Yogaśāstra 4.25–26: The End of Self-Confusion

One who distinguishes citta from puruṣa no longer takes citta as the self; citta now inclines toward viveka and flows toward kaivalya.

Dr. Ronald Steiner

Laura von Ostrowski 10.03.2020

Patañjali Yoga Sūtra 4.25

विशेषदर्शिन आत्मभावभावनानिवृत्तिः ||25||

viśeṣa-darśina ātma-bhāva-bhāvanā-nivṛttiḥ ||25|| Analysis ▾ Analysis ▴

viśeṣa bahuvrīhi-compund	viśeṣa substantive masculine	distinction
darśinaḥ genitive singular masculine	darśin adjective	seeing
ātman tatpuruṣa-compound genitive	ātman substantive masculine	self
bhāva tatpuruṣa-compound genitive	bhāva substantive masculine	being
bhāvanā tatpuruṣa-compound genitive	bhāvanā substantive feminine	reflection
nivṛttiḥ nominative singular feminine	nivṛtti substantive feminine	cessation

For one who sees the distinction [between Citta and Puruṣa] (viśeṣa-darśinaḥ | gen sg), reflection on one’s own being ceases (ātma-bhāva-bhāvanā-nivṛttiḥ | nom sg).

Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal

When you recognize that you are more than your roles, thoughts, and self-images (ātma-bhāva), the need to keep analyzing yourself loses its grip. You are free simply to be here.

Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - modern transfer

Thrilling and tears on hearing the path of release are taken by the Bhāṣya as signs of a seed of discrimination formed by karma conducive to release. In the viśeṣadarśin, the otherwise naturally arising reflection “Who and how was I, what is this, and what shall we become?” ceases. For the manifold transformations belong to citta alone; without avidyā, puruṣa is pure and untouched by the properties of citta.

Yoga Śāstra Vyāsa-Bhāṣya

The cessation of the (false) notion regarding the soul takes place in him who knows the difference.

James R. Ballantyne - 1852

For the knower of the difference, (there is) cessation of all thought of the nature of self.

Ganganatha Jha - 1907

Für den, welcher die Verschiedenheit [des Puruṣa vom Cittam] erkennt, schwindet der Wahn, dass es [das Cittam] der Ātman sei.

Paul Deussen - 1908

For him who sees the distinction, pondering upon his own states-of-being ceases.

James Haughton Woods - 1914

Patañjali Yoga Sūtra 4.26

तदा विवेकनिम्नं कैवल्यप्राग्भारं चित्तम् ||26||

tadā viveka-nimnaṃ kaivalya-prāgbhāraṃ cittam ||26|| Analysis ▾ Analysis ▴

tadā	tadā adverb	then
viveka tatpuruṣa-compound lokative	viveka substantive masculine	discrimination
nimnam nominative singular neuter	nimna adjective	inclined
kaivalya tatpuruṣa-compound lokative	kaivalya substantive neuter	Kaivalya
prāgbhāram nominative singular neuter	prāgbhāra adjective	descending toward
cittam nominative singular neuter	citta substantive neuter	Citta

Then (tadā), Citta (cittam | nom sg n) inclines toward discrimination [between Citta and Puruṣa] (viveka-nimnam | nom sg n) and descends toward Kaivalya (kaivalya-prāgbhāram | nom sg n).

Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal

As water follows a slope, your field of awareness (citta) can incline toward clarity (viveka) and inner freedom (kaivalya). Let your practice guide it in that direction again and again.

Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - modern transfer

Citta, previously inclined toward objects and ignorance, reverses its direction. It now slopes toward discriminative knowledge (viveka-nimna) and tends onward toward kaivalya (kaivalya-prāgbhāra).

Yoga Śāstra Vyāsa-Bhāṣya

Then the mind becomes deflected towards discrimination bowed down towards (or by) isolation.

James R. Ballantyne - 1852

Then the mind is turned towards discrimination, and is bowed down by Isolation.

Ganganatha Jha - 1907

Dann wird das Cittam, durch diese Unterscheidung in Fluß gebracht, den Bergabhang der Erlösung hinabströmen.

Paul Deussen - 1908

Then the mind-stuff is borne down to discrimination, onward towards Isolation.

James Haughton Woods - 1914

Continue with AYI Free

Illustrations: AI-generated.

Editor

Dr. Ronald Steiner

From Ulm

The "Yoga Doc" - Dr. Ronald Steiner is the founder of the AYI method. This method links traditional Ashtanga Yoga with innovative Yogatherapy and living Philosophy. This forms a practice that is personal for each and... more ›

Laura von Ostrowski

Ich bin 2004 das erste Mal mit Yoga in Berührung gekommen und habe seitdem unendlich viele Facetten kennengelernt. Einerseits die vielfältigen praktischen Seiten von Yoga - in Form verschiedener Ausbildungen (500 h... more ›

Messages and ratings

2 messages Ø

Please log in to write a message. Go to login

25.04.2020

Das fühlt sich am Ende sogar körperlich befreit an! Wer hätte es gedacht!

25.04.2020

Ein wunderschönes und Erlebnis wie der Körper "durchlässiger" wird. Big Hug.

Yogaśāstra 4.25–26: The End of Self-Confusion

Continue with AYI Free

Choose your privacy settings.

Adjust your preferences.

Optional