Yoga-sutras (Ancient and Modern Interpretations)
by Makarand Gopal Newalkar | 2017 | 82,851 words | ISBN-13: 9780893890926
Yoga-sutras 2.33-34, English translation with modern and ancient interpretation. The Patanjali Yogasutras describe an ancient Indian tradition spanning over 5000 years old dealing with Yoga:—Meditating the mind on the Atma leading to the realization of self. This study interprets the Yogasutras in light of both ancient and modern commentaries (e.g., Vyasa and Osho) while supporting both Sankhya and Vedanta philosophies.
Sūtra 2.33-34
Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration and English translation of sūtra 2.33-34:
वितर्कबाधने प्रतिपक्षभावनम् ॥ २.३३ ॥
वितर्का हिंसादयः कृतकारितानुमोदिता लोभक्रोधमोहपूर्वका मृदुमध्याधिमात्रा दुःखाज्ञानानन्तफला इति प्रतिपक्षभावनम् ॥ २.३४ ॥vitarkabādhane pratipakṣabhāvanam || 2.33 ||
vitarkā hiṃsādayaḥ kṛtakāritānumoditā lobhakrodhamohapūrvakā mṛdumadhyādhimātrā duḥkhājñānānantaphalā iti pratipakṣabhāvanam || 2.34 ||(33) When these restraints and observances are inhibited by perverse thoughts, the opposites should be thought of. (34) Actions arising out of perverse thoughts like injury etc. are either performed by oneself, got done or approved by another; performed either through anger, greed or delusion; and can be mild, moderate or intense; that they are the causes of infinite misery and unending ignorance is the contrary thought.
Ancient and Modern interpretation:
While dealing with yama–niyama, Patañjali has given these two sūtras which are of great help to the practical student of Yoga.
[Read sūtra 33 above]
Rational of this technique is to overcome bad habits and undesirable tendencies by altering the thought process from root.
Osho says,[1]
“When the mind is disturbed by wrong thoughts, ponder on opposites.”
He suggests catharsis by dynamic meditation and then submilation will follow.[2]
[Read sūtra 34 above]
Kāma, krodha, lobha, mada, moha, mātsarya are the greatest enemies of a person which are main hinderences for personality development.Due to dominance of these six vices and due to avidyā, man gets into all kinds of kleśas and miseries.So vitarka is the root cause of this. Hence Lord
Kṛṣṇa says in Bhagavadgītā, [3]
“When a man thinks of objects, ‘attachment’ for them arise; from attachment ‘desire’ is born; from desire arises ‘anger’, from anger comes ‘delusion’, from delusion ‘loss of memory’, from loss of memory the ‘destruction of discrimination’, from destruction of discrimination, he ‘perishes’.”
Osho explains,
“It is necessary to ponder on opposites as wrong thoughts,emotions and actions, such as violence result in ignorance and intense misery whether they can be performed, paused or approved through greed, anger or delusion in mild, medium or intense degrees.”
If one thinks negative,it creates bad karma for him and others.Instead, if one sends a thought of compassion or a positive thought,a better world would be created around that person.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
Osho, T he Alpha and Omega, Vol.5, p.123,124
[2]:
Ibid.,p.137
[3]:
Bhagavadgītā II-62,II-63 — [...] ||2− 63||