Verse 1.19

भवप्रत्ययो विदेहप्रक्रतिलयानाम्  ||1.19||

The State of Samadhi arises naturally, as a consequence of Birth,

 for the Gods^* and for those Yogis who have  merged with  Nature .(1.19)

* Videhas- (Beings) without bodies –Gods.

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Born into a  State where the mind is stilled,

 Far into the journey are these  blessed  two,

The Ones without bodies,

And those one with Nature,

The Final destination is near,

But yet so far !

©Ravi Easwaran

reaswaran@gmail.com

Verse 1.18

विराम्प्रत्ययाभ्यसपुर्वः संस्कर्षेशोSन्यः  ||1.18||

A deeper State of Samadhi is reached by this constant practice

of cessation of experiences in the mind (cessation of thoughts)

and accompanied by only residual impressions.     (1.18)

Honed by constant practice,

On the Stones of Dispassion,

Soaring above the sense of “I”,

Thoughts have ceased, the mind is dead,

Enter ye into a State of Samadhi indescribable,

The Experiencer has been left behind.

(Notes: In 1.17 is described the first four stages in the journey, the fourth stage being where the “I” sense is transcended. This having been done, the Samadhi referred to in 1.18 can really not be described since the “I” is necessary for the recall. Hence even Patanjali refers to it as “anya” –the other)

 ©Ravi Easwaran

reaswaran@gmail.com

Verse 1.17

वितर्कविचारनान्दस्मितानुगमत संप्रज्ञातः | |1.17 | |

Samadhi is composed of four consecutive stages ie Gross thoughts,

Subtle thoughts, bliss and the sense of “I”.    (1.17)

The Journey is long and arduous,

It traverses the regions four,

The first littered by Thoughts Gross and evil,

Then the land of the pleasant and Subtle,

Bliss is the State which lies beyond the yonder,

And fourth the wondrous “I”

©Ravi Easwaran

reaswaran@gmail.com

Ch.1 Sutras 15 &16

दृष्टानुश्रविकविषयवितृष्णस्य वशीकारसंज्ञा वैराग्यम्   ||1.15||

तत्परं पुरुषख्यातेर्गुनवैत्रष्ण्यं                       ||1.16||

Detachment  is the state where the mind becomes indifferent to objects seen or heard. (cognized by the senses)                                        ||1.15||

This detachment becomes supreme, when desire for even the three Gunas (attributes of nature)  is extinguished, through the glimpse of the Universal  Consciousness.                                                         ||1.16||

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The target hit, the mind stunned into silence,

The Objects remain but not the thread that binds,

As the Lotus lies in the water but the waves wet it not,

So the mind remains in the world of Senses,

But the Senses taint it not.     

Behold  the  sun behind the clouds of darkness,

A vision of the Universal Consciousness,

The attraction of the three attributes fade for ever.

©Ravi Easwaran

reaswaran@gmail.com

Ch.1 Sutras 1.13 & 1.14

तत्र स्थितौ यत्नोऽभ्यासः || 1.13 ||

स तु धिर्गकालनैरन्तर्यसत्करासेवितो द्रढभूमिः ||1.14||

(The effort to still the modifications of the mind is known as Practice.

Such Practice continued for a long time, with the right attitude, becomes firm.)

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O Seeker of the Truth,

String the Bow  and Sight the Target,

Practice turns effort to effortlessness,

The Archer and the Arrow become one.

The Arrow and the Target become one,

Which  is the target and which is the missile ?

And which , indeed, is the Archer ?

Does the Archer shoot the Arrow ?

Or does the Arrow shoot itself ?

Ch 1. Sutra 12

अभ्यासवैराग्याभ्यां तान्निरोधः |:1.12||

Through   Practice and Detachment   the modifications cease to be.

Abate the winds,

With the shield of Detachment,

The Oil of patient Practice

Stills  the Waves,

The Seas become Serene.

©Ravi Easwaran

reaswaran@gmail.com

Ch 1. Sutra 1.11

अनुभूतविषयासंप्रमोषः स्म्रति: ||1.11||

That modification of the mind  where past experiences have not been lost  is known as Memory.

Images of experience past,

Yet vanquished not by the great destroyer,

Triggered by the senses five,

Arise from Memory,

The present experience is cognized !

©Ravi Easwaran

reaswaran@gmail.com