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Yoga Sūtra 2: Über die spirituelle Praxis (Sādhana)

Das zweite Kapitel des Yoga Sūtra beschreibt die Praxis (sādhana), durch die ein zerstreuter Geist zu Sammlung, Unterscheidung und Freiheit geführt wird.

Dr. Ronald Steiner Dr. Ronald Steiner Laura von Ostrowski Laura von Ostrowski
PYS 2.1–2: Kriyā-Yoga
PYS 2.1–2: Kriyā-Yoga

Yogaśāstra 2.1–2: Asceticism, Recitation, and Devotion

Tapas, recitation or study of teachings on liberation, and offering all actions to Īśvara weaken the kleśas and prepare samādhi.

Patañjali Yoga Sūtra 2.1
tapaḥ svādhyāyeśvarapraṇidhānāni kriyā-yogaḥ ||1||
Asceticism, recitation of sacred texts and devotion to Īśvara (tapaḥ-svādhyāyeśvara-praṇidhānāni | nom pl) [constitute] the yoga of action (kriyā-yogaḥ | nom sg).
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal
Patañjali Yoga Sūtra 2.2
samādhi-bhāvanārthaḥ kleśa-tanūkaraṇārthaś ca ||2||
[Kriyā-yoga serves] the cultivation of samādhi (samādhi-bhāvanārthaḥ | nom sg) and (ca) the attenuation of the afflictions (kleśa-tanū-karaṇārthaḥ | nom sg).
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal
PYS 2.3–9: Fünf Kleśa
PYS 2.3–9: Fünf Kleśa

Yogaśāstra 2.3–9: Forms of False Cognition

Avidyā nourishes asmitā, rāga, dveṣa, and abhiniveśa. These misapprehensions keep the transformation of the guṇas, karma, and rebirth in motion.

Patañjali Yoga Sūtra 2.3
avidyāsmitā-rāga-dveṣābhiniveśāḥ kleśāḥ ||3||
Ignorance, egoity, attachment, aversion and clinging to life (avidyāsmitā-rāga-dveṣābhiniveśāḥ | nom pl) [are] the afflictions (kleśāḥ | nom pl).
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal
Patañjali Yoga Sūtra 2.4
avidyā kṣetram uttareṣāṃ prasupta-tanu-vicchinnodārāṇām ||4||
Ignorance (avidyā | nom sg) [is] the field (kṣetram | nom sg) of the remaining [four afflictions] (uttareṣām | gen pl m), whether dormant, attenuated, interrupted or fully manifest (prasupta-tanu-vicchinnodārāṇām | gen pl m).
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal
Patañjali Yoga Sūtra 2.5
anityāśuci-duḥkhānātmasu nitya-śuci-sukhātma-khyātir avidyā ||5||
Ignorance (avidyā | nom sg) [is] the cognition of permanence, purity, pleasure and selfhood (nitya-śuci-sukhātma-khyātiḥ | nom sg) in what is impermanent, impure, painful and not-self (anityāśuci-duḥkhānātmasu | loc pl).
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal
Patañjali Yoga Sūtra 2.6
dṛg-darśana-śaktyor ekātmatevāsmitā ||6||
Egoity (asmitā | nom sg) [is] as though (iva) the unity (ekātmatā | nom sg) of the power of the seer [puruṣa] and the power of the instrument of seeing [buddhi] (dṛg-darśana-śaktyoḥ | gen du).
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal
Patañjali Yoga Sūtra 2.7
sukhānuśayī rāgaḥ ||7||
Attachment (rāgaḥ | nom sg) [is] that which follows an experience of pleasure (sukhānuśayī | nom sg m).
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal
Patañjali Yoga Sūtra 2.8
duḥkhānuśayī dveṣaḥ ||8||
Aversion (dveṣaḥ | nom sg) [is] that which follows an experience of pain (duḥkhānuśayī | nom sg m).
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal
Patañjali Yoga Sūtra 2.9
svarasa-vāhī viduṣo 'pi tathā rūḍho 'bhiniveśaḥ ||9||
Clinging to life (abhiniveśaḥ | nom sg), flowing by its own inclination (sva-rasa-vāhī | nom sg m), [is an affliction] likewise (tathā) firmly rooted (rūḍhaḥ | nom sg m ppp) even (api) in the learned person (viduṣaḥ | gen sg).
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal
PYS 2.10–11: Aufhebung der Kleśa
PYS 2.10–11: Aufhebung der Kleśa

Yogaśāstra 2.10–11: Meditation and Reabsorption

Active kleśas are eliminated through discriminative meditation; their burned seeds finally perish when citta returns to its cause.

