पातञ्जलि योग सूत्राणि are concise aphorisms that describe how a restless mind can become steady, clear, and inwardly free. The sutras are intentionally compact: each line is a "pointer" that opens up through study, reflection, and sustained practice. Traditional study reads them with a teacher (गुरु) and a commentary; this meaning file is a structured aid for that kind of slow, repeatable contemplation.
The full work is arranged into four chapters (पादाः). समाधि पाद defines what योग is, explains how the mind wanders, and outlines the core tools for steady focus. साधन पाद turns that vision into daily discipline: it explains the causes of suffering, introduces क्रिया-योग, and lays the groundwork for the eight-limbed path.
अथ समाधिपादः ।
Translation (भावार्थ):
Now begins the chapter on deep meditation - the section that explains steady focus and inner stillness.
अथ योगानुशासनम् ॥ 1 ॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
Now begins the disciplined teaching of yoga.
योगश्चित्तवृत्ति निरोधः ॥ 2 ॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
Yoga is the stilling of the mind's fluctuations.
तदा द्रष्टुः स्वरूपेऽवस्थानम् ॥ 3 ॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
Then the seer rests established in its own true nature.
वृत्ति सारूप्यमितरत्र ॥ 4 ॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
At other times, the seer identifies with the mind's modifications.
वृत्तयः पञ्चतय्यः क्लिष्टाऽक्लिष्टाः ॥ 5 ॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
The mind's modifications are fivefold, and they can be either afflicted or unafflicted.
प्रमाण विपर्यय विकल्प निद्रा स्मृतयः ॥ 6 ॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
The five kinds of mental modifications are right knowledge, misconception, imagination, sleep, and memory.
प्रत्यक्षानुमानागमाः प्रमाणानि ॥ 7 ॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
Right knowledge comes from direct perception, inference, and reliable testimony.
विपर्ययो मिथ्याज्ञानमतद्रूप प्रतिष्ठम् ॥ 8 ॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
Misconception is false knowledge grounded in something other than the thing's true nature.
शब्दज्ञानानुपाती वस्तुशून्यो विकल्पः ॥ 9 ॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
Imagination is a mental construct that follows words but lacks a corresponding reality.
अभाव प्रत्ययालम्बना वृत्तिर्निद्रा ॥ 10 ॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
Sleep is a mental modification supported by the cognition of absence.
अनुभूत विषयासम्प्रमोषः स्मृतिः ॥ 11 ॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
Memory is the retention of what has been experienced, without losing it.
अभ्यास वैराग्याभ्यां तन्निरोधः ॥ 12 ॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
Their stilling is accomplished through practice and dispassion.
तत्र स्थितौ यत्नोऽभ्यासः ॥ 13 ॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
Practice is the effort to remain established in that steadiness.
स तु दीर्घकाल नैरन्तर्य सत्कारासेवितो दृढभूमिः ॥ 14 ॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
Practice becomes firmly grounded when it is sustained for a long time, done without interruption, and pursued with sincere care and reverence.
दृष्टानुश्रविक विषय वितृष्णस्य वशीकारसञ्ज्ञा वैराग्यम् ॥ 15 ॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
Dispassion is the mastery that arises when craving for objects seen or heard about no longer dominates.
तत्परं पुरुषख्याते-र्गुणवैतृष्ण्यम् ॥ 16 ॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
The higher dispassion is freedom from craving even for the qualities of nature, born of clear discernment of the seer.
वितर्क विचारानन्दास्मितारूपानुगमात् सम्प्रज्ञातः ॥ 17 ॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
Absorption with cognitive support is accompanied by inquiry, subtle reflection, joy, and a subtle sense of individuality.
विरामप्रत्ययाभ्यासपूर्वः संस्कारशेषोऽन्यः ॥ 18 ॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
The other absorption is preceded by repeated practice of cessation, leaving only latent impressions.
भवप्रत्ययो विदेहप्रकृतिलयानाम् ॥ 19 ॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
For the disembodied and those absorbed into nature, this state is caused by their condition of existence (their birth-state).
श्रद्धा वीर्य स्मृति समाधिप्रज्ञा पूर्वक इतरेषाम् ॥ 20 ॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
For other practitioners, it is preceded by trust, energy, mindfulness, steady focus, and insight.
तीव्रसंवेगानामासन्नः ॥ 21 ॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
For those with intense ardor and urgency, realization is near.
मृदुमध्याधिमात्रत्वात्ततोऽपि विशेषः ॥ 22 ॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
Even among seekers, there are distinctions based on whether the intensity is mild, moderate, or intense.
ईश्वरप्रणिधानाद्वा ॥ 23 ॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
Alternatively, it can be attained through devoted surrender to the Lord.
क्लेश कर्म विपाकाशयैरपरामृष्टः पुरुषविशेष ईश्वरः ॥ 24 ॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
The Lord is a special seer, untouched by afflictions, actions, their fruits, and the storehouse of latent impressions.
तत्र निरतिशयं सर्वज्ञबीजम् ॥ 25 ॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
In the Lord lies the unsurpassed seed of omniscience.
स एषः पूर्वेषामपि गुरुः कालेनानवच्छेदात् ॥ 26 ॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
He is also the teacher of the ancient teachers, being unbounded by time.
