પાતંજલિ યોગ સૂત્રાણિ describe not only the calming of attention but also the surprising power of a trained mind. The third chapter is traditionally called વિભૂતિ પાદ because it speaks of "manifestations" - expansions of capacity that can appear when concentration becomes extremely refined. Some of these are presented as extraordinary abilities, and some can be read as unusually subtle insight.
In સમાધિ પાદ, Patanjali defined યોગ as the stilling of the mind and mapped the terrain of meditation: practice and dispassion, obstacles that disrupt steadiness, and stages of absorption. In સાધન પાદ, he explained why the mind suffers and how it is purified through ક્રિયા-યોગ and the eight-limbed discipline - ethics, breath, sense-restraint, and inward training.
If you study this chapter, keep two guardrails: do not chase powers, and do not dismiss the teaching as fantasy. Hold a sober middle. Let the sutras train your understanding of attention, and let your practice remain grounded in the earlier disciplines. A helpful way to read is to translate the sutras into questions for your own life: What happens to my mind when it holds one aim steadily?
શ્રીપાતંજલયોગદર્શનમ્ ।
Translation (ભાવાર્થ):
The revered Yoga teaching of Patanjali.
અથ વિભૂતિપાદઃ ।
Translation (ભાવાર્થ):
Now begins the chapter on the manifestations that arise from deep focus.
દેશબંધશ્ચિત્તસ્ય ધારણા ॥1॥
Translation (ભાવાર્થ):
Concentration is fixing the mind on a chosen place or point.
તત્ર પ્રત્યયૈકતાનતા ધ્યાનમ્ ॥2॥
Translation (ભાવાર્થ):
Meditation is the continuous one-streamed flow of attention there (toward that object).
તદેવાર્થમાત્રનિર્ભાસં સ્વરૂપશૂન્યમિવ સમાધિઃ ॥3॥
Translation (ભાવાર્થ):
Absorption is when only the object shines forth, as if the mind's own form were absent.
ત્રયમેકત્ર સંયમઃ ॥4॥
Translation (ભાવાર્થ):
The three together are called integrated practice (samyama).
તજ્જયાત્ પ્રજ્ઞાલોકઃ ॥5॥
Translation (ભાવાર્થ):
From mastery of that comes the light of insight.
તસ્ય ભૂમિષુ વિનિયોગઃ ॥6॥
Translation (ભાવાર્થ):
It can be applied in different stages of practice.
ત્રયમંતરંગં પૂર્વેભ્યઃ ॥7॥
Translation (ભાવાર્થ):
These three are inner limbs compared to the previous ones.
તદપિ બહિરંગં નિર્બીજસ્ય ॥8॥
Translation (ભાવાર્થ):
Even that is external in relation to seedless absorption.
વ્યુત્થાનનિરોધસંસ્કારયોરભિભવપ્રાદુર્ભાવૌ નિરોધક્ષણચિત્તાન્વયો નિરોધપરિણામઃ ॥9॥
Translation (ભાવાર્થ):
The transformation toward stilling is when outward-turning impressions are overcome and stilling impressions arise, and the mind becomes continuous in moments of stillness.
તસ્ય પ્રશાંતવાહિતા સંસ્કારાત્ ॥10॥
Translation (ભાવાર્થ):
From those impressions, a continuous flow of tranquility develops.
સર્વાર્થતૈકાગ્રાતયોઃ ક્ષયોદયૌ ચિત્તસ્ય સમાધિપરિણામઃ ॥11॥
Translation (ભાવાર્થ):
The mind's absorption-transformation is the waning of scattered all-objectness and the arising of one-pointedness.
તતઃ પુનઃ શાંતોદિતૌ તુલ્યપ્રત્યયૌ ચિત્તસ્યૈકાગ્રતા પરિણામઃ ॥12॥
Translation (ભાવાર્થ):
Further, one-pointedness transforms the mind such that subsiding and arising cognitions become equal.
એતેન ભૂતેંદ્રિયેષુ ધર્મલક્ષણાવસ્થાપરિણામા વ્યાખ્યાતાઃ ॥13॥
Translation (ભાવાર્થ):
By this, the transformations of properties, marks, and states in the elements and senses are explained.
શાંતોદિતાવ્યપદેશ્યધર્માનુપાતી ધર્મી ॥14॥
Translation (ભાવાર્થ):
The substratum persists through properties that are subsided, arisen, or latent.
ક્રમાન્યત્વં પરિણામાન્યત્વે હેતુઃ ॥15॥
Translation (ભાવાર્થ):
Difference in sequence is the cause of difference in transformation.
પરિણામત્રયસંયમાદતીતાનાગતજ્ઞાનમ્ ॥16॥
Translation (ભાવાર્થ):
From samyama on the threefold transformations comes knowledge of past and future.
શબ્દાર્થપ્રત્યયાનામિતરેતરાધ્યાસાત્ સંકરસ્તત્પ્રવિભાગસંયમાત્ સર્વભૂતરુતજ્ઞાનમ્ ॥17॥
Translation (ભાવાર્થ):
Because words, meanings, and cognitions are mutually superimposed, there is confusion; through samyama that distinguishes them, knowledge of the sounds of all beings arises.
