥ kleśāḥ

a·vid·yās·mi·tā·rā·gad·ve·ṣā·bhi·ni·ve·śāḥ kle·śāḥ

The darkness of unwisdom is the field of the others. These hindrances may be dormant, or worn thin, or suspended, or expanded.

अविद्या क्षेत्रम् उत्तरेषां प्रसुप्ततनुविच्छिन्नोदाराणाम्

avidyā kṣetram uttareṣāṃ prasuptatanuvicchinnodārāṇām

a·vid·yā kṣet·ram ut·ta·re·ṣāṃ pra·sup·ta·ta·nu·vic·chin·no·dā·rā·ṇām

अनित्याशुचिदुःखानात्मसु नित्यशुचिसुखात्मख्यातिर् अविद्या

anityāśuciduḥkhānātmasu nityaśucisukhātmakhyātir avidyā

a·nit·yā·śu·ci·duḥ·khā·nāt·ma·su nit·ya·śu·ci·su·khāt·makh·yā·tir a·vid·yā

Self-assertion comes from thinking of the Seer and the instrument of vision as forming one self.

दृग्दर्शनशक्त्योर् एकात्मतेवास्मिता

dṛgdarśanaśaktyor ekātmatevāsmitā

dṛg·dar·śa·na·śak·tyor e·kāt·ma·te·vās·mi·tā

Lust is the resting in the sense of enjoyment.

सुखानुशयी रागः

sukhānuśayī rāgaḥ

su·khā·nu·śa·yī rā·gaḥ

Hate is the resting in the sense of pain.

दुःखानुशयी द्वेषः

duḥkhānuśayī dveṣaḥ

duḥ·khā·nu·śa·yī dve·ṣaḥ

Attachment is the desire toward life, even in the wise, carried forward by its own energy.

स्वरसवाही विदुषो ऽपि तथा रूढो ऽभिनिवेशः

svarasavāhī viduṣo 'pi tathā rūḍho 'bhiniveśaḥ

sva·ra·sa·vā·hī vi·du·ṣo 'pi ta·thā rū·ḍho 'bhi·ni·ve·śaḥ

These hindrances, when they have become subtle, are to be removed by a countercurrent.

ते प्रतिप्रसवहेयाः सूक्ष्माः

te pratiprasavaheyāḥ sūkṣmāḥ

te pra·tip·ra·sa·va·he·yāḥ sūk·ṣmāḥ

Their active turnings are to be removed by meditation.

ध्यानहेयास् तद्वृत्तयः

dhyānaheyās tadvṛttayaḥ

dhyā·na·he·yās tad·vṛt·ta·yaḥ

The burden of bondage to sorrow has its root in these hindrances. It will be felt in this life, or in a life not yet manifested.

क्लेशमूलः कर्माशयो दृष्टादृष्टजन्मवेदनीयः

kleśamūlaḥ karmāśayo dṛṣṭādṛṣṭajanmavedanīyaḥ

kle·śa·mū·laḥ kar·mā·śa·yo dṛṣ·ṭā·dṛṣ·ṭa·jan·ma·ve·da·nī·yaḥ

From this root there grow and ripen the fruits of birth, of the life-span, of all that is tasted in life.

सति मूले तद्विपाको जात्यायुर्भोगाः

sati mūle tadvipāko jātyāyurbhogāḥ

sa·ti mū·le tad·vi·pā·ko jāt·yā·yur·bho·gāḥ

These bear fruits of rejoicing, or of affliction, as they are sprung from holy or unholy works.

ते ह्लादपरितापफलाः पुण्यापुण्यहेतुत्वात्

te hlādaparitāpaphalāḥ puṇyāpuṇyahetutvāt

te hlā·da·pa·ri·tā·pa·pha·lāḥ puṇ·yā·puṇ·ya·he·tut·vāt

To him who possesses discernment, all personal life is misery, because it ever waxes and wanes, is ever afflicted with restlessness, makes ever new dynamic impresses in the mind; and because all its activities war with each other.

