Yogaśāstra 3.21–22: Bodily Form and Ripening Karma

Saṃyama interrupts the perceptibility of bodily form and makes the yogin invisible; directed at ripening karma, it reveals the time of death, as do omens.

Dr. Ronald Steiner

Laura von Ostrowski

Patañjali Yoga Sūtra 3.21

कायरूपसंयमात्तद्ग्राह्यशक्तिस्तम्भे चक्षुःप्रकाशासंप्रयोगे ऽन्तर्धानम् ||21||

kāya-rūpa-saṃyamāt tad-grāhya-śakti-stambhe cakṣuḥ-prakāśāsaṃprayoge 'ntardhānam ||21|| Analysis ▾ Analysis ▴

kāya tatpuruṣa-compound genitive	kāya substantive masculine	Body
rūpa tatpuruṣa-compound lokative	rūpa substantive neuter	Form, shape
saṃyamāt ablative singular	saṃyama substantive masculine	Meditation, concentration
tat tatpuruṣa-compound genitive	tad pronoun dem	of this, these
grāhya tatpuruṣa-compound genitive	grāhya adjective	to be grasped, perceptible
śakti tatpuruṣa-compound genitive	śakti substantive feminine	strength, ability
stambhe lokative singular	stambha substantive masculine	Inhibition, holding, banishment
cakṣuḥ tatpuruṣa-compound genitive	cakṣus substantive neuter	eye, seeing
prakāśa tatpuruṣa-compound genitive	prakāśa substantive masculine	Light, visibility
asaṃprayoge lokative singular	asaṃprayoga substantive masculine	Non-connection, non-contact
antardhānam nominative singular	antardhāna substantive neuter	Disappearance, invisibility

Through Saṃyama on the form of the body (kāya-rūpa-saṃyamāt | abl sg), invisibility (antardhānam | nom sg) [arises] when its capacity to be perceived is arrested (tad-grāhya-śakti-stambhe | loc sg) and there is no conjunction [of the bodily form] with the light of the eye (cakṣuḥ-prakāśāsaṃprayoge | loc sg).

Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal

Lying down, feel the outer shape of your body without holding on to it. With each exhalation, let the boundary between body and space soften; if this feels uncomfortable, open your eyes and feel the ground.

Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - modern transfer

According to the Vyāsa-Bhāṣya, saṃyama on the body’s visible form inhibits its perceptibility (grāhya-śakti). When this prevents conjunction with the light of the eye, invisibility results. The commentary extends the same procedure to sound and the other objects of the senses.

Yoga Śāstra Vyāsa-Bhāṣya

By performing Sanyama (restraint) about form (the property) of body, its power of being apprehended (by the organ of sight) being checked and luminousness, the property of the organ of sight having no connection (with its object, i. e. the form, the result) is the disappearance of the ascetic.

James R. Ballantyne - 1852

From Sanyama with reference to the shape of the body, its visibility being suspended, and thus its connection with occular light being severed,—there is disappearance.

Ganganatha Jha - 1907

Aus Anwendung der Allzucht auf die eigene Körperform erfolgt, vermöge der die Kraft ihn wahrzunehmen inhibitierenden Diskontinuität zwischen Auge und Sichtbarkeit, Unsichtbarmachung [des Yogin].

Paul Deussen - 1908

As a result of constraint upon the [outer] form of the body, when its power to be known is stopped, then as a consequence of the disjunction of the light and of the eye there follows indiscernibility [of the yogin's body].

James Haughton Woods - 1914

Patañjali Yoga Sūtra 3.22

सोपक्रमं निरुपक्रमं च कर्म तत्संयमादपरान्तज्ञानमरिष्टेभ्यो वा ||22||

sopakramaṃ nirupakramaṃ ca karma tat-saṃyamād aparānta-jñānam ariṣṭebhyo vā ||22|| Analysis ▾ Analysis ▴

sopakramam nominative singular neuter	sopakrama adjective	with a beginning, already effective
nirupakramam nominative singular neuter	nirupakrama adjective	without a beginning, not yet effective
ca	ca particle	and
karma nominative singular	karman substantive neuter	Action, work, karmic effect
tat tatpuruṣa-compound lokative	tad pronoun dem	on this, these
saṃyamāt ablative singular	saṃyama substantive masculine	Meditation, concentration
aparānta tatpuruṣa-compound genitive	aparānta substantive masculine	ultimate end, death
jñānam nominative singular	jñāna substantive neuter	Knowledge, understanding
ariṣṭebhyaḥ ablative plural	ariṣṭa substantive neuter	Death sign, omen
vā	vā particle	or