Patañjali Yoga Sūtra 2.10
te pratiprasava-heyāḥ sūkṣmāḥ ||10||
These (te | nom pl m) subtle [afflictions] (sūkṣmāḥ | nom pl m) are to be eliminated by reabsorption into their cause (pratiprasava-heyāḥ | nom pl m).
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal
Patañjali Yoga Sūtra 2.11
dhyāna-heyās tad-vṛttayaḥ ||11||
Their [active] movements (tad-vṛttayaḥ | nom pl) are to be eliminated through meditation (dhyāna-heyāḥ | nom pl f).
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal
PYS 2.12–14: Karmischer Speicher
PYS 2.12–14: Karmischer Speicher

Yogaśāstra 2.12–14: Fruits of Karma

Rooted in the kleśas, the karmāśaya ripens in this or a future birth as type of birth, lifespan, and pleasurable or painful experience.

Patañjali Yoga Sūtra 2.12
kleśa-mūlaḥ karmāśayo dṛṣṭādṛṣṭa-janma-vedanīyaḥ ||12||
The karmic deposit (karmāśayaḥ | nom sg), rooted in the afflictions (kleśa-mūlaḥ | nom sg m), is to be experienced in a visible [present] or unseen [future] birth (dṛṣṭādṛṣṭa-janma-vedanīyaḥ | nom sg m pfp).
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal
Patañjali Yoga Sūtra 2.13
sati mūle tad-vipāko jāty-āyur-bhogāḥ ||13||
As long as the root exists (sati mūle | loc absl sg), its fruition (tad-vipākaḥ | nom sg) [consists in] birth, length of life and experience (jātyāyur-bhogāḥ | nom pl).
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal
Patañjali Yoga Sūtra 2.14
te hlāda-paritāpa-phalāḥ puṇyāpuṇya-hetutvāt ||14||
These [three results] (te | nom pl m) bear pleasure or anguish as their fruit (hlāda-paritāpa-phalāḥ | nom pl m), because they are caused by merit or demerit (puṇyāpuṇya-hetutvāt | abl sg).
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal
PYS 2.15–17: Alles ist Leiden
PYS 2.15–17: Alles ist Leiden

Yogaśāstra 2.15–17: The Cause of Future Suffering

For the discerning person, every conditioned experience is painful. Future suffering can be avoided; its cause is the conjunction of puruṣa and prakṛti.

Patañjali Yoga Sūtra 2.15
pariṇāma-tāpa-saṃskāra-duḥkhair guṇa-vṛtti-virodhāc ca duḥkham eva sarvaṃ vivekinaḥ ||15||
For the discriminating person (vivekinaḥ | gen sg m), everything (sarvam | nom sg n) is nothing but (eva) pain (duḥkham | nom sg): because of the pains arising from transformation, distress and latent impressions (pariṇāma-tāpa-saṃskāra-duḥkhaiḥ | ins pl), and (ca) because the activities of the guṇa oppose one another (guṇa-vṛtti-virodhāt | abl sg).
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal
Patañjali Yoga Sūtra 2.16
heyaṃ duḥkham anāgatam ||16||
Pain that has not yet arisen (duḥkham anāgatam | nom sg) [is] to be avoided (heyam | nom sg n).
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal
Patañjali Yoga Sūtra 2.17
draṣṭṛ-dṛśyayoḥ saṃyogo heya-hetuḥ ||17||
The conjunction (saṃyogaḥ | nom sg) of the seer and the seen (draṣṭṛ-dṛśyayoḥ | gen du) [is] the cause of the pain to be avoided (heya-hetuḥ | nom sg).
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal
PYS 2.18–19: Entfaltung der Prakṛti
PYS 2.18–19: Entfaltung der Prakṛti

Yogaśāstra 2.18–19: Four Levels of the Guṇas

The four levels extend from featureless pradhāna through buddhi and subtle evolutes to senses and gross elements; their purpose is experience and liberation.