परिणामतापसंस्कारदुःखैर् गुणवृत्तिविरोधाच् च दुःखम् एव सर्वं विवेकिनः

pariṇāmatāpasaṃskāraduḥkhair guṇavṛttivirodhāc ca duḥkham eva sarvaṃ vivekinaḥ

pa·ri·ṇā·ma·tā·pa·saṃs·kā·ra·duḥ·khair gu·ṇa·vṛt·ti·vi·ro·dhāc ca duḥ·kham e·va sar·vaṃ vi·ve·ki·naḥ

This pain is to be warded off, before it has come.

हेयं दुःखम् अनागतम्

heyaṃ duḥkham anāgatam

he·yaṃ duḥ·kham a·nā·ga·tam

The cause of what is to be warded off, is the absorption of the Seer in things seen.

द्रष्टृदृश्ययोः संयोगो हेयहेतुः

draṣṭṛdṛśyayoḥ saṃyogo heyahetuḥ

draṣ·ṭṛ·dṛś·ya·yoḥ saṃ·yo·go he·ya·he·tuḥ

Things seen have as their property manifestation, action, inertia. They form the basis of the elements and the sense-powers. They make for experience and for liberation.

प्रकाशक्रियास्थितिशीलं भूतेन्द्रियात्मकं भोगापवर्गार्थं दृश्यम्

prakāśakriyāsthitiśīlaṃ bhūtendriyātmakaṃ bhogāpavargārthaṃ dṛśyam

pra·kā·śak·ri·yās·thi·ti·śī·laṃ bhū·ten·dri·yāt·ma·kaṃ bho·gā·pa·var·gār·thaṃ dṛś·yam

The grades or layers of the Three Potencies are the defined, the undefined, that with distinctive mark, that without distinctive mark.

विशेषाविशेषलिङ्गमात्रालिङ्गानि गुणपर्वाणि

viśeṣāviśeṣaliṅgamātrāliṅgāni guṇaparvāṇi

vi·śe·ṣā·vi·śe·ṣa·liṅ·ga·māt·rā·liṅ·gā·ni gu·ṇa·par·vā·ṇi

The Seer is pure vision. Though pure, he looks out through the vesture of the mind.

द्रष्टा दृशिमात्रः शुद्धो ऽपि प्रत्ययानुपश्यः

draṣṭā dṛśimātraḥ śuddho 'pi pratyayānupaśyaḥ

draṣ·ṭā dṛ·śi·māt·raḥ śud·dho 'pi prat·ya·yā·nu·paś·yaḥ

The very essence of things seen is, that they exist for the Seer.

तदर्थ एव दृश्यस्यात्मा

tadartha eva dṛśyasyātmā

ta·dar·tha e·va dṛś·yas·yāt·mā

Though fallen away from him who has reached the goal, things seen have not alto fallen away, since they still exist for others.

कृतार्थं प्रति नष्टम् अप्य् अनष्टं तदन्यसाधारणत्वात्

kṛtārthaṃ prati naṣṭam apy anaṣṭaṃ tadanyasādhāraṇatvāt

kṛ·tār·thaṃ pra·ti naṣ·ṭam apy a·naṣ·ṭaṃ ta·dan·ya·sā·dhā·ra·ṇat·vāt

The association of the Seer with things seen is the cause of the realizing of the nature of things seen, and also of the realizing of the nature of the Seer.

स्वस्वामिशक्त्योः स्वरूपोपलब्धिहेतुः संयोगः

svasvāmiśaktyoḥ svarūpopalabdhihetuḥ saṃyogaḥ

svas·vā·mi·śak·tyoḥ sva·rū·po·pa·lab·dhi·he·tuḥ saṃ·yo·gaḥ

The cause of this association is the darkness of unwisdom.

तस्य हेतुर् अविद्या

tasya hetur avidyā

tas·ya he·tur a·vid·yā

The bringing of this association to an end, by bringing the darkness of unwisdom to an end, is the great liberation; this is the Seer’s attainment of his own pure being.

