PYS 3.49–51: Allwissen oder Kaivalya
PYS 3.49–51: Allwissen oder Kaivalya

Yogaśāstra 3.49–51: Relinquishing the Highest Siddhis

Distinguishing sattva from puruṣa grants omniscience and dominion. Dispassion toward these destroys the seed of defect and leads to kaivalya; divine invitations must arouse neither attachment nor pride.

Dr. Ronald Steiner Dr. Ronald Steiner Laura von Ostrowski Laura von Ostrowski
Patañjali Yoga Sūtra 3.49
सत्त्वपुरुषान्यताख्यातिमात्रस्य सर्वभावाधिष्ठातृत्वं सर्वज्ञातृत्वं च ||49||
sattva-puruṣānyatā-khyāti-mātrasya sarva-bhāvādhiṣṭhātṛtvaṃ sarva-jñātṛtvaṃ ca ||49|| Analysis ▾ Analysis ▴
sattva
dvandva-compound
substantive neuter
clarity of Citta
puruṣa
tatpuruṣa-compound genitive
substantive masculine
Puruṣa, Seer
anyatā
tatpuruṣa-compound genitive
substantive feminine
difference, otherness
khyāti
tatpuruṣa-compound genitive
substantive feminine
discernment, insight
mātrasya
genitive singular
substantive neuter
mere-ness, mere measure
sarva
karmadhāraya-compound
adjective
all
bhāva
tatpuruṣa-compound genitive
substantive masculine
states of being
adhiṣṭhātṛtvam
nominative singular
substantive neuter
sovereignty
sarva
karmadhāraya-compound
adjective
all
jñātṛtvam
nominative singular
substantive neuter
omniscience
ca
particle
and
For [the yogin] who possesses only knowledge of the difference between the Sattva [of Citta] and Puruṣa (sattva-puruṣānyatā-khyāti-mātrasya | gen sg), [arise] dominion over all states of existence (sarva-bhāvādhiṣṭhātṛtvam | nom sg) and (ca) omniscience (sarva-jñātṛtvam | nom sg).
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal
Distinguish what changes in body and mind from the quiet awareness that notices it. This clarity keeps you from mistaking a passing state for your whole being.
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - modern transfer

When Buddhi-Sattva has been cleansed of Rajas and Tamas and rests solely in knowledge of its difference from Puruṣa, the Vyāsa-Bhāṣya says that authority over all states of existence and instantaneous, all-encompassing discriminative knowledge arise. This perfection is called viśokā; the yogin is omniscient, masterful, and free of bondage by the Kleśas.

Yoga Śāstra Vyāsa-Bhāṣya
Omniscience and supremacy over all existence arise merely in the ascetic who has the discriminative knowledge of the element of purity and Soul.
James R. Ballantyne - 1852
Just as one has distinctive knowledge of the attribute of Sattva and Spirit, (their results) supremacy over all conditions, and also omniscience.
Ganganatha Jha - 1907
Sobald man Klarheit gewonnen hat über die Verschiedenheit von Sattvam und Purusha, erfolgt Oberherrschaft über alles Sein und Allwissenheit.
Paul Deussen - 1908
He who has only the full discernment into the difference between the sattva and the Self is one who has authority over all states-of-existence and is one who knows all.
James Haughton Woods - 1914
Patañjali Yoga Sūtra 3.50
तद्वैराग्यादपि दोषबीजक्षये कैवल्यम् ||50||
tad-vairāgyād api doṣa-bīja-kṣaye kaivalyam ||50|| Analysis ▾ Analysis ▴
tat
tatpuruṣa-compound lokative
pronoun dem
about it, this
vairāgyāt
ablative singular
substantive neuter
Lack of attachment, dispassion
api
particle
even, too
doṣa
tatpuruṣa-compound genitive
substantive masculine
Error, damage, impurity
bīja
tatpuruṣa-compound genitive
substantive neuter
germ, seed
kṣaye
lokative singular
substantive masculine
Dwindling, destruction
kaivalyam
nominative singular
substantive neuter
Liberation, isolation
Through dispassion even (api) toward these [highest Siddhis] (tad-vairāgyāt | abl sg), when the seed of the defects [the Kleśas] has dwindled (doṣa-bīja-kṣaye | loc sg), isolation [of Puruṣa] (kaivalyam | nom sg) [arises].
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal
Even a powerful, clear, or extraordinary experience need not be held onto. Practise letting go even of success, so that it becomes freedom rather than a new identity.
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - modern transfer

