Unit 2 Yoga Texts

Atha yoga-anuśāsanam ॥PYS1.1॥

Now, the yogic discipline begins.

yogaś-chitta-vr̥tti-nirodhaḥ ॥PYS 1.2॥

Yoga is restraining the mind-stuff (Chitta) from taking various forms (Vrittis).

tadā draṣṭuḥ svarūpe-‘vasthānam ॥PYS 1.3॥

At that time the seer remains in his own nature,

vr̥tti sārūpyam-itaratra ॥PYS 1.4॥

At other times, when not in the state of yoga the seer is identified with the modification.

vr̥ttayaḥ pañcatayyaḥ kliṣṭākliṣṭāḥ ॥PYS 1.5॥

There are five kinds of modification(vrittayah) which are either painful or not painful.

pramāṇa viparyaya vikalpa nidrā smr̥tayaḥ ॥PYS 1.6॥

They are - right knowledge, indiscrimination, verbal misconception, sleep, and memory.

pratyakṣa-anumāna-āgamāḥ pramāṇāni ॥PYS 1.7॥

Perception, Inference, and competent evidence are sources of right knowledge.

viparyayo mithyā-jñānam-atadrūpa pratiṣṭham ॥PYS 1.8॥

Indiscrimination (Viparyayo) is false knowledge that is not based on the real nature of its object.

śabda-jñāna-anupātī vastu-śūnyo vikalpaḥ ॥PYS 1.9॥

Verbal misconception arises from a verbal cognition about something which is devoid of reality.

abhāva pratyayālambanā vr̥ttirnidrā ॥PYS 1.10॥

Deep sleep is a modification (Vritti) that supports the feeling of voidness.

anu-bhūta-viṣaya-asaṁpramoṣaḥ smr̥tiḥ ॥PYS 1.11॥

Memory is when the (Vrittis of) perceived objects are not forgotten (and through impressions come back to consciousness).

abhyāsa vairāgyābhyām tannirōdhaḥ ॥PYS 1.12॥

These (Vrittis) are controlled by practice and non-attachment.

Padas

Samadhi Pada (On Contemplation) - 51 Sutra

Sadhana Pada (On Practice) - 55 Sutra

Vibhuti Pada (On Properties and power) - 55/56 Sutra

Kaivalya Pada (On Liberation) - 34 Sutra

karmaṇy-evādhikāras te mā phaleṣhu kadāchana

mā karma-phala-hetur bhūr mā te saṅgo ’stvakarmaṇi ||BG 2.47||

You have a right to perform your prescribed duties, but you are not entitled to the fruits of your actions. Never consider yourself to be the cause of the results of your activities, nor be attached to inaction.

yoga-sthaḥ kuru karmāṇi saṅgaṁ tyaktvā dhanañjaya

siddhy-asiddhyoḥ samo bhūtvā samatvaṁ yoga uchyate ||BG 2.48||

Be steadfast in the performance of your duty, O Arjun, abandoning attachment to success and failure. Such equanimity is called Yog.

dūreṇa hy-avaraṁ karma buddhi-yogād dhanañjaya

buddhau śharaṇam anvichchha kṛipaṇāḥ phala-hetavaḥ || BG 2.49||

Seek refuge in divine knowledge and insight, O Arjun, and discard reward-seeking actions that are certainly inferior to works performed with the intellect established in Divine knowledge. Miserly are those who seek to enjoy the fruits of their works.

buddhi-yukto jahātīha ubhe sukṛita-duṣhkṛite

tasmād yogāya yujyasva yogaḥ karmasu kauśhalam ||BG 2.50||

One who prudently practices the science of work without attachment can get rid of both good and bad reactions in this life itself. Therefore, strive for Yog, Which is Skill in Action

āpūryamāṇam achala-pratiṣhṭhaṁ samudram āpaḥ praviśhanti yadvat

tadvat kāmā yaṁ praviśhanti sarve sa śhāntim āpnoti na kāma-kāmī ||BG 2.70 ||

Just as the ocean remains undisturbed by the incessant flow of waters from rivers merging into it, likewise the sage who is unmoved despite the flow of desirable objects all around him attains peace, and not the person who strives to satisfy desires.

