Essay name: Yoga-sutra with Bhashya Vivarana (study)
Author:
Susmi Sabu
Affiliation: University of Kerala / Department of Sanskrit
This essay studies the enduring and relevance of Yoga in India, highlighting its evolution from a comprehensive philosophy to primarily a physical practice. It further underscores the importance of studying Yoga texts to understand its historical trajectory. Special attention is given to the Patanjala Yogasutra Bhashya Vivarana, a significant work attributed to Adi Shankaracharya.
Chapter 4 - Textual Examination of the Text
52 (of 124)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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of eight limbs of Yoga, there is destruction of impurities and by that, there arises the means of Yoga i.e., vivekakhy膩ti. As in VBh., PYSBV also points out that, the more practice of sadhanas weakens the impurities. Here, VBh. uses the word viyogak膩ra峁嘺m to denote cause of separation. But instead of this, 193 Vivara峁嘺k膩ra has used the word k峁yak膩ra峁嘺m i.e., cause of
weakening. As the impurities become more and more
weakened, the light of knowledge increases in proportion to the
rate of weakening. The practice of eight limbs of Yoga has a
twofold purpose.
It is the cause for separation of impurities as
well as the cause for attaining vivekakhy膩ti. To clarify this point,
VBh. explains the nine-fold division of causes and gives further
clarification.
The eight yog膩ngas are- restraint (yama),
observances (niyama), posture (膩sana), regulation of breath
(pr膩峁嚹亂膩ma), withdrawal of senses (praty膩h膩ra), concentration
(dh膩ra峁嘺), meditation (dhy膩na) and oneness with the object of
meditation (sam膩dhi). These eight limbs of Yoga are to be
practised one by one. The person who has not climbed the first
step cannot mount the next step. Among these eight limbs, five of
them are considered as external means of Yoga
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