સંસ્કારસાક્ષાત્કરણાત્ પૂર્વજાતિજ્ઞાનમ્ ॥18॥
Translation (ભાવાર્થ):
From direct perception of impressions comes knowledge of previous births.
પ્રત્યયસ્ય પરચિત્તજ્ઞાનમ્ ॥19॥
Translation (ભાવાર્થ):
From samyama on cognition comes knowledge of another's mind.
ન ચ તત્ સાલંબનં તસ્યાવિષયીભૂતત્વાત્ ॥20॥
Translation (ભાવાર્થ):
But that knowledge does not include the object-support, because it is not within the object's domain.
કાયરૂપસંયમાત્ તદ્ગ્રાહ્યશક્તિસ્તંભે ચક્ષુઃ પ્રકાશાસંપ્રયોગેઽંતર્ધાનમ્ ॥21॥
Translation (ભાવાર્થ):
Through samyama on the body's form, by suspending its perceptibility and disconnecting from light and sight, disappearance is described.
સોપક્રમં નિરુપક્રમં ચ કર્મ તત્સંયમાદપરાંતજ્ઞાનમરિષ્ટેભ્યો વા ॥22॥
Translation (ભાવાર્થ):
From samyama on initiated and ongoing karma comes knowledge of one's end; or it can be inferred from signs.
મૈત્ર્યાદિષુ બલાનિ ॥23॥
Translation (ભાવાર્થ):
From samyama on friendliness and related qualities come strengths in them.
બલેષુ હસ્તિબલાદીની ॥24॥
Translation (ભાવાર્થ):
From samyama on strength arises strength such as that of an elephant and the like.
પ્રવૃત્ત્યાલોકન્યાસાત્ સૂક્ષ્મવ્યવહિતવિપ્રકૃષ્ટજ્ઞાનમ્ ॥25॥
Translation (ભાવાર્થ):
By directing the light of awareness onto mental activity, knowledge arises of subtle, hidden, and distant things.
ભુવનજ્ઞાનં સૂર્યે સંયમાત્ ॥26॥
Translation (ભાવાર્થ):
From samyama on the sun comes knowledge of the worlds (systems/realms).
ચંદ્રે તારાવ્યૂહજ્ઞાનમ્ ॥27॥
Translation (ભાવાર્થ):
From samyama on the moon comes knowledge of the arrangement of the stars.
ધ્રુવે તદ્ગતિજ્ઞાનમ્ ॥28॥
Translation (ભાવાર્થ):
From samyama on the pole star comes knowledge of the movements (courses) of the stars.
નાભિચક્રે કાયવ્યૂહજ્ઞાનમ્ ॥29॥
Translation (ભાવાર્થ):
From samyama on the navel center comes knowledge of the body's constitution.
કંઠકૂપે ક્ષુત્પિપાસાનિવૃત્તિઃ ॥30॥
Translation (ભાવાર્થ):
From samyama on the throat region comes cessation of hunger and thirst.
કૂર્મનાડ્યાં સ્થૈર્યમ્ ॥31॥
Translation (ભાવાર્થ):
From samyama on the tortoise-channel comes steadiness.
મૂર્ધજ્યોતિષિ સિદ્ધદર્શનમ્ ॥32॥
Translation (ભાવાર્થ):
From samyama on the light in the head comes vision of the perfected ones.
પ્રાતિભાદ્વા સર્વમ્ ॥33॥
Translation (ભાવાર્થ):
Or, through intuitive insight, broad knowledge arises.
હૃદયે ચિત્તસંવિત્ ॥34॥
Translation (ભાવાર્થ):
From samyama on the heart comes understanding of the mind.
સત્ત્વપુરુષયોરત્યંતાસંકીર્ણયોઃ પ્રત્યયાવિશેષો ભોગઃ પરાર્થત્વાત્ સ્વાર્થસંયમાત્ પુરુષજ્ઞાનમ્ ॥35॥
Translation (ભાવાર્થ):
Experience is the undifferentiated cognition in which clarity-of-mind and consciousness appear mixed; since experience serves another's purpose, samyama on one's own purpose brings knowledge of the seer.
તતઃ પ્રાતિભશ્રાવણવેદનાદર્શાસ્વાદવાર્તા જાયંતે ॥36॥
Translation (ભાવાર્થ):
From that arise intuitive perceptions related to hearing, touch, sight, taste, and smell.
તે સમાધાવુપસર્ગાવ્યુત્થાને સિદ્ધયઃ ॥37॥
Translation (ભાવાર્થ):
Those are obstacles in absorption, but attainments in the outward state.
બંધકારણશૈથિલ્યાત્ પ્રચારસંવેદનાચ્ચ ચિત્તસ્ય પરશરીરાવેશઃ ॥38॥
Translation (ભાવાર્થ):
By loosening the causes of bondage and by knowing the mind's movement, the mind can enter another body.
