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PYS 2.1–2: Kriyā-Yoga
PYS 2.1–2: Kriyā-Yoga

Yogaśāstra 2.1–2: Asceticism, Recitation, and Devotion

Tapas, recitation or study of teachings on liberation, and offering all actions to Īśvara weaken the kleśas and prepare samādhi.

Dr. Ronald Steiner Dr. Ronald Steiner Laura von Ostrowski Laura von Ostrowski

Yogaśāstra 2.1–2: Asceticism, Recitation, and Devotion

Tapas, recitation or study of teachings on liberation, and offering all actions to Īśvara weaken the kleśas and prepare samādhi.

Patañjali Yoga Sūtra 2.1
तपः स्वाध्यायेश्वरप्रणिधानानि क्रियायोगः ||1||
tapaḥ svādhyāyeśvarapraṇidhānāni kriyā-yogaḥ ||1|| Analysis ▾ Analysis ▴
tapas
dvandva-compound
tapas
substantive neuter
 asceticism
svādhyāya
dvandva-compound
svādhyāya
substantive masculine
 recitation of sacred texts
īśvarapraṇidhānāni
nominative plural
īśvarapraṇidhāna
substantive neuter
 devotion to Īśvara
kriyā
tatpuruṣa-compound genitive
kriyā
substantive feminine
 of action
yogaḥ
nominative singular
yoga
substantive masculine
 yoga
Asceticism, recitation of sacred texts and devotion to Īśvara (tapaḥ-svādhyāyeśvara-praṇidhānāni | nom pl) [constitute] the yoga of action (kriyā-yogaḥ | nom sg).
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal
Bring together enlivening discipline (tapas), honest self-inquiry (svādhyāya), and devotion to something greater (īśvara-praṇidhāna). In this way, everyday action becomes yoga (kriyā-yoga).
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - modern transfer

Without tapas, the Vyāsa-Bhāṣya says, yoga cannot succeed: impurity, variegated by beginningless karma, kleśa and vāsanā, cannot be broken apart without it. Tapas should nevertheless be practised only in a way that does not disturb the clarity of citta.

Svādhyāya is the recitation of sacred formulas such as the praṇava or the study of teachings on liberation. Īśvara-praṇidhāna is the offering of all actions to the supreme teacher or the renunciation of their fruits.

Yoga Śāstra Vyāsa-Bhāṣya
The practical (part of) concentration is mortification (Tapas), muttering (Svādhyāya) and resignation (Praṇidhāna) of the Lord.
James R. Ballantyne - 1852
Asceticism, Study, and Resignation to God constitute Active a Preliminary Yoga.
Ganganatha Jha - 1907
Askese, Vedastudium und Gottergebenheit bilden den Werk-Yoga.
Paul Deussen - 1908
Self-castigation and study and devotion to the Īśvara are the Yoga of action.
James Haughton Woods - 1914
Patañjali Yoga Sūtra 2.2
समाधिभावनार्थः क्लेशतनूकरणार्थश्च ||2||
samādhi-bhāvanārthaḥ kleśa-tanūkaraṇārthaś ca ||2|| Analysis ▾ Analysis ▴
samādhi
tatpuruṣa-compound accusative
samādhi
substantive masculine
 samādhi
bhāvana
tatpuruṣa-compound dative
bhāvana
substantive feminine
 for cultivating
arthaḥ
nominative singular
artha
substantive masculine
 intended
kleśa
tatpuruṣa-compound accusative
kleśa
substantive masculine
 the afflictions
tanūkaraṇa
tatpuruṣa-compound dative
tanūkaraṇa
substantive neuter
 for attenuating
arthaḥ
nominative singular
artha
substantive masculine
 intended
ca
ca
particle
 and
[Kriyā-yoga serves] the cultivation of samādhi (samādhi-bhāvanārthaḥ | nom sg) and (ca) the attenuation of the afflictions (kleśa-tanū-karaṇārthaḥ | nom sg).
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal
Do not turn practice into a form of self-optimisation. Let your practice foster collectedness (samādhi-bhāvanā) and ease the pressure of inner patterns (kleśa).
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - modern transfer

Kriyā-yoga brings about samādhi and attenuates the kleśa. The weakened kleśa can be made like burned seeds, incapable of germinating, in the fire of discriminative knowledge (prasaṃkhyāna). The subtle insight into the mere difference between sattva and puruṣa can then complete its task untouched by them and prepare the return into the cause.

Yoga Śāstra Vyāsa-Bhāṣya
It is for the purpose of establishing meditation and for the purpose of extanuating afflictions.
James R. Ballantyne - 1852
Is for the contemplation of Samadhi and for the attenuation of distractions.
Ganganatha Jha - 1907
Er (dieser Werk-Yoga) bezweckt Förderung des samādhi und bezweckt Abschwächung der kleśa.
Paul Deussen - 1908
For the cultivation of concentration and for the attenuation of the hindrances.
James Haughton Woods - 1914

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Dr. Ronald Steiner

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

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 ›

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