Patañjali Yoga Sūtra 4.3
निमित्तमप्रयोजकं प्रकृतीनां वरणभेदस्तु ततः क्षेत्रिकवत् ||3||
nimittam aprayojakaṃ prakṛtīnāṃ varaṇa-bhedas tu tataḥ kṣetrikavat ||3|| Analysis ▾ Analysis ▴
The external cause (nimittam | nom sg n) does not bring forth (aprayojakam | nom sg n) the forces of Prakṛti (prakṛtīnām | gen pl). Rather (tu), from it (tataḥ) [comes] the breach of a dam (varaṇa-bhedaḥ | nom sg), as with a farmer (kṣetrikavat).
You do not have to force change. Clear an obstacle (varaṇa-bheda), so your energy can flow like water again.
A nimitta such as dharma does not set the prakṛti in motion but only breaks through an obstruction. As a farmer opens a boundary and the water then flows by itself, dharma removes the opposing adharma; the prakṛti thereafter unfold their respective modifications themselves. Conversely, adharma can obstruct dharma and thereby condition an impure transformation.
The occasional is the non-efficient cause of natures thereby there is removal of obscurations, in the case of a husbandman (who removes impediments to the irrigation of his fields).
To the material causes, the instrument is non-efficient; from it (proceeds) the piercing of the covering,—as in the case of the husbandman.
Hingegen sind für die [schöpferisch sich betätigenden] Naturen [der Yogin's] ihr nimittam (ihre Werke in einem früheren Dasein) nicht das Bewirkende, doch kann es mitbehilflich sein zur Durchbrechung der Hindernisse, wie bei dem [das Feld bewässernden] Bauern.
The efficient cause gives no impulse to the evolving-causes but [the mutation] follows when the barrier [to the evolving-cause] is cut, as happens with the peasant.
Continue with AYI Free
Illustrations: AI-generated.
Please log in to write a message. Go to login