Yoga-sutras (with Bhoja’s Rajamartanda)
by Rajendralala Mitra | 1883 | 103,575 words
The Yoga-Sutra 1.19, English translation with Commentaries. The Yogasutra of Patanjali represents a collection of aphorisms dealing with spiritual topics such as meditation, absorption, Siddhis (yogic powers) and final liberation (Moksha). The Raja-Martanda is officialy classified as a Vritti (gloss) which means its explanatory in nature, as opposed to being a discursive commentary.
Sūtra 1.19
Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration and English translation of Sūtra 1.19:
भवप्रत्ययो विदेहप्रकृतिलयानाम् ॥ १.१९ ॥
bhavapratyayo videhaprakṛtilayānām || 1.19 ||
19. Of (the meditative states attained to by the two classes of aspirants technically called) the Unembodied and the Resolved into nature, the world is the cause.
The Rajamartanda commentary by King Bhoja:
[English translation of the 11th century commentary by Bhoja called the Rājamārtaṇḍa]
[Sanskrit text for commentary available]
Having thus stated the distinctions and the nature of Yoga, and having briefly mentioned the method of performing it, the author proceeds to speak of those methods more fully.
[Read Sūtra 1.19]
The “unembodied” (videha) and the “resolved into nature” (prakṛtilaya) have been described in the aphorism on the argumentative and other forms of meditations (A XVII, pp. 18f.)
Of their meditation the world is the cause. The word bhavaprataya is formed of bhava ‘world’ and pratyaya ‘cause.’
The meaning is this: that such persons, from their entrance into the world (on account of their deserts), become participators of similar (inadequate) meditation. Not being conscient of ultimate reality, for them this is a mere exercise of the Yoga. Hence, exertion should be made for the knowledge of the ultimate reality and in the contemplation thereof, with a view to the attainment of deliverance. This is the object for which this has been said.
Notes and Extracts
[Notes and comparative extracts from other commentaries on the Yogasūtra]
[In the commentary on aphorism XVII, among the conditions of Conscious meditation disembodiedness and resolution into primeval nature have been pointed out as high. Here the object is to show that those results are secondary, and of the earth earthy. They do not secure the ultimate end of Yoga. They are accordingly meditations, of which the world or Prakṛtī [Prakṛti?] is the cause. They are, nevertheless, desirable exercises as preparatory to the state in which the ultimate reality is revealed.]
Of others:—