तस्य वाचकः प्रणवः ॥ 27 ॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
The sacred syllable Om is the expressive symbol of the Lord.
तज्जपस्तदर्थभावनम् ॥ 28 ॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
Its repetition should be accompanied by contemplation of its meaning.
ततः प्रत्यक्चेतनाधिगमोऽप्यन्तरायाभावश्च ॥ 29 ॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
From that comes direct realization of inner consciousness, and the removal of obstacles.
व्याधि स्त्यान संशय प्रमादालस्याविरति भ्रान्ति
दर्शनालब्धभूमिकत्वानवस्थितत्वानि चित्तविक्षेपास्तेंऽतरायाः ॥ 30 ॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
Illness, dullness, doubt, carelessness, laziness, lack of restraint, mistaken perception, failure to attain stages, and instability are the obstacles that scatter the mind.
दुःख दौर्मनस्याङ्गमेजयत्व श्वासप्रश्वासा विक्षेपसहभुवः ॥ 31 ॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
Suffering, dejection, bodily agitation, and irregular breathing accompany mental distraction.
तत्प्रतिषेधार्थमेकतत्त्वाभ्यासः ॥ 32 ॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
To counter these obstacles, practice one-pointed focus on a single principle.
मैत्री करुणा मुदितोपेक्षाणां सुख दुःख पुण्यापुण्य विषयाणाम्-भावनातश्चित्तप्रसादनम् ॥ 33 ॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
The mind becomes serene by cultivating friendliness toward the happy, compassion toward the suffering, appreciative joy toward the virtuous, and equanimity toward the non-virtuous.
प्रच्छर्दन विधारणाभ्यां वा प्राणस्य ॥ 34 ॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
Or, by working with the breath through exhalation and retention.
विषयवती वा प्रवृत्तिरुत्पन्ना मनसः स्थिति निबन्धिनी ॥ 35 ॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
Or, the mind can be steadied by an object-centered flow of attention that arises through the senses.
विशोका वा ज्योतिष्मती ॥ 36 ॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
Or, steadiness can arise through a luminous, sorrowless state of awareness.
वीतराग विषयं वा चित्तम् ॥ 37 ॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
Or, the mind can be steadied by taking as its object one who is free from attachment.
स्वप्न निद्रा ज्ञानालम्बनं वा ॥ 38 ॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
Or, steadiness may be supported by insight gained from dreams and sleep.
यथाभिमतध्यानाद्वा ॥ 39 ॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
Or, by meditating on anything that is personally agreeable and elevating.
परमाणु परम महत्त्वान्तोऽस्य वशीकारः ॥ 40 ॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
Mastery of the mind extends from the smallest to the greatest.
क्षीणवृत्तेरभिजातस्येव मणेर्ग्रहीतृग्रहण ग्राह्येषु तत्स्थ तदञ्जनता समापत्तिः ॥ 41 ॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
When the mind's fluctuations are weakened, the mind becomes like a clear jewel, taking on the tint of the knower, the act of knowing, and the known - this is complete absorption.
तत्र शब्दार्थ ज्ञान विकल्पैः सङ्कीर्णा सवितर्का समापत्तिः ॥ 42 ॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
There, absorption accompanied by gross conceptual activity is the state in which word, meaning, knowledge, and conceptualization are intermingled.
स्मृति परिशुद्धौ स्वरूप शून्येवार्थ मात्रनिर्भासा निर्वितर्का ॥ 43 ॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
When memory is purified, the mind becomes as if empty of its own form, and only the object shines forth in awareness.
एतयैव सविचारा निर्विचारा च सूक्ष्मविषया व्याख्याता ॥ 44 ॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
By the same reasoning, absorptions on subtle objects - with or without subtle reflection - are explained.
सूक्ष्म विषयत्वं चालिङ्गपर्यवसानम् ॥ 45 ॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
The subtle-object domain culminates in the unmanifest.
ता एव सबीजः समाधिः ॥ 46 ॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
These are forms of absorption with a supporting seed.
निर्विचार वैशाराद्येऽध्यात्मप्रसादः ॥ 47 ॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
From the lucidity of reflection-free absorption arises inner serenity and clarity.
ऋतम्भरा तत्र प्रज्ञा ॥ 48 ॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
In that state, the insight is truth-bearing.
श्रुतानुमान प्रज्ञाभ्यामन्यविषया विशेषार्थत्वात् ॥ 49 ॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
It is different from knowledge gained through scripture or inference, because it pertains to the direct apprehension of the specific reality.
तज्जः संस्कारोऽन्यसंस्कार प्रतिबन्धी ॥ 50 ॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
The impression born of that insight blocks other impressions.
तस्यापि निरोधे सर्वनिरोधान्निर्बीजस्समाधिः ॥ 51 ॥
Translation (भावार्थ):
When even that impression is stilled, through complete cessation, seedless absorption is realized.
इति पातञ्जलयोगदर्शने समाधिपादो नाम प्रथमः पादः ।
Translation (भावार्थ):
Thus ends the first chapter, called "Samadhi Pada," in Patanjali's Yoga Darshana.
Browse Related Categories:
