Yoga-sutras (with Bhoja’s Rajamartanda)
by Rajendralala Mitra | 1883 | 103,575 words
The Yoga-Sutra 4.28, 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 4.28
Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration and English translation of Sūtra 4.28:
प्रसङ्ख्यानेऽप्यकुसीदस्य सर्वथा विवेकख्यातेर्धर्ममेघः समाधिः ॥ ४.२८ ॥
prasaṅkhyāne'pyakusīdasya sarvathā vivekakhyāterdharmameghaḥ samādhiḥ || 4.28 ||
28. On the completion of the series there is produced the meditation (called) the Cloud of Virtue, even in the case of the non-aspirant, from the appearance of constant discrimination.
The Rajamartanda commentary by King Bhoja:
[English translation of the 11th century commentary by Bhoja called the Rājamārtaṇḍa]
[Sanskrit text for commentary available]
He now describes the means by which a Yogi, on his meditation becoming steady by the non-production of other thoughts in the way aforesaid, may attain excellence.
[Read Sūtra 4.28]
“On the completion of the series” (prasaṅkhyāne), i.e., after careful contemplation of the nature and respective peculiarities of all the categories arranged in due order. On that being accomplished even in the case of the “nonaspirant” (akusīda), or one who does not wish for any fruition, there is produced from the appearance of constant discrimination, on the cessation of all foreign thoughts in his thinking principle, the meditation called the Cloud of Virtue. That which showers (mehati) or irrigates profusely the virtue (dharma) which is neither black nor white, (cf. IV, VII,) and which is subservient to the attainment of the summum bonum is the “Cloud of Virtue” (Dharmamegha) By this is shown that the highest virtue is the cause of knowledge.
Notes and Extracts
[Notes and comparative extracts from other commentaries on the Yogasūtra]
[When the series of works enjoined above for the perfection of Yoga meditation have been completed, then there arises in the mind of the performer a meditation called Cloud of Virtue, which means that all virtues are showered on it, even when it does not wish for them. The sense is that though the Yogi may not wish for any reward, still the reward comes. The word in the text is akusīda, from a meaning negation and kusīda interest, that is disinterestedly. The theory is that the perfection of virtue results spontaneously in a person who completes his Yoga duties as described in the text.]
He explains next what results from that Cloud of Virtue.