Yoga Sutras

Front 1

1.1 atha yoganusasanam

Back 1

With prayers for divine blessings, now begins an exposition of the sacred art of yoga.

Front 2

1.2 yogah cittavrtti nirodhah

Back 2

Yoga is the cessation of movements in the consciousness.

Front 3

1.3 tada drastuh svarupe avasthanam

Back 3

Then, the seer dwells in his own true splendour.

Front 4

1.4 vrtti sarupyam itaratra

Back 4

At other times, the seer identifies with the fluctuating consciousness.

Front 5

1.5 vrttayah pancatayyah klista aklistah

Back 5

The movements of consciousness are fivefold. They may be cognizable or non cognizable, painful or non painful.

Front 6

1.6 pramana viparyaya vikalpa nidra smrtayah

Back 6

They are caused by correct knowledge, illusion, delusion, sleep and memory.

Front 7

1.7 pratyaksa anumana agamah pramanani

Back 7

Correct knowledge is direct, inferred or proven as factual.

Front 8

1.8 viparyayah mithyajnanam atadrupa pratistham

Back 8

Illusory or erroneous knowledge is based on non fact or the non real.

Front 9

1.9 sabdajnana anupati vastusunyah vikalpah

Back 9

Verbal knowledge devoid of substance is fancy or imagination.

Front 10

1.10 abhava pratyaya alambana vrttih nidra

Back 10

Sleep is the non deliberate absence of thought waves or knowledge.

Front 11

1.11 anubhuta visaya asampramosah smrtih

Back 11

Memory is the unmodified recollection of words and experience.

Front 12

1.12 abhyasa vairagyabhyam tannirodhah

Back 12

Practice and detachment are the means to still the movements of consciousness.

Front 13

1.13 tatra sthitau yatnah abhyasah

Back 13

Practice is the steadfast effort to still these fluctuations.

Front 14

1.14 sa tu dirghakala nairantarya satkara asevitah drdhabhumih

Back 14

Long, uninterrupted, alert practice is the firm foundation for restraining the fluctuations.

Front 15

1.15 drsta anusravika visaya vitrsnasya vasikarasamjna vairagyam

Back 15

Renunciation is the practice of detachment from desires.

Front 16

1.16 tatparam purusakhyateh gunavaitrsnyam

Back 16

The ultimate renunciation is when one transcends the qualities of natuire and perceives the soul.

Front 17

1.17 vitarka vicara ananda asmitarupa anugamat samprajnatah

Back 17

Practice and detachment develop four types of samadhi: self analysis, synthesis, bliss and the experience of pure being.