शब्दब्रह्मणि निष्णातः परं ब्रह्माधिगच्छति द्वे विद्ये वै वेदितव्ये इति चाथर्वणी श्रुतिः
One who is skilled in the Brahman of sound attains the supreme Brahman; indeed, two kinds of knowledge must be known, so declares the Atharvanic scripture.
परया ह्य् अक्षरप्राप्तिर् ऋग्वेदादिमयापरा यत् तद् अव्यक्तम् अजरम् अचिन्त्यम् अजम् अव्ययम्
Through the higher knowledge comes attainment of the imperishable; the lower consists of the Rig Veda and others; that which is unmanifest, ageless, inconceivable, unborn, and undecaying.
अनिर्देश्यम् अरूपं च पाणिपादाद्यसंयुतम् वित्तं सर्वगतं नित्यं भूतयोनिम् अकारणम्
It is indescribable, without form, not joined with hands, feet, and so on; it is known as all-pervading, eternal, the source of beings, and without cause.
व्याप्यं व्याप्तं यतः सर्वं तद् वै पश्यन्ति सूरयः तद् ब्रह्म परमं धाम तद् धेयं मोक्षकाङ्क्षिभिः
That which pervades and is pervaded by all—this is seen by the sages; that Brahman is the supreme abode, the goal sought by those desiring liberation.
श्रुतिवाक्योदितं सूक्ष्मं तद् विष्णोः परमं पदम् उत्पत्तिं प्रलयं चैव भूतानाम् आगतिं गतिम्
That subtle supreme abode of Vishnu, spoken of in the words of the scriptures, is the origin and dissolution of beings, their coming and going.
वेत्ति विद्याम् अविद्यां च स वाच्यो भगवान् इति ज्ञानशक्तिबलैश्वर्यवीर्यतेजांस्य् अशेषतः
He knows both knowledge and ignorance; he is called Bhagavan, possessing knowledge, power, strength, lordship, energy, and all excellences without remainder.
भगवच्छब्दवाच्यानि विना हेयैर् गुणादिभिः सर्वाणि तत्र भूतानि निवसन्ति परात्मनि
All beings reside in the supreme Self, which is denoted by the term 'Bhagavan', devoid of inferior qualities and attributes.
भूतेषु च स सर्वात्मा वासुदेवस् ततः स्मृतः उवाचेदं महर्षिभ्यः पुरा पृष्टः प्रजापतिः
He is the Self of all beings; therefore, he is remembered as Vāsudeva. Long ago, Prajāpati, questioned by the great sages, spoke this.
नामव्याख्याम् अनन्तस्य वासुदेवस्य तत्त्वतः भूतेषु वसते यो ऽन्तर् वसन्त्य् अत्र च तानि यत् धाता विधाता जगतां वासुदेवस् ततः प्रभुः
The true explanation of the name of the infinite Vāsudeva is that he dwells within beings, and those beings also dwell in him; he is the creator and ordainer of worlds, therefore he is the Lord Vāsudeva.
स सर्वभूतप्रकृतिर् गुणांश् च दोषांश् च सर्वान् सगुणो ह्य् अतीतः अतीतसर्वावरणो ऽखिलात्मा तेनावृतं यद् भुवनान्तरालम्
He is the nature of all beings, all qualities and faults; though possessing qualities, he transcends them all, and is the Self of all; by him is veiled the space between worlds.
समस्तकल्याणगुणात्मको हि स्वशक्तिलेशादृतभूतसर्गः इच्छागृहीताभिमतोरुदेहः संसाधिताशेषजगद्धितो ऽसौ
He is the embodiment of all auspicious qualities; by a fraction of his own power, the creation of beings arises; his body is assumed according to his will and desire, and he accomplishes the welfare of all worlds.
तेजोबलैश्वर्यमहावरोधः स्ववीर्यशक्त्यादिगुणैकराशिः परः पराणां सकला न यत्र क्लेशादयः सन्ति परापरेशे
He is a mass of qualities such as energy, strength, lordship, and great restraint, the highest among the supreme; in whom there are no afflictions or the like, the Lord of both the higher and lower.
स ईश्वरो व्यष्टिसमष्टिरूपो ऽव्यक्तस्वरूपः प्रकटस्वरूपः सर्वेश्वरः सर्वदृक् सर्ववेत्ता समस्तशक्तिः परमेश्वराख्यः
He is the Lord, having both individual and collective forms, unmanifest and manifest; the Lord of all, all-seeing, all-knowing, possessing all powers, called the supreme Lord.
संज्ञायते येन तद् अस्तदोषं शुद्धं परं निर्मलम् एकरूपम् संदृश्यते वाप्य् अथ गम्यते वा तज् ज्ञानम् अज्ञानम् अतो ऽन्यद् उक्तम्
That by which he is known is pure, supreme, spotless, and without fault; it is of one form, and is either seen or attained; knowledge is declared to be distinct from ignorance.
