Sutra 2.55

ततः परमा वश्यतेन्द्रियाणाम्॥५५॥

tataḥ paramā-vaśyatā indriyāṇām ॥55॥

tataH = from this; paramaa = highest; vashyatA = control; indriyaaNaam = of the senses;

Sw. Satchidananda

"Then follows supreme mastery over the senses."

Bryant

"From this comes the highest control of the senses."

Taimni

"Then follows the greatest mastery over the senses."

Discussion

Vyasa, in his commentary . . . → Read More: Sutra 2.55

Sutra 2.54

स्वविषयासंप्रयोगे चित्तस्य स्वरूपानुकार इवेन्द्रियाणां प्रत्याहारः॥५४॥

svaviṣaya-asaṁprayoge cittasya svarūpānukāra-iv-endriyāṇāṁ pratyāhāraḥ ॥54॥

sva = their own; viShaya = sense objects; asaMprayoge = not coming in contact with; chittasya = of the mind; svarUpa = nature; anukaara = imitation; iva = as if; indriyaaNaaM = of the senses; pratyaahaaraH = withdrawal;

Sw. Satchidananda

"When the senses withdraw themselves . . . → Read More: Sutra 2.54

Sutra 2.53

धारणासु च योग्यता मनसः॥५३॥

dhāraṇāsu ca yogyatā manasaḥ ॥53॥

dhāraṇāsu = for concentration; ca = and; yogyatā = fitness, competency; manasaḥ = of the mind;

Sw. Satchidananda

“And the mind becomes fit for concentration.”

Bryant

“Additionally, the mind becomes fit for concentration.”

Taimni

“And the fitness of the mind for concentration.”

Discussion

Commentators have not . . . → Read More: Sutra 2.53

Sutra 2.52

ततः क्षीयते प्रकाशावरणम्॥५२॥

tataḥ kṣīyate prakāśa-āvaraṇam ॥52॥

tataḥ = then; kṣīyate = is weakened; prakāśa = illumination; āvaraṇam = covering;

Sw. Satchidananda

"As its result, the veil over the inner light is destroyed."

Bryant

"Then, the covering of the illumination [of knowledge] is weakened."

Taimni

"From that is dissolved the covering of light."

Discussion

As . . . → Read More: Sutra 2.52

Sutra 2.51

बाह्याभ्यन्तरविषयाक्षेपी चतुर्थः॥५१॥

bāhya-ābhyantara viṣaya-akṣepī caturthaḥ ॥51॥

baahya = external; abhyantara = internal; viShaya = sphere, range; AkShepI = surpassing; chaturthaH = fourth;

Sw. Satchidananda

“There is a fourth kind of pranayama that occurs during concentration on an internal or external object.”

Bryant

“The fourth [type of pranayama] surpasses the limits of the external and . . . → Read More: Sutra 2.51

Sutra 2.50

बाह्याभ्यन्तरस्तम्भवृत्तिर्देशकालसंख्याभिः परिदृष्टो दीर्घसूक्ष्मः॥५०॥

bāhya-ābhyantara-sthambha vr̥ttiḥ deśa-kāla-sankhyābhiḥ paridr̥ṣṭo dīrgha-sūkṣmaḥ ॥

bāhya, external; ābhyantara, internal; stambha, restrained, suppressed; vṛttiḥ, movements; deśa, place; kāla, time; saṅkhyābhiḥ, and by number; paridṛṣṭaḥ, is manifest; dīrgha, long; sūkṣmaḥ, subtle

Sw. Satchidananda

“The modifications of the life-breath are either external, internal or stationary. They are to be regulated by space, time and . . . → Read More: Sutra 2.50

Sutra 2.49

तस्मिन् सति श्वासप्रश्वासयोर्गतिविच्छेदः प्राणायामः॥४९॥

tasmin sati śvāsa-praśvāsyor-gati-vicchedaḥ prāṇāyāmaḥ ॥49॥

tasmin sati = on its attainment (of a steady and comfortable asana); shvaasa = inhalation; prashvaasayoh = exhalation; gati = movement; vichChedaH = regulation; praaNaayaamaH = pranayama (breath control)

Sw. Satchidananda

“That [firm posture] being acquired, the movements of inhalation and exhalation should be controlled. This . . . → Read More: Sutra 2.49

Sutra 2.48

ततो द्वन्द्वानभिघातः॥४८॥

tato dvaṅdva-an-abhighātaḥ ॥48॥

tatah = consequently; dvandva = by the opposites; anabhighaataH = not afflicted

Sw. Satchidananda

“Thereafter, one is undisturbed by the dualities.”

Bryant

“From this, one is not afflicted by the dualities of the opposites.”

Taimni

“From that no assaults from the pairs of opposites.”

Discussion

In the previous two sutras . . . → Read More: Sutra 2.48

Sutra 2.47

प्रयत्नशैथिल्यानन्त्यसमापत्तिभ्याम्॥४७॥

prayatna-śaithilya-ananta-samāpatti-bhyām ॥47॥

prayatna=effort; shaithilya=relaxation; ananta=the infinite, cosmic serpent ‘shesha’; samaapattibhyaam=absorption of mind

Sw. Satchidananda

“By lessening the natural tendency for restlessness and by meditating on the infinite, posture is mastered.”

Bryant

“[Such posture should be attained] by the relaxation of effort and by absorption in the infinite.”

Taimni

“By relaxation of effort and meditation . . . → Read More: Sutra 2.47

YSP Study Group – Sutra 2.46

Padmasana (Lotus Pose)

स्थिरसुखमासनम्॥४६॥

sthira-sukham-āsanam ॥46॥

sthira = steady; sukham = comfortable; aasanam = posture

Sw. Satchidananda

"Asana is a steady, comfortable posture."

Asana is that meditative posture that brings comfort and steadiness. If our body is not strong and flexible, then sitting in one pose will not remain steady or comfortable . . . → Read More: YSP Study Group – Sutra 2.46