Sūtra 2.2

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration and English translation of Sūtra 2.2:

समाधिभावनार्थः क्लेशतनूकरणार्थश् च ॥ २.२ ॥

samādhibhāvanārthaḥ kleśatanūkaraṇārthaś ca || 2.2 ||

samādhi—trance, bhāvana—bringing about, arthaḥ—for the purpose of. kleśa—afflictions. Tanū karaṇārthaḥ—for the purpose of attenuating. Ca, and.

2. For the purpose of bringing about trance and for the purpose of attenuating afflictions.—53.

The Sankhya-pravachana commentary of Vyasa

[English translation of the 7th century commentary by Vyāsa called the Sāṅkhya-pravacana, Vyāsabhāṣya or Yogabhāṣya]

[Sanskrit text for commentary available]

The Yoga of action is certainly to be performed, ‘for the purpose of bringing about trance and for the purpose of attenuating the afflictions.’ It is that which being performed, brings about trance and attenuates the afflictions. The afflictions thus attenuated become characterized by unproductiveness. When their seed power has, as it were, been singed by the fire of High Intellection; and for this reason the mind after their attenuation, is never again touched by the affliction; and having by subtle cognition come up to the discrimination of the distinct natures of the Puruṣa and Objective Essence, has the whole of its duty fulfilled and can only resolve into its cause.—53.

The Gloss of Vachaspati Mishra

[English translation of the 9th century Tattvavaiśāradī by Vācaspatimiśra]

The aphorism defining its object is introduced:—‘The Yoga of action is certainly, &c.’ The aphorism is ‘For the purpose of bringing about trance and for the purpose of attenuating the afflictions.’

The question arises that if the Yoga of action alone be competent to attenuate the afflictions, there remains no use at all in High Intellection. For this reason the commentator says:—“The afflictions thus attenuated become, etc.” The action of the Yoga of action operates only in attenuating them; it does not render the afflictions barren. High Intellection, however, operates to render them barren.

Let that be granted. But if High Intellection alone is competent to render the afflictions non-productive, what is the use of attenuating them? For this reason he says:—‘On account of their attenuation, &c.’ If the afflictions are not attenuated, the discrimination of the distinct natures of the Puruṣa and the Objective Essence, remaining overpowered by a powerful enemy, does not even show the energy to rise and render them barren, from the very first. When, however, the afflictions have been dispersed and rendered weak, even then, though inimical to them, it only arises by practice and desirelessness. When it has thus been born, it is not again touched by them, it is not overpowered so long as it is not touched by them. The discrimination of the distinct natures of the Puruṣa and Objective Essence is a subtle faculty, because its object is subtle.

“Can only resolve into its cause” means can only disappear.—2.