Patañjali Yoga Sūtra 2.18
prakāśa-kriyā-sthiti-śīlaṃ bhūtendriyātmakaṃ bhogāpavargārthaṃ dṛśyam ||18||
The seen (dṛśyam | nom sg) has the character of illumination, activity and persistence (prakāśa-kriyā-sthiti-śīlam | nom sg n), consists of the elements and sense organs (bhūtendriyātmakam | nom sg n), and has experience and liberation [of puruṣa] as its purpose (bhogāpavargārtham | nom sg n).
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal
Patañjali Yoga Sūtra 2.19
viśeṣāviśeṣa-liṅgamātrāliṅgāni guṇa-parvāṇi ||19||
The developmental stages of the guṇa (guṇa-parvāṇi | nom pl) [are] the particularised [gross evolutes], the unparticularised [subtle evolutes], the merely marked [buddhi], and the unmarked [prakṛti] (viśeṣāviśeṣa-liṅga-mātrāliṅgāni | nom pl).
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal
PYS 2.20–22: Puruṣa und das Sichtbare
PYS 2.20–22: Puruṣa und das Sichtbare

Yogaśāstra 2.20–22: Seer and Object

Puruṣa is pure, unchanging seeing; prakṛti serves puruṣa's experience and liberation. Once prakṛti has fulfilled that purpose, it disappears for that puruṣa...

Patañjali Yoga Sūtra 2.20
draṣṭā dṛśi-mātraḥ śuddho 'pi pratyayānupaśyaḥ ||20||
The seer (draṣṭā | nom sg) [is] seeing alone (dṛśi-mātraḥ | nom sg m); although (api) pure (śuddhaḥ | nom sg m), he observes cognitive presentations (pratyayānupaśyaḥ | nom sg m).
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal
Patañjali Yoga Sūtra 2.21
tad-artha eva dṛśyasyātmā ||21||
The nature (ātmā | nom sg) of the seen (dṛśyasya | gen sg) [exists] solely (eva) for the purpose of this [seer] (tad-arthaḥ | nom sg).
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal
Patañjali Yoga Sūtra 2.22
kṛtārthaṃ prati naṣṭam apy anaṣṭaṃ tad anya-sādhāraṇatvāt ||22||
For one whose purpose has been fulfilled (kṛtārtham | acc sg m), [the seen] has ceased (naṣṭam | nom sg n ppp) with respect to [him] (prati). Nevertheless (api), this [seen] (tad | nom sg n) has not ceased (anaṣṭam | nom sg n ppp), because it is common to other [puruṣas] (anya-sādhāraṇatvāt | abl sg).
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal
PYS 2.23–26: Von Avidyā zu Kaivalya
PYS 2.23–26: Von Avidyā zu Kaivalya

Yogaśāstra 2.23–26: Separating Puruṣa and Prakṛti

Avidyā connects puruṣa and buddhi. Uninterrupted knowledge of their difference ends this conjunction; puruṣa remains unmixed and alone in kaivalya.

Patañjali Yoga Sūtra 2.23
sva-svāmi-śaktyoḥ svarūpopalabdhi-hetuḥ saṃyogaḥ ||23||
Conjunction (saṃyogaḥ | nom sg) [is] the cause of the apprehension of the respective natures (svarūpopalabdhi-hetuḥ | nom sg) of the powers of property [prakṛti] and proprietor [puruṣa] (sva-svāmi-śaktyoḥ | gen du).
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal
Patañjali Yoga Sūtra 2.24
tasya hetur avidyā ||24||
The cause (hetuḥ | nom sg) of this [conjunction] (tasya | gen sg) [is] ignorance (avidyā | nom sg).
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal
Patañjali Yoga Sūtra 2.25
tad-abhāvāt saṃyogābhāvo hānaṃ tad-dṛśeḥ kaivalyam ||25||
From the absence of that [ignorance] (tad-abhāvāt | abl sg) follows the absence of conjunction (saṃyogābhāvaḥ | nom sg). This cessation (hānam | nom sg) [is] the isolation (kaivalyam | nom sg) of the power of seeing [puruṣa] (tad-dṛśeḥ | gen sg).
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal
Patañjali Yoga Sūtra 2.26
viveka-khyātir aviplavā hānopāyaḥ ||26||
The means of cessation (hānopāyaḥ | nom sg) [is] unwavering (aviplavā | nom sg f) discriminative knowledge [of puruṣa and prakṛti] (viveka-khyātiḥ | nom sg).
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal
PYS 2.27–29: Aṣṭāṅga als Befreiungsweg
PYS 2.27–29: Aṣṭāṅga als Befreiungsweg

