{1:13}
तत्र स्तिथौ यत्नो ऽभ्यासः
tatra stithau yatno ‘bhyāsaḥ
तत्र स्तिथौ यत्नः अभ्यासः
[with respect to being] Firmly established there [in the state of citta-vṛitti-nirodha], [are] effort and practice.
तत्र - there
स्तिथौ - locative of स्तिथ being established, firm. The locative here is used in the sense of 'with respect to' which is one of the functions of this case.
यत्नः - effort, endeavour, exertion, to try; masculine noun
अभ्यासः - practice, repetition, exercise
Almost all the commentators take this sūtra to mean that practice and effort are the way to reach the state of cessation of mental fluctuations. The yogasūtras will now go on to outline many different ways to bring about this cessation - but common to all the methods are a) effort and b) constant repetition.
2 comments:
Rohini -
how Patanjali says everything there is to say in each and every sutra - when one gets hold of the realities of abhyAsah - the facticity of constant repetition, one has taken a key from Patanjali, which, when turned, will open the doors into terrains yet undiscovered. The very aquistion of Vedic texts depends heavily on this one principal. the effort is constant - it never ceases - abhyAsah does not "let up", take a break, and needs no rest, for it is in itself a mode of rest.
Rohini - I do not think you could have made a better choice than the Sutras to lead people into Sanskrit.
You are providing an ongoing adventure, and one which can be enjoyed actively (Yesterday;s post yielded me new insights on the nature of my practicice of sAma...as well as new light on the sutra at once, so ...
Thank you.
Wayne
Hi Rohini, I totally endorse Wayne, Patanjali's Yoga Sutra translations are a great way to introduce us to Sanskrit and to the ideas of Yoga. Thanks again for this abhyasah of yours which we can try to join into so we can learn something as well.
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