As some of you may know, I have launched a course for a richer understanding on the 8 limbs of yoga of Patanjali. It is a 12-day course focusing on going deeper in the meaning of each sutra and on chanting the sutra related. The course has the option to be in German or English, just click on each language and you will be lead to them.
To help and facilitate on the understanding of the sutras and the chanting I decided to create a post here with all the sutras and its meaning. The translation can be from Shri Brahmananda Sarasvati or adapted from his book, which I particularly recommend to all my students. It is the book I chose for the Teacher Training program as well.
So here I split the sutras according to each day of the course. You will see the number corresponding to each, sometimes I chant more sutras to one topic. This will be your guideline to the course.
There are 4 chapters in Patanjali's Yoga Sutra:
1. Samādhipādaḥ (the path to merging with the Supreme) What is yoga?
2. Sādhanapādaḥ (the path of spiritual practice) What is yoga like when you actually live it?
3. Vibhūtipādaḥ (the path to supernatural powers) What accompanies yoga?
4. Kaivalyapādaḥ (the way to freedom) What is the overall goal?
DAY 1
Yoga Sutra 2:29
yama niyamāsana prāṇāyāma pratyāhāra dhāraṇā dhyāna samādhayo-'ṣṭāvaṅgāni
yama niyama-āsana prāṇāyāma pratyāhāra dhāraṇā dhyāna samādhayaḥ aṣṭāu aṅgāni
Respect for your surroundings (Yama) and for yourself, (Niyama), harmony with your body (Āsana), your energy (Prānāyāma), your emotions (Pratyāhāra) and your thoughts (Dhārānā), immersion (Dhyāna) and ecstasy ( Samādhi), are the limbs of the eightfold path.
DAY 2
Yoga Sutra 2:30
ahiṁsā-satyāsteya brahmacaryāparigrahā yamāḥ
ahiṁsā-satya-asteya brahmacarya-aparigrahāḥ yamāḥ
ahimsā = not harming
satya = truthfulness, truth
asteya = not stealing
brahmacharya = act in the awareness of a higher ideal
carya = walking towards
Brahma = source/ creator force /God
aparigrahā = not hoarding / non-possessiveness /not being bribable
yamā = external discipline
The five external disciplines are not harming, truthfulness, not stealing, act in awareness of a higher ideal, and not hoarding. By practicing the Yamas, you gain great willpower.
Yoga Sutra 2:35
ahiṁsā-pratiṣṭhāyāṁ tat-sannidhau vaira-tyāgaḥ
ahiṁsā-pratiṣṭhāyāṁ tat-sannidhau vaira-tyāgaḥ
ahiṁsā = not harming
pratiṣṭha = firmly establish, based on, grounded in
tat = that, these
sannidhau = close by, presence, surrounding
vaira = hostility (Feindseligkeit, Streitigkeit)
tyāghaḥ = abandonment/ the giving up of.... to let go
Being firmly grounded in non-violence creates an atmosphere in which others can let go of their hostility.
Or:
When the yogī is firmly established in physical, mental, vocal and spiritual non-violence, there is abandonment of enmity by those who are in his or her presence.
Or:
In the presence of one who is firmly established in Not-harming, hostility disappears
Yoga Sutra 2:36
satya-pratiṣthāyāṁ kriyā-phalāśrayatvam
satya-pratiṣthāyāṁ kriyā-phala-āśrayatvam
satya = truthfulness, truth
pratiṣṭham = (von pratiṣṭha) grounded in, based on..
kriyā = action
phalā = fruit, result
āśrayatvam = (von āśrayat) foundation, base, rest on....
For those grounded in truthfulness, every action and its consequences are imbued with truth. Chip H.
Or:
If truthfulness (satya) is constant, one's own statements and actions always come true
DAY 3
Yoga Sutra 2:37
asteya-pratiṣṭhāyāṁ sarva-ratnopasthānam
asteya-pratiṣṭhāyāṁ sarva-ratna-upasthānam
All treasures are given to those who are rooted in non-stealing (Asteya).
Or:
Those who never violate other people's rights will be richly rewarded.
Or:
Whoever is stable and anchored in non-stealing will put all riches at his feet and all inner riches will be visible and available and accessible to that person.
Yoga Sutra 2:38
brahmacarya pratiṣṭhāyāṁ vīrya-lābhaḥ
brahma-carya pratiṣṭhāyāṁ vīrya-lābhaḥ
brahmacarya = walking or acting in the awareness of a higher ideal
carya = walking towards
Brahma= source/ creatorforce /the Absolut/ or God
Pratishthayam = to be firmly anchored, stable and steady
Vīrya = means life force, vitality, strength, to be in your juice
Labhah = means to achieve
If every action is carried out in the consciousness of a higher one ideal or God or creator force, great strength (Vīrya) is achieved.
or
By focusing, by being anchored and wandering in the consciousness of the Absolute, we gain great vitality.