Yogaśāstra 2.27–29: Eight Limbs toward Discernment

The eight limbs eliminate false cognition and make viveka-khyāti shine forth. Their goal is the final separation of the guṇas from puruṣa.

Patañjali Yoga Sūtra 2.27
tasya saptadhā prānta-bhūmiḥ prajñā ||27||
For him (tasya | gen sg), insight (prajñā | nom sg) at its final stage (prānta-bhūmiḥ | nom sg) [is] sevenfold (saptadhā).
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal
Patañjali Yoga Sūtra 2.28
yogāṅgānuṣṭhānād aśuddhi-kṣaye jñāna-dīptir ā viveka-khyāteḥ ||28||
Through the practice of the limbs of yoga (yogāṅgānuṣṭhānāt | abl sg), as impurity dwindles (aśuddhi-kṣaye | loc absl sg), the light of knowledge (jñāna-dīptiḥ | nom sg) arises, extending as far as (ā) discriminative knowledge [of puruṣa and prakṛti] (viveka-khyāteḥ | abl sg).
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal
Patañjali Yoga Sūtra 2.29
yama-niyamāsana-prāṇāyāma-pratyāhāra-dhāraṇā-dhyāna-samādhayo 'ṣṭāv aṅgāni ||29||
Yama, niyama, seated posture, regulation of the breath, withdrawal of the senses, fixed attention, meditation and samādhi (yama-niyamāsana-prāṇāyāma-pratyāhāra-dhāraṇā-dhyāna-samādhayaḥ | nom pl) [are] the eight (aṣṭau | nom pl) limbs (aṅgāni | nom pl).
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal
PYS 2.30–34: Gelübde und Gegenbetrachtung
PYS 2.30–34: Gelübde und Gegenbetrachtung

Yogaśāstra 2.30–34: Yama, Niyama, and Vitarka

Yama and niyama govern ascetic conduct; intentions contrary to them are countered by reflecting on their endless consequences of suffering and ignorance.

Patañjali Yoga Sūtra 2.30
ahiṃsā-satyāsteya-brahmacaryāparigrahā yamāḥ ||30||
Non-injury, truthfulness, non-stealing, chastity and non-acceptance [of gifts] (ahiṃsā-satyāsteya-brahma-caryāparigrahāḥ | nom pl) [are] the yama (yamāḥ | nom pl).
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal
Patañjali Yoga Sūtra 2.31
jāti-deśa-kāla-samayānavacchinnāḥ sārva-bhaumā mahāvratam ||31||
When [the yama] are not limited by social station, place, time or circumstance (jāti-deśa-kāla-samayānavacchinnāḥ | nom pl m), they are universal (sārva-bhaumāḥ | nom pl m) and [constitute] the great vow (mahā-vratam | nom sg).
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal
Patañjali Yoga Sūtra 2.32
śauca-saṃtoṣa-tapaḥ-svādhyāyeśvara-praṇidhānāni niyamāḥ ||32||
Purity, contentment, asceticism, recitation of sacred texts and devotion to Īśvara (śauca-saṃtoṣa-tapaḥ-svādhyāyeśvara-praṇidhānāni | nom pl) [are] the niyama (niyamāḥ | nom pl).
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal
Patañjali Yoga Sūtra 2.33
vitarka-bādhane pratipakṣa-bhāvanam ||33||
When one is troubled by considerations opposed to yoga (vitarka-bādhane | loc absl sg), counteracting reflection should be practised (pratipakṣa-bhāvanam | nom sg).
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal
Patañjali Yoga Sūtra 2.34
vitarkā hiṃsādayaḥ kṛta-kāritānumoditā lobha-krodha-moha-pūrvakā mṛdu-madhyādhimātrā duḥkhājñānānanta-phalā iti pratipakṣa-bhāvanam ||34||
Considerations opposed to yoga (vitarkāḥ | nom pl), such as injury (hiṃsādayaḥ | nom pl), whether enacted, caused or approved (kṛta-kāritānumoditāḥ | nom pl m), whether prompted by greed, anger or delusion (lobha-krodha-moha-pūrvakāḥ | nom pl m), whether mild, moderate or intense (mṛdu-madhyādhimātrāḥ | nom pl m), bear endless fruits of pain and ignorance (duḥkhājñānānanta-phalāḥ | nom pl m). Thus (iti), counteracting reflection is practised (pratipakṣa-bhāvanam | nom sg).
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal
PYS 2.35–39: Vollendete Yama
PYS 2.35–39: Vollendete Yama