ઉદાનજયાજ્જલપંકકંટકાદિષ્વસંગ ઉત્ક્રાંતિશ્ચ ॥39॥
Translation (ભાવાર્થ):
From mastery of the upward vital current comes non-contact with water, mud, thorns, and the like, and also ascent.
સમાનજયાજ્જ્વલનમ્ ॥40॥
Translation (ભાવાર્થ):
From mastery of the balancing vital current comes radiance (inner fire).
શ્રોત્રાકાશયોઃ સંબંધસંયમાત્ દિવ્યં શ્રોત્રમ્ ॥41॥
Translation (ભાવાર્થ):
From samyama on the relationship between hearing and space comes extraordinary hearing.
કાયાકાશયોઃ સંબંધસંયમાત્ લઘુતૂલસમાપત્તેશ્ચ આકાશગમનમ્ ॥42॥
Translation (ભાવાર્થ):
From samyama on the relationship between body and space, and from absorption in lightness like cotton, movement through space is described.
બહિરકલ્પિતા વૃત્તિર્મહાવિદેહા તતઃ પ્રકાશાવરણક્ષયઃ ॥43॥
Translation (ભાવાર્થ):
An outward, non-constructed mental modification is the great disembodied state; from it the veil over clarity is destroyed.
સ્થૂલસ્વરૂપસૂક્ષ્માન્વયાર્થવત્ત્વસંયમાત્ ભૂતજયઃ ॥44॥
Translation (ભાવાર્થ):
From samyama on the elements - in their gross and subtle nature, their interconnections, and their purpose - mastery over the elements arises.
તતોઽણિમાદિપ્રાદુર્ભાવઃ કાયસંપત્ તદ્ધર્માનભિઘાતશ્ચ ॥45॥
Translation (ભાવાર્થ):
From that come the manifestation of powers such as minuteness, bodily excellence, and non-obstruction by the elements' properties.
રૂપલાવણ્યબલવજ્રસંહનનત્વાનિ કાયસંપત્ ॥46॥
Translation (ભાવાર્થ):
Bodily excellence includes grace, beauty, strength, diamond-like firmness, and solid compactness.
ગ્રહણસ્વરૂપાસ્મિતાન્વયાર્થવત્ત્વસંયમાદિંદ્રિયજયઃ ॥47॥
Translation (ભાવાર્થ):
From samyama on perception, the senses' nature, ego-identification, their connections, and their purpose arises mastery over the senses.
તતો મનોજવિત્વં વિકરણભાવઃ પ્રધાનજયશ્ચ ॥48॥
Translation (ભાવાર્થ):
From that come mind-like speed, functioning without the usual instruments, and mastery over primal nature.
સત્ત્વપુરુષાન્યતાખ્યાતિમાત્રસ્ય સર્વભાવાધિષ્ઠાતૃત્વં સર્વજ્ઞાતૃત્વંચ ॥49॥
Translation (ભાવાર્થ):
From the clear discernment of the distinctness of mind-clarity and the seer alone arise mastery over all states and omniscience.
તદ્વૈરાગ્યાદપિ દોષબીજક્ષયે કૈવલ્યમ્ ॥50॥
Translation (ભાવાર્થ):
Even through dispassion toward that (higher attainment), when the seeds of defects are exhausted, liberation is realized.
સ્થાન્યુપનિમંત્રણે સંગસ્મયાકરણં પુનરનિષ્ટપ્રસંગાત્ ॥51॥
Translation (ભાવાર્થ):
When invited by those in higher states, do not cultivate attachment or pride, because it can lead again to undesirable entanglements.
ક્ષણતત્ક્રમયોઃ સંયમાદ્વિવેકજં જ્ઞાનમ્ ॥52॥
Translation (ભાવાર્થ):
From deep meditative focus on the moment and its sequence arises insight born of discernment.
જાતિલક્ષણદેશૈરન્યતાનવચ્છેદાત્ તુલ્યયોસ્તતઃ પ્રતિપત્તિઃ ॥53॥
Translation (ભાવાર્થ):
From that arises clear recognition of the difference between two similar things when they cannot be distinguished by category, traits, or location.
તારકં સર્વવિષયં સર્વથાવિષયમક્રમં ચેતિ વિવેકજં જ્ઞાનમ્ ॥54॥
Translation (ભાવાર્થ):
Discernment-born insight is liberating: it can know all kinds of things, yet is not bound to objects, and it is immediate rather than step-by-step.
સત્ત્વપુરુષયોઃ શુદ્ધિસામ્યે કૈવલ્યમ્ ॥55॥
Translation (ભાવાર્થ):
When the mind's clarity is purified to match the purity of the seer, liberation is realized.
ઇતિ શ્રીપાતંજલયોગદર્શને વિભૂતિપાદો નામ તૃતીયઃ પાદઃ ।
Translation (ભાવાર્થ):
Thus ends the third chapter of Patanjali's Yoga teaching, called "The Chapter on Manifestations."
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