PYS 3.43: Mahāvidehā
PYS 3.43: Mahāvidehā

Yogaśāstra 3.43: Great Bodilessness

In mahāvidehā, an unconstructed vṛtti exists outside the body; this causes the covering of the light of citta-sattva to disappear.

Dr. Ronald Steiner Dr. Ronald Steiner Laura von Ostrowski Laura von Ostrowski
Patañjali Yoga Sūtra 3.43
बहिरकल्पिता वृत्तिर्महाविदेहा ततः प्रकाशावरणक्षयः ||43||
bahir akalpitā vṛttir mahā-videhā tataḥ prakāśāvaraṇa-kṣayaḥ ||43|| Analysis ▾ Analysis ▴
bahis
adverb
outside, outside
akalpitā
nominative singular feminine
adjective
not constructed, not imagined
vṛttiḥ
nominative singular
substantive feminine
movement, function, fluctuation
mahā
karmadhāraya-compound
adjective
large
videhā
nominative singular feminine
adjective
disembodied
tatas
adverb
from it, then
prakāśa
tatpuruṣa-compound genitive
substantive masculine
light, brightness
āvaraṇa
tatpuruṣa-compound genitive
substantive neuter
veil, concealment
kṣayaḥ
nominative singular
substantive masculine
Fading, dissolution
A Vṛtti (vṛttiḥ | nom sg) existing outside [the body] (bahis) and not mentally constructed (akalpitā | nom sg f) [is] the Dhāraṇā called great bodilessness (mahā-videhā | nom sg f). From this (tataḥ) [arises] the waning of the covering of the luminosity [of Citta-Sattva] (prakāśāvaraṇa-kṣayaḥ | nom sg).
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal
For a few breaths, release the idea that your body must have a fixed boundary. Feel your field of perception expand beyond the skin and allow an inner sense of brightness to unfold more freely, while you remain safely anchored in the body. If this feels uncomfortable, open your eyes and feel the ground.
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - modern transfer

The Vyāsa-Bhāṣya distinguishes an imagined bodiless state, in which the mind anchored in the body merely forms an external Vṛtti, from mahā-videhā, in which the mind itself operates outside, independently of the body. The first is used to accomplish the second; it enables entry into other bodies and removes the covering of luminous buddhi-sattva that consists of Kleśa, Karma, and fruition and is rooted in Rajas and Tamas.

Yoga Śāstra Vyāsa-Bhāṣya
Through external modification of the internal organ, akalpita, thoughtless, is called the great incorporeal modification; therefrom results the destruction of the obscuration of the illumination of intellect.
James R. Ballantyne - 1852
The external, unthought of junction (of the mind) is the "Great Incorporeal"; thence the falling off of the veil of illumination.
Ganganatha Jha - 1907
Der nicht mehr von außen beeinflusste Zustand heißt der Groß-Körpererhabene; aus ihm [der durch Allzucht erreicht wird] erfolgt Vernichtung der Lichtverdeckung.
Paul Deussen - 1908
An outwardly un-adjusted fluctuation is the Great Discarnate; as a result of this the dwindling of the covering to the brightness.
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
0 messages

Please log in to write a message. Go to login

No messages yet.