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.
नाभौ निधाय हस्तौ द्वौ शान्तः पद्मासने स्थितः संस्थाप्य दृष्टिं नासाग्रे प्राणान् आयम्य वाग्यतः
Placing both hands on the navel, calm, seated in the lotus posture, fixing the gaze on the tip of the nose, restraining the breath, and controlling speech.
समाहृत्येन्द्रियग्रामं मनसा हृदये मुनिः प्रणवं दीर्घम् उद्यम्य संवृतास्यः सुनिश्चलः
Having gathered the group of senses, with the mind in the heart, the sage, closing the mouth, motionless, utters the long syllable Om.
रजसा तमसो वृत्तिं सत्त्वेन रजसस् तथा संछाद्य निर्मले शान्ते स्थितः संवृतलोचनः
By means of rajas, one covers the function of tamas; by means of sattva, one covers that of rajas. Thus, remaining pure and peaceful, with senses withdrawn, one abides.
हृत्पद्मकोटरे लीनं सर्वव्यापि निरञ्जनम् युञ्जीत सततं योगी मुक्तिदं पुरुषोत्तमम्
The yogi should always unite his mind with the Supreme Person, the giver of liberation, who is all-pervading, stainless, and hidden in the innermost lotus of the heart.
करणेन्द्रियभूतानि क्षेत्रज्ञे प्रथमं न्यसेत् क्षेत्रज्ञश् च परे योज्यस् ततो युञ्जति योगवित्
First, let him place the senses and the elements into the knower of the field; then, let the knower of the field be joined to the Supreme; thus, the knower of yoga unites.
मनो यस्यान्तम् अभ्येति परमात्मनि चञ्चलम् संत्यज्य विषयांस् तस्य योगसिद्धिः प्रकाशिता
For one whose restless mind, having abandoned all objects, attains its end in the Supreme Self, the perfection of yoga is revealed.
यदा निर्विषयं चित्तं परे ब्रह्मणि लीयते समाधौ योगयुक्तस्य तदाभ्येति परं पदम्
When the mind, free from objects, dissolves into the Supreme Brahman, then, for the one established in yoga, the highest state is attained in samadhi.
असंसक्तं यदा चित्तं योगिनः सर्वकर्मसु भवत्य् आनन्दम् आसाद्य तदा निर्वाणम् ऋच्छति
When the yogi’s mind is unattached in all actions, having attained bliss, then he reaches liberation.
शुद्धं धामत्रयातीतं तुर्याख्यं पुरुषोत्तमम् प्राप्य योगबलाद् योगी मुच्यते नात्र संशयः
Having attained, through the power of yoga, the pure, transcendent, fourth state called the Supreme Person, the yogi is liberated—of this there is no doubt.
निःस्पृहः सर्वकामेभ्यः सर्वत्र प्रियदर्शनः सर्वत्रानित्यबुद्धिस् तु योगी मुच्येत नान्यथा
Free from desire for all objects, seeing the good everywhere, and understanding the impermanence of all things, the yogi is liberated; otherwise, not.
इन्द्रियाणि न सेवेत वैराग्येण च योगवित् सदा चाभ्यासयोगेन मुच्यते नात्र संशयः
The knower of yoga should not indulge the senses, but practice detachment; always by the discipline of practice, he is liberated—of this there is no doubt.
न च पद्मासनाद् योगो न नासाग्रनिरीक्षणात् मनसश् चेन्द्रियाणां च संयोगो योग उच्यते
Yoga is not merely the lotus posture, nor gazing at the tip of the nose; the union of mind and senses is called yoga.
एवं मया मुनिश्रेष्ठा योगः प्रोक्तो विमुक्तिदः संसारमोक्षहेतुश् च किम् अन्यच् छ्रोतुम् इच्छथ
Thus, O best of sages, I have declared the yoga that grants liberation and is the cause of release from worldly existence. What else do you wish to hear?
श्रुत्वा ते वचनं तस्य साधु साध्व् इति चाब्रुवन् व्यासं प्रशस्य संपूज्य पुनः प्रष्टुं समुद्यताः
Hearing his words, they said, 'Excellent, excellent!' Praising and honoring Vyasa, they prepared to question him further.
तव वक्त्राब्धिसंभूतम् अमृतं वाङ्मयं मुने पिबतां नो द्विजश्रेष्ठ न तृप्तिर् इह दृश्यते
O sage, the nectar of your words, arising from the ocean of your mouth, does not bring us satisfaction, O best of twice-born, though we drink it here.
तस्माद् योगं मुने ब्रूहि विस्तरेण विमुक्तिदम् सांख्यं च द्विपदां श्रेष्ठ श्रोतुम् इच्छामहे वयम्
Therefore, O sage, tell us in detail about yoga, which grants liberation, and also about Sankhya, O best of men—we wish to hear.
प्रज्ञावाञ् श्रोत्रियो यज्वा ख्यातः प्राज्ञो ऽनसूयकः सत्यधर्ममतिर् ब्रह्मन् कथं ब्रह्माधिगच्छति
How does a wise, learned, sacrificial, renowned, intelligent, and non-envious person, whose mind is set on truth and righteousness, O Brahman, attain Brahman?
तपसा ब्रह्मचर्येण सर्वत्यागेन मेधया सांख्ये वा यदि वा योग एतत् पृष्टो वदस्व नः
Is it by austerity, celibacy, complete renunciation, intelligence, by Sankhya or by yoga? Having been asked this, tell us.
मनसश् चेन्द्रियाणां च यथैकाग्र्यम् अवाप्यते येनोपायेन पुरुषस् तत् त्वं व्याख्यातुम् अर्हसि
By what means does a person attain one-pointedness of mind and senses? This you ought to explain to us.
नान्यत्र ज्ञानतपसोर् नान्यत्रेन्द्रियनिग्रहात् नान्यत्र सर्वसंत्यागात् सिद्धिं विन्दति कश्चन
No one attains perfection except through knowledge and austerity, nor except through control of the senses, nor except through complete renunciation.