The Upanishads

Śruti (That which is heard) prasthāna

The Bhagavad Gita

Smriti (That which is remembered) prasthāna. These were composed by sages based on their understanding of the Vedas.

The Brahma Sutras

Sage Ved Vyasa (Badrayana). These are known as Nyaya prasthāna / Yukti prasthāna; This is considered the reason-based foundation of Vedanta.

Lower Back Pain

Lying Tadasana, Supta Pawanmuktasana (Wind-Relieving Pose) with each leg, standing Hip Rotation with Bent each leg, Half Happy Baby Pose (Ardha Ananda Balasana) with each leg, Lying Pigeon, Setu Bandhasana, Supine Spinal Twist (Jathara Parivrittanasana / Markatasana (knees together, separate or cross legged twist)

Avoid Forward Bending, Avoid Weight-Bearing on One Leg, Prioritize Core & Hip Stability, Encourage Gentle Backbends & Side Stretches, 

Sciatica

Prone Relaxation (Matsya-Kreedasana), Single-Leg Elevation for Sciatic Nerve Mobilization (Ek-pada-Shalabhasana, Deep Relaxation in Makarasana, Supine Spinal Twist (Jathara Parivrittanasana / Markatasna) – 3 Variations

Cervical Spondylosis

Shoulder Loosening Movements, Shoulder Blade Squeeze, Arm Circle, Gentle Neck Mobilization- greeva shakti vikasaka

Avoid Overloading the Neck with Weight-Bearing Movements, Avoid Sudden, Intense Neck Movements, Modify Seated and Supine Postures for Neck Comfort

Om hram Mitrye Namah

affectionate to all.

Om hrim Ravaye Namah

cause of all changes.

Om hrum Suryaya Namah

induces activity.

Om hraim Bhanve Namah

diffuses light.

Om hraum Khagaya Namah

moves in the sky.

Om hrah Pushne Namah

nourishes all.

Om hram Hiranyagarbhaya Namah

contains everything.

Om hrim Marichaye Namah

possesses rays.

Om hrum Adityaya Namah

son of Aditi.

Om hraim Savitre Namah

produces everything.

Om hraum Arkaya Namah

fit to be worshiped.

Om hrah Bhaskaraya Namah

cause of all luster.

Om Poornam-adah Poornam-idam

Poornat-Poornam-udachyate |

Poorn-asya Poornam-aadaya Poornam-eva-vashishyate,

Om Shantih, Shantih, Shantih ||

• Origin- Ishavasya Upanishad.

• THAT is infinite, THIS is infinite; From That, This comes. THIS added or removed from THAT, the Infinite remains as Infinite. Om, peace, peace, peace.

Yogena - cittasya- padena- vācāṁ

Malaṁ - śarīrasya - ca - vaidyakena|

Yo'pākarottaṁ - pravaraṁ - munīnāṁ

Patañjaliṁ - prāñjalirānato'smi ||

Ābahu - puruṣākāraṁ

Śaṅkha - cakrāsi - dhāriṇaṁ|

Sahasra - śīrasaṁ - śvetaṁ

Pranamāmi - patañjalim ||

This invocation to Patañjali is the introduction to the Bhoja Vritti, the commentary on the Yoga Sutras written by Raja Bhoj.

Yoga that brings quietness of mind; grammar that elicits effective speech and the healing arts that remove bodily ailments. He bestowed these things—that most illustrious of sages Patañjali to whom I make reverential obeisance.

Spirit rendered into human form, Bearing the conch, the discus, and the sword. Adorned with the cobra of one thousand heads. I bow down before Patañjali.