[Life-span-determining] karma (karma | nom sg) [is twofold]: quickly maturing (sopakramaṃ | nom sg n) and (ca) slowly maturing (nirupakramaṃ | nom sg n). Through Saṃyama on it (tat-saṃyamāt | abl sg), knowledge of the end of life (aparānta-jñānam | nom sg) [arises], or (vā) from signs of death (ariṣṭebhyaḥ | abl pl).

Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal

Notice what is already taking effect in your life and what is still waiting within you. Aware that time is finite, ask yourself: What needs your attention today?

Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - modern transfer

The Vyāsa-Bhāṣya distinguishes two kinds of karma that determine the length of life:

Sopakrama: karma that matures rapidly.
Nirupakrama: karma that matures slowly.

It illustrates the distinction with a wet cloth spread out or bundled together, which dries at different speeds, and with material that burns rapidly or slowly.

Through saṃyama on these karmic effects, the yogin knows the limit of the present life. The Vyāsa-Bhāṣya also mentions three kinds of death omen (ariṣṭa): internal, creature-related, and divine signs.

Yoga Śāstra Vyāsa-Bhāṣya

An action (Karma) is two-fold. One class is Sopakrama, i. e. taking effect immediately, and the other is Nirupakrama, i. e. taking effect slowly. By performing Sanyama (restraint) with regard to these, or from omens, arises knowledge of the final end.

James R. Ballantyne - 1852

Karma is active and dormant; and by Sanyama over this, results the knowledge of the end; as also by portents.

Ganganatha Jha - 1907

Mag das Werk unmittelbar oder mittelbar Vergeltung wirkend sein, aus Anwendung der Allzucht auf dasselbe erfolgt Kenntnis des letzten Endes, oder auch durch Vorzeichen.

Paul Deussen - 1908

Advancing and not-advancing is karma; as a result of constraint upon this there arises knowledge of the final end, or from portents.

James Haughton Woods - 1914

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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 ›

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06.05.2022

Grüß Gott, Frau Ostrowski und Dr. Steiner!

Vielen Dank für diese Veröffentlichung von Yogasutra. Ich benutze es als Grundlage für das Studium. Mein Guru Sergej Nikolajewitsch Gromow bestätigt, dass das Sutra "etena śabdādyantardhānamuktaṁ", das manchmal in Veröffentlichungen zu finden ist, ist ein Kommentar, der von dem hinzugefügt wurde, der neu geschrieben hat. Daher ist die korrekte Menge Sutra 195, nicht 196. Er empfiehlt auch, Yoga Sutras ohne Kommentar zu studieren, mit einer Geschwindigkeit von etwa einem Sutra in 4 Tagen.

Mit besten Grüßen,

Michail Galkin (Ratschizkij),
vriksa3@ukr.net
Institut für Yoga und Wushu in Odessa.
http://www.gromov.org/

07.05.2022

Danke schön!

06.05.2022

Hallo Michail,
vielen Dank für das Teilen. Dem kann ich nur zustimmen.
Namaste und herzliche Grüße
Ronald
P.S.: Ganz viel Verbundenheit und Energie nach Odessa!

27.05.2021

Hallo Laura und Ronald,
zwischen 3.21 und 3.22 ist ein Sutra ohne Nummerierung.
Hat das eine besondere Bewandnis?
Liebe Grüße aus dem Saarland
Peter

29.05.2021

ist unscheinbar. Die Fußnoten findet fast niemand.

27.05.2021

Jep, wer lesen kann ist klar im Vorteil.
Danke :-))

27.05.2021

Ja. Steht in der Fußnote. :)
- Dieser Satz ist nur in einzelnen Manuskripten enthalten, in anderen nicht.

27.05.2021

Absolute Ruhe, reines Sein .......

27.05.2021

und heute Abend der Fokus meiner Live Yoga-Stunde! Ich freue mich schon.

Yogaśāstra 3.21–22: Bodily Form and Ripening Karma

Yogaśāstra 3.21–22: Bodily Form and Ripening Karma

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