तदभावात् संयोगाभावो हानं तद्दृशेः कैवल्यम्

tadabhāvāt saṃyogābhāvo hānaṃ taddṛśeḥ kaivalyam

ta·da·bhā·vāt saṃ·yo·gā·bhā·vo hā·naṃ tad·dṛ·śeḥ kai·val·yam

A discerning which is carried on without wavering is the means of liberation.

विवेकख्यातिर् अविप्लवा हानोपायः

vivekakhyātir aviplavā hānopāyaḥ

vi·ve·kakh·yā·tir a·vip·la·vā hā·no·pā·yaḥ

His illuminations is sevenfold, rising In successive stages.

तस्य सप्तधा प्रान्तभूमिः प्रज्ञा

tasya saptadhā prāntabhūmiḥ prajñā

tas·ya sap·ta·dhā prān·ta·bhū·miḥ praj·ñā

From steadfastly following after the means of Yoga, until impurity is worn away, there comes the illumination of thought up to full discernment.

योगाङ्गानुष्ठानाद् अशुद्धिक्षये ज्ञानदीप्तिर् आ विवेकख्यातेः

yogāṅgānuṣṭhānād aśuddhikṣaye jñānadīptir ā vivekakhyāteḥ

yo·gāṅ·gā·nuṣ·ṭhā·nād a·śud·dhik·ṣa·ye jñā·na·dīp·tir ā vi·ve·kakh·yā·teḥ

The eight means of Yoga are: the Commandments, the Rules, right Poise, right Control of the life-force, Withdrawal, Attention, Meditation, Contemplation.

यमनियमासनप्राणायामप्रत्याहारधारणाध्यानसमाधयो ऽष्टाव् अङ्गानि

yamaniyamāsanaprāṇāyāmapratyāhāradhāraṇādhyānasamādhayo 'ṣṭāv aṅgāni

ya·ma·ni·ya·mā·sa·nap·rā·ṇā·yā·map·rat·yā·hā·ra·dhā·ra·ṇādh·yā·na·sa·mā·dha·yo 'ṣṭāv aṅ·gā·ni

The Commandments are these: nom injury, truthfulness, abstaining from stealing, from impurity, from covetousness.

अहिंसासत्यास्तेयब्रह्मचर्यापरिग्रहा यमाः

ahiṃsāsatyāsteyabrahmacaryāparigrahā yamāḥ

a·hiṃ·sā·sat·yās·te·yab·rah·ma·car·yā·pa·rig·ra·hā ya·māḥ

The Commandments, not limited to any race, place, time or occasion, universal, are the great obligation.

जातिदेशकालसमयानवच्छिन्नाः सार्वभौमा महाव्रतम्

jātideśakālasamayānavacchinnāḥ sārvabhaumā mahāvratam

jā·ti·de·śa·kā·la·sa·ma·yā·na·vac·chin·nāḥ sār·va·bhau·mā ma·hāv·ra·tam

The Rules are these: purity, serenity fervent aspiration, spiritual reading, and per feet obedience to the Master.

शौचसंतोषतपःस्वाध्यायेश्वरप्रणिधानानि नियमाः

śaucasaṃtoṣatapaḥsvādhyāyeśvarapraṇidhānāni niyamāḥ

śau·ca·saṃ·to·ṣa·ta·paḥs·vādh·yā·yeś·va·rap·ra·ṇi·dhā·nā·ni ni·ya·māḥ

When transgressions hinder, the weight of the imagination should be thrown’ on the opposite side.

वितर्कबाधने प्रतिपक्षभावनम्

vitarkabādhane pratipakṣabhāvanam

vi·tar·ka·bā·dha·ne pra·ti·pak·ṣa·bhā·va·nam

Transgressions are injury, falsehood, theft, incontinence, envy; whether committed, or caused, or assented to, through greed, wrath, or infatuation; whether faint, or middling, or excessive; bearing endless, fruit of ignorance and pain. Therefore must the weight be cast on the other side.

