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PYS 3.5–8: Stufen des Saṃyama
PYS 3.5–8: Stufen des Saṃyama

Yogaśāstra 3.5–8: Inner Limb, Outer Means

Mastery of saṃyama brings the light of insight and is applied in stages. Its three limbs are more internal than the first five, but external to nirbīja.

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

Yogaśāstra 3.5–8: Inner Limb, Outer Means

Mastery of saṃyama brings the light of insight and is applied in stages. Its three limbs are more internal than the first five, but external to nirbīja.

Patañjali Yoga Sūtra 3.5
तज्जयात्प्रज्ञालोकः ||5||
taj-jayāt prajñālokaḥ ||5|| Analysis ▾ Analysis ▴
tad
tatpuruṣa-compound genitive
tad
pronoun dem
 of this
jayāt
ablative singular
jaya
substantive masculine
 mastery
prajñā
tatpuruṣa-compound genitive
prajñā
substantive feminine
 insight, understanding
ālokaḥ
nominative singular
āloka
substantive masculine
 illumination
From mastery of this [Saṃyama] (taj-jayāt | abl sg) [arises] the light of insight (prajñālokaḥ | nom sg).
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal
Gathered attention can make something suddenly clearer (prajñāloka). Instead of seeking a special achievement, notice what you had previously overlooked.
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - modern transfer

The Vyāsa-Bhāṣya interprets the light of prajñā (prajñāloka) as the dawning of insight in samādhi. The more stable saṃyama becomes, the clearer and more certain this insight grows.

Yoga Śāstra Vyāsa-Bhāṣya
By subduing sanyama, a discerning principle is developed.
James R. Ballantyne - 1852
From success therein results the lucidity of consciousness.
Ganganatha Jha - 1907
Durch Erwerbung dieser [Allzucht] erfolgt das Licht des Verstehens.
Paul Deussen - 1908
As a result of mastering this constraint, there follows the shining forth of insight.
James Haughton Woods - 1914
Patañjali Yoga Sūtra 3.6
तस्य भूमिषु विनियोगः ||6||
tasya bhūmiṣu viniyogaḥ ||6|| Analysis ▾ Analysis ▴
tasya
genitive singular
tad
pronoun dem
 whose
bhūmiṣu
lokative plural
bhūmi
substantive feminine
 Stages, levels
viniyogaḥ
nominative singular
viniyoga
substantive masculine
 Application, implementation
The application (viniyogaḥ | nom sg) of this [Saṃyama] (tasya | gen sg) [takes place] on [successive] levels (bhūmiṣu | loc pl).
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal
Deepen your practice by stages (bhūmi). Choose the next step so that it challenges you without overwhelming you.
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - modern transfer

The Vyāsa-Bhāṣya requires the gradual application (viniyoga) of saṃyama: the practitioner should work on the immediately succeeding level (bhūmi) only after mastering the lower one. Conversely, one who has mastered a higher level through Īśvara’s grace should not apply saṃyama to lower abilities such as knowing another Citta, whose objects are already known by other means. Yoga itself teaches which level comes next.

Yoga Śāstra Vyāsa-Bhāṣya
Sanyama is to be used in the modifications (of the Internal organ, Citta).
James R. Ballantyne - 1852
It is applied by stages.
Ganganatha Jha - 1907
Ihre [der Allzucht] Verwendung geschieht den Stufen (2,27) entsprechend (stufenweise).
Paul Deussen - 1908
Its application is by stages.
James Haughton Woods - 1914
Patañjali Yoga Sūtra 3.7
त्रयमन्तरङ्गं पूर्वेभ्यः ||7||
trayam antar-aṅgaṃ pūrvebhyaḥ ||7|| Analysis ▾ Analysis ▴
trayam
nominative singular neuter
traya
numeral
 the three
antar
karmadhāraya-compound
antar
adverb
 inside, internally
aṅgam
nominative singular neuter
aṅga
substantive neuter
 member
pūrvebhyaḥ
ablative plural neuter
pūrva
adjective
 the previous ones, compared to the previous ones
This triad (trayam | nom sg n) [is] an inner limb (antar-aṅgam | nom sg n) in relation to the preceding [five limbs of yoga] (pūrvebhyaḥ | abl pl n).
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal
Body, breath, and senses prepare the way; concentration, meditation, and absorption lead it inward (antaraṅga). Let both dimensions of your practice support one another.
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - modern transfer

The Vyāsa-Bhāṣya presents dhāraṇā, dhyāna, and samādhi as inner means (antaraṅga) to saṃprajñāta-samādhi. They are more inward than the five preceding limbs of yoga, beginning with yama.

Yoga Śāstra Vyāsa-Bhāṣya
The three Yogāṅgas (i.e. attention, contemplation and meditation) are more interior i.e. (immediately subservient to that kind of meditation in which there is disinct recognition i.e. samprajñātasamādhi than the first (five yogāṅgas, forbearance etc.).
James R. Ballantyne - 1852
The three are more intimate (directly effective) than the former ones.
Ganganatha Jha - 1907
Die drei [dhâraṇa, dhyânam, samâdhi] sind Innenglieder im Vergleich mit den vorhergehenden [fünfen].
Paul Deussen - 1908
The three are direct aids in comparison with the previous [five].
James Haughton Woods - 1914
Patañjali Yoga Sūtra 3.8
तदपि बहिरङ्गं निर्बीजस्य ||8||
tad api bahir-aṅgaṃ nirbījasya ||8|| Analysis ▾ Analysis ▴
tad
nominative singular neuter
tad
pronoun dem
 this
api
api
particle
 even, too
bahis
karmadhāraya-compound
bahis
adverb
 outside
aṅgam
nominative singular neuter
aṅga
substantive neuter
 member
nirbījasya
genitive singular masculine
nirbīja
adjective
 germless, without germ
Even (api) this [triad] (tad | nom sg n) [is] an outer limb (bahir-aṅgam | nom sg n) of seedless [Yoga] (nirbījasya | gen sg m).
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal
Even deep focus is not the endpoint. After concentrating, release the technique and rest briefly without a task (nirbīja).
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - modern transfer

The Vyāsa-Bhāṣya clarifies that even these three inner means are external (bahiraṅga) in relation to nirbīja-yoga. Seedless yoga can arise when these three means are no longer present.

Yoga Śāstra Vyāsa-Bhāṣya
Those three also aft exterior to the meditation without a seed (Nirbīja).
James R. Ballantyne - 1852
It is still foreign to the seedless. (Abstract).
Ganganatha Jha - 1907
Auch diese [drei] sind Außenglieder im Vergleich mit der keimlosen [Versenkung].
Paul Deussen - 1908
Even these [three] are indirect aids to seedless [concentration].
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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