According to the Vyāsa-Bhāṣya, the yogin recognizes even pure discriminative knowledge as a property of Sattva, which is to be relinquished, and becomes dispassionate toward it. The burned seeds of the Kleśas return to their source together with the mind; with the reabsorption of the Guṇas, the threefold suffering ends and Puruṣa stands in complete separation in its own nature.

Yoga Śāstra Vyāsa-Bhāṣya
From indifference even to this perfection, through the destruction of the germ of perniciousness, results isolation.
James R. Ballantyne - 1852
From indifference even thereto, follows Isolation, the seed of evils having been destroyed.
Ganganatha Jha - 1907
Aus dem Nichtmehrhängen auch an diesen erfolgt, indem der Same der Sünde zunichte geworden ist, Absolutheit.
Paul Deussen - 1908
As a result of passionlessness even with regard to these [perfections] there follows, after the dwindling of the seeds of the defects, Isolation.
James Haughton Woods - 1914
Patañjali Yoga Sūtra 3.51
स्थान्युपनिमन्त्रणे सङ्गस्मयाकरणं पुनरनिष्टप्रसङ्गात् ||51||
sthāny-upanimantraṇe saṅga-smayākaraṇaṃ punar aniṣṭa-prasaṅgāt ||51|| Analysis ▾ Analysis ▴
sthāni
tatpuruṣa-compound genitive
adjective
high, located in a high place
upanimantraṇe
lokative singular
substantive neuter
Invitation, temptation
saṅga
dvandva-compound
substantive masculine
attachment, clinging
smaya
tatpuruṣa-compound genitive
substantive masculine
Arrogance, pride
akaraṇam
nominative singular neuter
substantive neuter
Not doing, omitting
punar
adverb
again
aniṣṭa
tatpuruṣa-compound genitive
adjective
undesirable, unwholesome
prasaṅgāt
ablative singular
substantive masculine
Entanglement, attachment
At an invitation from the exalted [deities] (sthāny-upanimantraṇe | loc sg), attachment and pride are not to be allowed to arise (saṅga-smayākaraṇam | nom sg n), because of the renewed (punar) occurrence of undesirable [consequences] (aniṣṭa-prasaṅgāt | abl sg).
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal
When recognition, influence, or extraordinary experiences entice you, notice attachment and pride without following them. Remain willing to learn; do not let even success bind you again.
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - modern transfer

The Vyāsa-Bhāṣya distinguishes four levels of yogins. To a yogin on the madhumatī level, the gods offer celestial realms, pleasures, companions, rejuvenating elixirs, a diamond-like body, and immortality. The yogin must reject these as new sources of craving and develop neither attachment nor pride, since heedlessness would allow the Kleśas to rise again.

Yoga Śāstra Vyāsa-Bhāṣya
sthānyupanimantraṇe ] sthānyupamantraṇe PM2026
Critical Apparatus

Both upanimantraṇa and upamantraṇa denote an invitation or summons. PM2026 adopts the simpler formation without ni; the practical sense of the warning against celestial invitations remains almost unchanged. The variant is lexically real but not metrically decisive.

Apparatus Comment
The ascetic ought not to form association and exhibit wonderment at the invitation of the tutelary deities, for evil would again ensue.
James R. Ballantyne - 1852
(There should be) avoidance of association with, and pride in, celestial temptations, for there is possibility of reccurrence of evils.
Ganganatha Jha - 1907
Wenn Hochstehende [nach dem Kommentaren sind Götter gemeint] ihn verlocken, meide er Neigung und Hochmut, weil Unerwünschtes wieder sich daraus ergeben könnte.
Paul Deussen - 1908
There should be no attachment or pride upon the invitation of those in high places, because of the possibility of undesirable consequences again.
James Haughton Woods - 1914

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Dr. Ronald Steiner

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