Sūtra 1.26

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration and English translation of Sūtra 1.26:

स पूर्वेषामपि गुरुः कालेनानवच्छेदात् ॥ १.२६ ॥

sa pūrveṣāmapi guruḥ kālenānavacchedāt || 1.26 ||

26. He is the instructor of even all early ones, for He is not defined by time.

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 described the identity and proof of the existence of God, the author refers to His greatness.

[Read Sūtra 1.26]

Even of the primary creators such as Brahmā and others, he is the “instructor,” or preceptor, because “He is not defined by time,” for He has no beginning, while the others are so defined, having a beginning.

Notes and Extracts

[Notes and comparative extracts from other commentaries on the Yogasūtra]

[The word guru has been translated “instructor” in accordance with the text, and after the commentator who supplies the equivalent upadeṣṭā. It may be more appropriately rendered into “noblest” or “greatest,” as it would make the reason assigned, undefined by time, more consistent, for want of beginning, or being not circumscribed by time, does not imply tuition. The object of the explanation, however, is to refer to the first tutor Maheśvara to whom reference has been made in the last note.

In the Pātañjala Bhāṣya no equivalent is given of the word, but the sense is explained by the word—

yathāsya sargasyādau prakarṣa-gatyāsiddhaḥ,
tathātikrānta-sargādisvapi pratyetavyaḥ.

Vācaspati Miśra explains the term by prakarṣa “superior”:—

na vartate prakarṣāsya gatiḥ prāptiḥ pratyetavya āgamāt tadanena prabandhena bhagavānīśvaro darśitaḥ.

In giving the purport of the aphorism he uses the words:—

samprati bhāvataḥ brahmādibhyaḥ viśeṣamāha.]

Having thus described the greatness of God, the author now supplies His indicator, with a view to help people in their devotion.