Yoga Sutra 2:39
aparigraha-sthairye janma-kathantā sambodhaḥ
aparigraha-sthairye janma-kathantā sambodhaḥ
aparigraha = not hoarding
sthairye = being settled in
janma = birth
kathantā = understanding why
sambodhah = insight
If non-hoarding is constant, knowledge about past, present and future lives arises.
Or:
Freedom from wanting unlocks the real purpose of existence. (Translation by Chip Hartranft)
DAY 4
Yoga Sutra 2:32
śauca saṁtoṣa tapaḥ svādhyāyeśvara-praṇidhānāni niyamāḥ
śauca saṁtoṣa tapaḥ svādhyāya-īśvara praṇidhānāni niyamāḥ
1. Śauca Purity in thought, word and action
2. Saṁtoṣa contentment
3. Tapaḥ self-discipline, continuity
4. Svādhyāyā self-study and study about yourself
5. Īśvara-praṇidhānā devotion to a higher ideal/trust in a god of your own choice
Purity, contentment, self-discipline, learning from and about yourself, and surrender to a higher ideal. This is what constitutes respect and appreciation for yourself.
Yoga Sutra 2:40
śaucāt svāṅga-jugupsā parair asaṁsargaḥ
śaucāt sva aṅga-jugupsā paraiḥ a-saṁsargaḥ
Śauca: means to act with a pure heart
Sva: is your own self
Anga: are the limbs and the components
Jugupsā: the detachment or the distance
Paraiḥ: with others
a-samsargaḥ: Freedom from any contact
By cleaning the body and mind, an inner detachment to our body and other people develops.
Or:
When purity and cleanliness of the body and mind (shaucha) are obtained, there arises in the yogi a sense of transcendence and detachment from his or her own physical body and disinclination to come into physical contact with the impurities of the bodies of others. (Shri Brahmananda Sarasvati)
Yoga Sutra 2:42
saṁtoṣād-anuttamaḥ-sukha-lābhaḥ
saṁtoṣāt-anuttamaḥ-sukha-lābhaḥ
Santosād: contentment
Anuttamah: unsurpassed. It can't go any higher
Sukha: happiness, fulfillment
Lābhah: to attain or to win.
Contentment brings supreme happiness. You get happiness beyond comparison.
Yoga Sutra 2:43
kāyendriya-siddhir-aśuddhi-kṣayāt tapasaḥ
kāya-indriya-siddhiḥ-aśuddhi-kṣayāt tapasaḥ
kāya = the body
indriya = sense organs, senses
siddhiḥ = (nom. of siddhi) supernatural power
aśuddhi = impurity, inconsistency, gloom
kṣayāt = (from kṣaya) to destroy, dissolve, reduce
tapaḥ = (nom. from tapas) self-discipline, perseverance, continuity, heat, friction
Through self-discipline (tapaḥ), gloom is resolved, body and senses receive supernatural power.
Or:
Self discipline, austerity (tapaḥ), destroys all impurities and gives rise to the perfection and blossoming of the body, mind, senses and sensory organs. (Shri Brahmananda Sarasvati)
Or:
As intense discipline burns up impurities, the body and its senses become supremely refined.
DAY 5
Yoga Sutra 2:44
svādhyāyād-iṣṭa-devatā saṁprayogaḥ
svādhyāyāt-iṣṭa-devatā saṁprayogaḥ
svā = self
dhyāya: means concentration, to immerse or to reach the source.
Svāthyāyāt = self-study
iṣṭa = desired, longed for
devatā = personal inner god or deity
saṁprayogaḥ = means connection or contact with this inner being, with this essence.
Self-study connects you more deeply with your inner being. Your higher self, your Sadguru.
Or:
Learning about and from oneself brings connection to the desired ideal.
Yoga Sutra 2:45
Samādhi-siddhir īśvara-praṇidhānāt
Samādhi-siddhiḥ īśvara-praṇidhānāt
Samādhi = unity, and more precisely, "Sam- / Sama" means the same and "adhi" like the highest; so be the same as the highest! merging with All
Siddhiḥ = mastery, higher abilities
Īśvara = source, divine ideal, "God" or the highest in a personalized form
praṇidhānāt = surrender, trust in this ideal.
Devotion and trust in a higher ideal (Īśvara-Praṇidhāna) creates deep self-knowledge (samādhi) and supernatural powers (siddhi).
DAY 6
Yoga Sutra 2:46
sthira-sukham-āsanam
sthira-sukham-āsanam
Sthira = means stable, well anchored.
Sukham = means happy or joyful,
Āsanam = means seat, center of gravity, the connection to the earth
Your connection to earth and all earth dwellers should be stable and joyful.
Or:
Practice with strength / stability (Sthira) and happiness / serenity (Sukham) creates harmony in the physical body; in the seat (āsana).
