॥ महर्षि पतञ्जलि प्रणीतं योगदर्शनम् ॥ Part 1

[Audio] ॥ महर्षि पतञ्जर्ि प्रणीतं योगदर्िनम् ॥ The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali is a foundational text in the philosophy and practice of yoga, composed by the ancient Indian sage Patanjali around 200 BCE to 200 CE (the exact time period is debated). It's widely respected as one of the most profound guides to understanding the mind, consciousness, and the path to spiritual liberation. The text is structured into four chapters (Padas), each focusing on different aspects of yoga: 1. Samadhi Pada (Concentration): This chapter delves into the meaning of yoga, defining it as "the cessation of the fluctuations of the mind" (Yogas Chitta Vritti Nirodhah). It explains how meditation and mindfulness lead to deeper awareness and unity with the self. 2. Sadhana Pada (Practice): It outlines the practical steps to reach liberation, including the famous Ashtanga Yoga or the Eightfold Path, which serves as a roadmap for yogic living and selfdiscipline. 3. Vibhuti Pada (Accomplishments): This section discusses the spiritual powers (called Siddhis) that can emerge through dedicated practice, as well as the importance of not getting attached to them. 4. Kaivalya Pada (Liberation): The final chapter addresses ultimate freedom (Kaivalya), where one transcends the material world and attains oneness with the pure consciousness. Patanjali's Yoga Sutras combine philosophy, psychology, and spirituality. They emphasize that yoga is more than just physical postures—it is a way of life designed to bring harmony to body, mind, and soul. The teachings remain relevant today and are integral to the global practice of yoga..

[Audio] ॥ प्रथमोऽध्यायः ॥ ॥ समार्ि-पादः ॥. ॥ प्रथमोऽध्यायः ॥ ॥ समार्ि-पादः ॥.

[Audio] अथ योगानुशासनम् ॥ १.१॥ "Now begins the teaching of Yoga." Let's delve into the word-by-word meaning of this profound sutra:  अथ (Atha): This signifies the beginning and has several meanings, such as "beginning," "auspiciousness," "after," "question," "completion," and "previous connection." In this context, it signifies an auspicious beginning.  योग (Yoga): Derived from the root word युज् (yuj), which means to unite. Union of what? Vyasa Maharshi explains that योगः समाध ः , meaning yoga is Samadhi (concentration). Maharshi Yajnavalkya further elaborates in his Smriti that समाध ः समतावस्था जीवात्मपरमात्मनाः , indicating that yoga is the union of the individual soul (जीवात्मा) with the supreme soul (परमात्मा). समाध.

[Audio] (Samadhi) is a state of even-mindedness and is a characteristic of धित्त (mind) in all its states. There are five धित्तभूधम's: धिप्त (Kshipta), मूढ (Mudha), धवधिप्त (Vikshipta), एकाग्र (Ekagra), धनरुद्ध (Niruddha).  अनुशासन (Anushasan): This means discipline or instruction. Thus, the sutra "अथ योगानुशासनम्" translates to "Now, being an auspicious moment, Sage Patanjali undertakes to reveal yoga." चित्तभूचम (Chitta Bhumi) - Habitual States of Mind There are five states of the mind: धिप्तं मूढं धवधिप्त एकाग्र धनरुद्धधमधत धित्तभूममयः । 1. चिप्त (Kshipta): The restless mind, dominated by Rajas guna, usually seen in people who are distracted and restless. 2. मूढ (Mudha): The stupefied mind, dominated by Tamas guna, seen in those who are dull or inactive. 3. चिचिप्त (Vikshipta): The distracted mind, which can be calm sometimes and disturbed at other times. This is common among most spiritual devotees. 4. एकाग्र (Ekagra): The one-pointed mind, which is focused in one direction only. Mastering one-pointedness leads to Samprajnata Samadhi..

[Audio] 5. चनरुद्ध (Niruddha): The arrested mind, where thought processes have been stopped or arrested at will by long disciplinary practice. This is the last state of the mind. Conclusion "When through practice, all thoughts can be shut out from the mind for a long time, the mind can be regarded as having reached an arrested state. When by this process the mind-stuff gradually ceases to function, then only is liberation achieved." योगर्ित्तवृर्त्तर्नरोिः ॥ १.२॥ Yoga is the suppression of the modifications of the mind / चित्त (consciousness)." Let's delve into the word-by-word meanings: योग (Yoga): Vyasa Maharshi explains that सिवशब्द अग्रहणात संप्रज्ञातोऽचि योग इत्याचभधीयते, which means "all being absent," i.e., suppression of fluctuations of चित्त (chitta). What is चित्त (chitta)? What are its features and functions? चित्त (consciousness) is composed of मनस्(manas - mind), बुद्धद्ध (buddhi - intelligence), and अहंकार (ahankara - ego). चिषयग्रहण, आलोिन, चनश्चय are the features of चित्त (chitta)..

[Audio] चित्त (chitta) has three functions: प्राख्या (prakhya), प्रिृचत्त (pravritti) – Initiation, द्धिचत (sthiti) – Stability. It must be made up of धिगुण's (three gunas) सत्व (sattva), रजस् (rajas), and तमस् (tamas). When these functions of धित्त are influenced by the धिगुण's, various movements and fluctuations happen in the धित्त. Like if a stone is thrown into a pond, creating numerous water ripples, similarly, when the mind is dominated by any of the gunas, different धित्तवृधत्त's (modifications of the mind) appear. When the सत्व गुण is transformed into धित्त, it is the धित्तसत्व (pure cognizant mind). When such a mind is influenced by रजस् and तमस्, it becomes inclined towards power(ऐश्वयम) and external objects (धवषय धिय). When तमस् is dominated then धित्त (mind) inclined towards अ मम, अज्ञान, अवैराग्य, अनैश्वयम (weakness). When these dominated गुण's are removed & the mind becomes completely luminous i.e., धनरो which is possible through only practice of Yoga." तदा द्रष्टः स्वरूपेऽवस्थानम् ॥ १.३॥ Explained effect of yoga, now. Here, we see word meanings: तदा (tada): Means "at that time" द्रष्ुुः (drashtuh): The self, the soul (आत्मा) स्वरूिे (svarupe): In his own state अििानम् (avasthanam): Abides, resides When the practice of yoga gains the power in the धनरो of धित्तवृधत्त's (modifications of the mind), then धित्त gains the.

[Audio] stability to experience the आत्मन् (atman) residing in its own state, as it does in the state of liberation (कै वल्य). In धनरो , suppression of the mind is for a temporary period, while in कै वल्य (Kaivalya), the mind disappears, never to appear again. वृर्त्तसारूप्यर्मतरत्र ॥ १.४॥ As we know, the word िृचत्त (vritti) means fluctuation or modification. सारूप्य (svarupya): likeness (स्वरूप) इतरत्र (itaratra): at other times, elsewhere. Full Meaning:.

[Audio] At other times (in this context, when धनरो does not happen), the seer (आत्मा - atma) gets identified in the form of the modifications of the mind (धित्तवृधत्त - chitta vritti). वृत्तयः पञ्चतय्यः क्लिष्टाऽक्लिष्टाः ॥ १.५॥ धित्तवृधत्तयााँ (Chittavrittis) are five in number, in that some are difficult (क्लिष्ट) and some are non-difficult (अक्लिष्ट). Before one starts practicing, it is essential to understand what kind of fluctuations (धित्तवृधत्तयााँ) are present. So, Sage Patanjali discusses the धित्तवृधत्तयााँ..

[Audio] What are they? How to know them? The means to still the fluctuations..