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PYS 2.52–53: Karmahülle und Dhāraṇā
PYS 2.52–53: Karmahülle und Dhāraṇā

Yogaśāstra 2.52–53: The Effect of Prāṇāyāma

Prāṇāyāma weakens the karma that covers the light of sattva and binds one to saṃsāra; thus manas becomes fit for dhāraṇā.

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

Yogaśāstra 2.52–53: The Effect of Prāṇāyāma

Prāṇāyāma weakens the karma that covers the light of sattva and binds one to saṃsāra; thus manas becomes fit for dhāraṇā.

Patañjali Yoga Sūtra 2.52
ततः क्षीयते प्रकाशावरणम् ||52||
tataḥ kṣīyate prakāśāvaraṇam ||52|| Analysis ▾ Analysis ▴
tatas
tatas
adverb
 thereby
kṣīyate
3rd person singular passive present
kṣi
verbal root
 is weakened
prakāśa
tatpuruṣa-compound genitive
prakāśa
substantive masculine
 of the light
āvaraṇam
nominative singular
āvaraṇa
substantive neuter
 covering
As a result (tataḥ | adv), the covering of the light [of sattva] (prakāśāvaraṇam | nom sg) dwindles (kṣīyate | 3p sg pas pres).
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal
As the breath becomes subtle and free, experience may begin to brighten. Notice what veils your view (āvaraṇa), and give inner light (prakāśa) room to emerge.
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - modern transfer

Prāṇāyāma weakens and consumes the karma that covers discriminative knowledge. This karma covers luminous sattva with a “magical net of great delusion,” directs it towards improper activities and binds it to saṃsāra.

Yoga Śāstra Vyāsa-Bhāṣya
Thereby is removed the obscuration of the light.
James R. Ballantyne - 1852
Then is destroyed the envelope of light:
Ganganatha Jha - 1907
Durch diese [vier Atemregulierungen] wird die Verdeckung des Lichtes beseitigt,
Paul Deussen - 1908
As a result of this the covering of the light dwindles away.
James Haughton Woods - 1914
Patañjali Yoga Sūtra 2.53
धारणासु च योग्यता मनसः ||53||
dhāraṇāsu ca yogyatā manasaḥ ||53|| Analysis ▾ Analysis ▴
dhāraṇāsu
lokative plural
dhāraṇā
substantive feminine
 for fixations
ca
ca
particle
 and
yogyatā
nominative singular
yogyatā
substantive feminine
 fitness
manasaḥ
genitive singular
manas
substantive neuter
 of the mind
And (ca) [there arises] fitness (yogyatā | nom sg) of manas (manasaḥ | gen sg) for acts of fixed attention (dhāraṇāsu | loc pl).
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal
Use gentle awareness of breathing to prepare the mind for concentration (dhāraṇā-yogyatā). Then return to one clear focus.
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - modern transfer

Practice of prāṇāyāma makes manas fit for the dhāraṇā. The Vyāsa-Bhāṣya refers here to the exhalation and retention of breath mentioned in 1.34.

Yoga Śāstra Vyāsa-Bhāṣya
And the mind becomes fit for acts of attention.
James R. Ballantyne - 1852
the fitness of the mind for concentration.
Ganganatha Jha - 1907
und Geeignetheit des Manas für die Fesselungen bewirkt.
Paul Deussen - 1908
For fixed attentions also the central organ becomes fit.
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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