इदानीं ब्रूहि योगं च दुःखसंयोगभेषजम् यं विदित्वाव्ययं तत्र युञ्जामः पुरुषोत्तमम्
Now, please tell us of yoga, the remedy for the union with suffering; knowing that imperishable state, let us practice union with the Supreme Person.
श्रुत्वा स वचनं तेषां कृष्णद्वैपायनस् तदा अब्रवीत् परमप्रीतो योगी योगविदां वरः
Hearing their words, Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana, the best among yogis and knower of yoga, then spoke, greatly pleased.
योगं वक्ष्यामि भो विप्राः शृणुध्वं भवनाशनम् यम् अभ्यस्याप्नुयाद् योगी मोक्षं परमदुर्लभम्
O brāhmaṇas, I will explain yoga, the destroyer of worldly existence; listen—by practicing it, a yogi attains liberation, which is extremely difficult to obtain.
श्रुत्वादौ योगशास्त्राणि गुरुम् आराध्य भक्तितः इतिहासं पुराणं च वेदांश् चैव विचक्षणः
First, having listened to the treatises on yoga, having worshiped the teacher with devotion, and being skilled in the epics, Purāṇas, and Vedas,
आहारं योगदोषांश् च देशकालं च बुद्धिमान् ज्ञात्वा समभ्यसेद् योगं निर्द्वंद्वो निष्परिग्रहः
Knowing food, the faults of yoga, place and time, the wise one should practice yoga, free from dualities and without possessions.
भुञ्जन् सक्तुं यवागूं च तक्रमूलफलं पयः यावकं कणपिण्याकम् आहारं योगसाधनम्
Eating saktu, barley gruel, buttermilk, roots, fruits, milk, yāvaka, and coarse flour—these are foods suitable for the practice of yoga.
न मनोविकले ध्माते न श्रान्ते क्षुधिते तथा न द्वंद्वे न च शीते च न चोष्णे नानिलात्मके
Not when the mind is disturbed, nor when one is breathless, tired, or hungry; not in duality, nor in cold, nor in heat, nor in a place of strong wind.
सशब्दे न जलाभ्यासे जीर्णगोष्ठे चतुष्पथे सरीसृपे श्मशाने च न नद्यन्ते ऽग्निसंनिधौ
Not where there is noise, nor near water, nor in a ruined cowshed, nor at a crossroads, nor among reptiles, nor in a cremation ground, nor on a riverbank, nor near fire.
न चैत्ये न च वल्मीके सभये कूपसंनिधौ न शुष्कपर्णनिचये योगं युञ्जीत कर्हिचित्
Not in a shrine, nor in an anthill, nor in a fearful place, nor near a well, nor on a heap of dry leaves should one ever practice yoga.
देशान् एतान् अनादृत्य मूढत्वाद् यो युनक्ति वै प्रवक्ष्ये तस्य ये दोषा जायन्ते विघ्नकारकाः
Disregarding these places out of ignorance, whoever practices yoga—let me tell you the faults that arise for him, which become obstacles.
बाधिर्यं जडता लोपः स्मृतेर् मूकत्वम् अन्धता ज्वरश् च जायते सद्यस् तद्वद् अज्ञानसंभवः
Deafness, dullness, loss of memory, muteness, blindness, and fever arise immediately, as well as ignorance.
तस्मात् सर्वात्मना कार्या रक्षा योगविदा सदा धर्मार्थकाममोक्षाणां शरीरं साधनं यतः
Therefore, one who knows yoga should always protect the body in every way, for the body is the means for dharma, artha, kāma, and mokṣa.
आश्रमे विजने गुह्ये निःशब्दे निर्भये नगे शून्यागारे शुचौ रम्ये चैकान्ते देवतालये
In an āśrama, in a secluded, hidden, silent, and fearless place, on a mountain, in an empty house, in a pure and pleasant solitary spot, or in a temple.
रजन्याः पश्चिमे यामे पूर्वे च सुसमाहितः पूर्वाह्णे मध्यमे चाह्नि युक्ताहारो जितेन्द्रियः
In the last watch of the night, or at dawn, with mind well composed; in the morning or midday, with moderate food and controlled senses.
आसीनः प्राङ्मुखो रम्य आसने सुखनिश्चले नातिनीचे न चोच्छ्रिते निःस्पृहः सत्यवाक् शुचिः
Seated facing east, on a pleasant, comfortable, steady seat, not too low nor too high, free from desire, truthful in speech, and pure.
युक्तनिद्रो जितक्रोधः सर्वभूतहिते रतः सर्वद्वंद्वसहो धीरः समकायाङ्घ्रिमस्तकः
Moderate in sleep, with anger subdued, devoted to the welfare of all beings, enduring all dualities, steadfast, with body, feet, and head aligned.