वितर्का हिंसादयः कृतकारितानुमोदिता लोभक्रोधमोहपूर्वका मृदुमध्याधिमात्रा दुःखाज्ञानानन्तफला इति प्रतिपक्षभावनम्

vitarkā hiṃsādayaḥ kṛtakāritānumoditā lobhakrodhamohapūrvakā mṛdumadhyādhimātrā duḥkhājñānānantaphalā iti pratipakṣabhāvanam

vi·tar·kā hiṃ·sā·da·yaḥ kṛ·ta·kā·ri·tā·nu·mo·di·tā lo·bhak·ro·dha·mo·ha·pūr·va·kā mṛ·du·madh·yā·dhi·māt·rā duḥ·khāj·ñā·nā·nan·ta·pha·lā i·ti pra·ti·pak·ṣa·bhā·va·nam

Where non-injury is perfected, all enmity ceases in the presence of him who possesses it.

अहिंसाप्रतिष्ठायां तत्संनिधौ वैरत्यागः

ahiṃsāpratiṣṭhāyāṃ tatsaṃnidhau vairatyāgaḥ

a·hiṃ·sāp·ra·tiṣ·ṭhā·yāṃ tat·saṃ·ni·dhau vai·rat·yā·gaḥ

When he is perfected in truth, all acts and their fruits depend on him.

सत्यप्रतिष्ठायां क्रियाफलाश्रयत्वम्

satyapratiṣṭhāyāṃ kriyāphalāśrayatvam

sat·yap·ra·tiṣ·ṭhā·yāṃ kri·yā·pha·lāś·ra·yat·vam

Where cessation from theft is perfected, all treasures present themselves to him who possesses it.

अस्तेयप्रतिष्ठायां सर्वरत्नोपस्थानम्

asteyapratiṣṭhāyāṃ sarvaratnopasthānam

as·te·yap·ra·tiṣ·ṭhā·yāṃ sar·va·rat·no·pas·thā·nam

For him who is perfect in continence, the reward is valour and virility.

ब्रह्मचर्यप्रतिष्ठायां वीर्यलाभः

brahmacaryapratiṣṭhāyāṃ vīryalābhaḥ

brah·ma·car·yap·ra·tiṣ·ṭhā·yāṃ vīr·ya·lā·bhaḥ

Where there is firm conquest of covetousness, he who has conquered it awakes to the how and why of life.

अपरिग्रहस्थैर्ये जन्मकथंतासंबोधः

aparigrahasthairye janmakathaṃtāsaṃbodhaḥ

a·pa·rig·ra·has·thair·ye jan·ma·ka·thaṃ·tā·saṃ·bo·dhaḥ

Through purity a withdrawal from one’s own bodily life, a ceasing from infatuation with the bodily life of others.

शौचात् स्वाङ्गजुगुप्सा परैर् असंसर्गः

śaucāt svāṅgajugupsā parair asaṃsargaḥ

śau·cāt svāṅ·ga·ju·gup·sā pa·rair a·saṃ·sar·gaḥ

To the pure of heart come also a quiet spirit, one-pointed thought, the victory over sensuality, and fitness to behold the Soul.

सत्त्वशुद्धिसौमनस्यैकाग्र्येन्द्रियजयात्मदर्शनयोग्यत्वानि च

sattvaśuddhisaumanasyaikāgryendriyajayātmadarśanayogyatvāni ca

sat·tva·śud·dhi·sau·ma·nas·yai·kāg·ryen·dri·ya·ja·yāt·ma·dar·śa·na·yog·yat·vā·ni ca

From acceptance, the disciple gains happiness supreme.

संतोषाद् अनुत्तमः सुखलाभः

saṃtoṣād anuttamaḥ sukhalābhaḥ

saṃ·to·ṣād a·nut·ta·maḥ su·kha·lā·bhaḥ

The perfection of the powers of the bodily vesture comes through the wearing away of impurities, and through fervent aspiration.

कायेन्द्रियसिद्धिर् अशुद्धिक्षयात् तपसः

kāyendriyasiddhir aśuddhikṣayāt tapasaḥ

kā·yen·dri·ya·sid·dhir a·śud·dhik·ṣa·yāt ta·pa·saḥ

Through spiritual reading, the disciple gains communion with the divine Power on which his heart is set.

