॥१॥ Samadhi Pada
1. Chapter on Concentration
Samadhi Pada is the first chapter of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, focusing on the theory and practice of achieving Samadhi, a state of meditative absorption or union with the object of meditation. This chapter outlines the goals of yoga, describing the nature of the mind, the obstacles to spiritual growth, and the techniques to overcome them. It introduces key concepts like chitta vritti (mental fluctuations) and abhyasa (consistent practice) as essential for calming the mind and reaching higher states of consciousness, ultimately leading to enlightenment.
॥१॥ अथ योगानुशासनम्
1.1 Atha yogānuśāsanam
Now (atha), in accordance with tradition (anu), the discipline (śāsanam) of Yoga is expounded
॥२॥ योगश्चित्तवृत्तिनिरोधः
1.2 Yogaścittavṛttinirodhaḥ
Yoga is the cessation of the modifications (vṛtti) of the consciousness (citta).
॥३॥ तदा द्रष्टुः स्वरूपेऽवस्थानम्
1.3 Tadā draṣṭuḥ svarūpe’vasthānam
Only then (tadā) can the witnessing consciousness (draṣṭuḥ) establish itself (avasthānam) in it’s own nature (sva-rūpe).
॥४॥ वृत्तिसारूप्यमितरत्र
1.4 Vṛttisārūpyamitaratra
At other times (itaratra) their is identification (sārūpyam) with the modifications (vṛtti).
॥५॥ वृत्तयः पञ्चतय्यः क्लिष्टा अक्लिष्टाः
1.5 Vṛttayaḥ pañcatayyaḥ kliṣṭā akliṣṭāḥ
The modifications (vrittis) are of five types, and they can be either painful (kliṣṭa) or non-painful (akliṣṭa)
॥६॥ प्रमाणविपर्ययविकल्पनिद्रास्मृतयः
1.6 Pramāṇaviparyayavikalpanidrāsmṛtayaḥ
The mental modifications (vrittis) are: correct knowledge (pramāṇa), misconception (viparyayaḥ), imagination (vikalpa), sleep (nidrā), and memory (smṛtayaḥ).
॥७॥ प्रत्यक्षानुमानागमाः प्रमाणानि
1.7 Pratyakṣānumānāgamāḥ pramāṇāni
Direct perception (pratyakṣa), inference (anumāna), and authoritative testimony (āgamāḥ) are the means of valid knowledge (pramāṇāni).
॥८॥ विपर्ययो मिथ्याज्ञानमतद्रूपप्रतिष्ठम्
1.8 Viparyayo mithyājñānamatadrūpapratiṣṭham
Misconception (viparyayaḥ) is having erroneous (mithyā) knowledge (jñānam) based on (pratiṣṭham) the wrong form or nature (atad-rūpa).
॥९॥ शब्दज्ञानानुपाती वस्तुशून्यो विकल्पः
1.9 Śabdajñānānupātī vastuśūnyo vikalpaḥ
Imagination (vikalpaḥ) is a mental modification depending on (anupātī) verbal expression (śabda) and knowledge (jñāna) and is empty (śūnyaḥ) of real substance (vastu).
॥१०॥ अभावप्रत्ययालम्बना वृत्तिर्निद्रा
1.10 Abhāvapratyayālambanā vṛttirnidrā
Sleep (nidrā) is a mental modification (vṛtti) that relies (ālambanā) on the concept (pratyaya) of absence (abhāva).
॥११॥ अनुभूतविषयासम्प्रमोषः स्मृतिः
1.11 Anubhūtaviṣayāsampramoṣaḥ smṛtiḥ
Memory (smṛtiḥ) is the retention (saṃpramoṣaḥ) of previously experienced (anubhūta) objects or subjects (viṣaya).
॥१२॥ अभ्यासवैराग्याभ्यां तन्निरोधः
1.12 Abhyāsavairāgyābhyāṁ tannirodhaḥ
They (the modifications of the mind) are restrained (nirodhaḥ) through practice (abhyāsa) and non-attachment (vairāgya).