Yoga Sutra 2:47
prayatna-śaithilyānanta-samāpatti-bhyām
prayatna-śaithilya-ananta-samāpatti-bhyām
Essential in this practice is both an even, soft (śaitilya) breath (Prayatna), as well as (Abhyam), the concentration (Samāpatti) on the snake-like hissing of the breath (Ananta).
DAY 7
Yoga Sutra 2:49
tasmin sati śvāsa-praśvāsyor-gati-vicchedaḥ prāṇāyāmaḥ
tasmin sati śvāsa-praśvāsyoḥ-gati-vicchedaḥ prāṇa-āyāmaḥ
After this has been achieved, there arises transcendence of the physical movement (Gati) associated with inhalation (Śvāsa) and exhalation (Praśvāsa). This is energy work (Prānāyāma).
Or:
With effort relaxing, the flow of inhalation and exhalation can be brought to a standstill; this is called breath regulation.
Yoga Sutra 2:52
tataḥ kṣīyate prakāśāvaraṇam
tataḥ kṣīyate prakāśa-āvaraṇam
Tataḥ = therefore, as a result, from that
kṣīyate = is destroyed
prakāśa = inner light, the true self, the I-AM
āvaraṇam = vail
Then the veils fall and the light of the true self becomes visible.
Or:
As its result, the veil over the inner Light is destroyed.
DAY 8
Yoga Sutra 2:54
sva-viṣayāsamprayoge cittasya sva-rūpānukāra-ivendriyāṇāṁ pratyāhāraḥ
sva-viṣaya-asamprayoge cittasya sva-rūpa-anukāraḥ-iva-indriyāṇām pratyāhāraḥ
sva = own
viṣaya= object (of experience), phenomenon
asamprayoge = uncoupling, non-contact, upon disconnection, is displaced from
cittasya = mind-stuff
sva = their own
rūpa = form
anukāraḥ= imitation, following suit
iva = like, thus, as it were
indriyāṇām= energy of the senses
pratyāhāraḥ = withdrawal of the senses
When mental energy withdraws from external objects, the senses do likewise; this is called withdrawal of the senses: pratyāhāraḥ
Yoga Sutra 2:55
tataḥ paramā-vaśyatendriyāṇām
tataḥ paramā-vaśyatā indriyāṇām
tatah = therefore, from these, from that
paramā = ultimate, highest, purest
vaśyata = mastery
indriyāṇām = over senses
Then the senses reside utterly in the service of realization.
Or:
Then comes the spontaneous, complete and natural mastery over all the senses, that is to say, the natural self discipline holds on to I-AM. (Translation by Śrī Brahmanda Saraswati)
DAY 9
Yoga Sutra 3:1
deśa-bandhaś cittasya dhāraṇā
deśa-bandhaḥ cittasya dhāraṇā
Deśa = object or also place or topic
Bandhah = binding or fixing
Cittasya = of the mind
dhāraṇā = means concentration
By aligning the changeable aspects of the human being (citta) on a certain topic, harmony with thoughts and the ability to concentrate arise.
Or:
Concentration is the focusing of the attention of psychic energy (cittam) on an internal or external object of meditation. Translation by Śrī Brahmanda Saraswati
DAY 10
Yoga Sutra 3:2
tatra pratyayaika-tānatā dhyānam
tatra pratyaya-eka-tānatā dhyānam
Tatra = then, there
Pratyaya =cognition, perception, ideas and thoughts.
Eka = one, one directed or as a unit
tānatā = flow as …., extension, streching
Dhyānam = is meditation or contemplation
Dhyāna: contemplation is the uninterrupted flow of attention of psychic energy to the object, which is your luminous soul.
Or:
When the thoughts flow in such a focused way, ultimately immersion occurs
DAY 11
Yoga Sutra 3:3
tad evārtha-mātra-nirbhāsaṁ sva-rūpa-śūnyam iva samādhiḥ
tat eva artha-mātra-nirbhāsaṁ sva-rūpa-śūnyam iva samādhiḥ
tat = there, therefore or now
eva = exactly the same, actually
tad eva = if and only if Artha
artha = sense, meaning, object or topic
matra = only alone, the sole sense
nirbhāsam = shining forth, illumination
sva rūpa = sva means own / rūpa= form/ thus: svarūpa: own form, own nature, personality,
śūnayam = empty, devoid
iva = as if
Samādhi = same as the highest, integration, complete merging, nothing is missing
A translation could be interpreted as follows:
Ultimately, only the topic of alignment shines for itself, without being influenced by the observer, and knowledge arises. Samadhi.
Or:
When only the essential nature of the object shines forth, as if formless, integration has arisen.
DAY 12
THE TRANSFORMATION
What has changed in you?
What has touched you?
What could you implement in your life?
How do you gain more energy for your transformation?
I am really grateful for you undertaking this journey with me.
I wish you a wonderful journey and we meet again soon!
With love,
Heidi