स्वाध्यायाद् इष्टदेवतासंप्रयोगः

svādhyāyād iṣṭadevatāsaṃprayogaḥ

svādh·yā·yād iṣ·ṭa·de·va·tā·saṃp·ra·yo·gaḥ

Soul-vision is perfected through perfect obedience to the Master.

समाधिसिद्धिर् ईश्वरप्रणिधानात्

samādhisiddhir īśvarapraṇidhānāt

sa·mā·dhi·sid·dhir īś·va·rap·ra·ṇi·dhā·nāt

Right poise must be firm and without strain.

स्थिरसुखम् आसनम्

sthirasukham āsanam

sthi·ra·su·kham ā·sa·nam

Right poise is to be gained by steady and temperate effort, and by setting the heart upon the everlasting.

प्रयत्नशैथिल्यानन्तसमापत्तिभ्याम्

prayatnaśaithilyānantasamāpattibhyām

pra·yat·na·śai·thil·yā·nan·ta·sa·mā·pat·tibh·yām

The fruit of right poise is the strength to resist the shocks of infatuation or sorrow.

ततो द्वन्द्वानभिघातः

tato dvandvānabhighātaḥ

ta·to dvan·dvā·na·bhi·ghā·taḥ

When this is gained, there follows the right guidance of the life-currents, the control of the incoming and outgoing breath.

तस्मिन् सति श्वासप्रश्वासयोर् गतिविच्छेदः प्राणायामः

tasmin sati śvāsapraśvāsayor gativicchedaḥ prāṇāyāmaḥ

tas·min sa·ti śvā·sap·raś·vā·sa·yor ga·ti·vic·che·daḥ prā·ṇā·yā·maḥ

The life-current is either outward, or inward, or balanced; it is regulated according to place, time, number; it is prolonged and subtle.

बाह्याभ्यन्तरस्तम्भवृत्तिर् देशकालसंख्याभिः परिदृष्टो दीर्घसूक्ष्मः

bāhyābhyantarastambhavṛttir deśakālasaṃkhyābhiḥ paridṛṣṭo dīrghasūkṣmaḥ

bāh·yābh·yan·ta·ras·tam·bha·vṛt·tir de·śa·kā·la·saṃkh·yā·bhiḥ pa·ri·dṛṣ·ṭo dīr·gha·sūk·ṣmaḥ

The fourth degree transcends external and internal objects.

बाह्याभ्यन्तरविषयाक्षेपी चतुर्थः

bāhyābhyantaraviṣayākṣepī caturthaḥ

bāh·yābh·yan·ta·ra·vi·ṣa·yāk·ṣe·pī ca·tur·thaḥ

Thereby is worn away the veil which covers up the light.

ततः क्षीयते प्रकाशावरणम्

tataḥ kṣīyate prakāśāvaraṇam

ta·taḥ kṣī·ya·te pra·kā·śā·va·ra·ṇam

Thence comes the mind’s power to hold itself in the light.

धारणासु च योग्यता मनसः

dhāraṇāsu ca yogyatā manasaḥ

dhā·ra·ṇā·su ca yog·ya·tā ma·na·saḥ

The right Withdrawal is the disengaging of the powers from entanglement in outer things, as the psychic nature has been withdrawn and stilled.

स्वविषयासंप्रयोगे चित्तस्वरूपानुकार इवेन्द्रियाणां प्रत्याहारः

svaviṣayāsaṃprayoge cittasvarūpānukāra ivendriyāṇāṃ pratyāhāraḥ

sva·vi·ṣa·yā·saṃp·ra·yo·ge cit·tas·va·rū·pā·nu·kā·ra i·ven·dri·yā·ṇāṃ prat·yā·hā·raḥ

Thereupon follows perfect mastery over the powers.

ततः परमा वश्यतेन्द्रियाणाम्

tataḥ paramā vaśyatendriyāṇām

ta·taḥ pa·ra·mā vaś·ya·ten·dri·yā·ṇām