Yogaśāstra 2.35–39: Supernatural Effects

Perfect ahiṃsā, satya, asteya, brahmacarya, and aparigraha produce freedom from hostility, efficacious speech, treasures, power, and knowledge of past and...

Patañjali Yoga Sūtra 2.35
ahiṃsā-pratiṣṭhāyāṃ tat-saṃnidhau vaira-tyāgaḥ ||35||
When firmly established in non-injury (ahiṃsā-pratiṣṭhāyām | loc absl sg), hostility is relinquished (vaira-tyāgaḥ | nom sg) in his [the yogin's] presence (tat-saṃnidhau | loc sg).
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal
Patañjali Yoga Sūtra 2.36
satya-pratiṣṭhāyāṃ kriyā-phalāśrayatvam ||36||
When firmly established in truthfulness (satya-pratiṣṭhāyām | loc absl sg), actions and their results become dependent [upon the yogin] (kriyā-phalāśrayatvam | nom sg).
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal
Patañjali Yoga Sūtra 2.37
asteya-pratiṣṭhāyāṃ sarva-ratnopasthānam ||37||
When firmly established in non-stealing (asteya-pratiṣṭhāyām | loc absl sg), all treasures present themselves (sarva-ratnopasthānam | nom sg).
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal
Patañjali Yoga Sūtra 2.38
brahmacarya-pratiṣṭhāyāṃ vīrya-lābhaḥ ||38||
When firmly established in chastity (brahma-carya-pratiṣṭhāyām | loc absl sg), vigour is attained (vīrya-lābhaḥ | nom sg).
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal
Patañjali Yoga Sūtra 2.39
aparigraha-sthairye janma-kathaṃtā-saṃbodhaḥ ||39||
When firmly established in non-acceptance [of gifts] (aparigraha-sthairye | loc absl sg), complete knowledge of the circumstances of births arises (janma-kathaṃtā-saṃbodhaḥ | nom sg).
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal
PYS 2.40–45: Vollendete Niyama
PYS 2.40–45: Vollendete Niyama

Yogaśāstra 2.40–45: Asceticism and Siddhis

Śauca leads to disgust toward bodies, saṃtoṣa to supreme joy, tapas to siddhis, svādhyāya to encounters with deities, and devotion to Īśvara to the perfection...

Patañjali Yoga Sūtra 2.40
śaucāt svāṅga-jugupsā parair asaṃsargaḥ ||40||
From purity (śaucāt | abl sg) [arise] disgust towards one's own body (svāṅga-jugupsā | nom sg) and non-contact (asaṃsargaḥ | nom sg) with other [bodies] (paraiḥ | ins pl m).
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal
Patañjali Yoga Sūtra 2.41
sattva-śuddhi-saumanasyaikāgryendriya-jayātma-darśana-yogyatvāni ca ||41||
And (ca) [from purity arise] purity of sattva [of citta], serenity, one-pointedness, mastery of the senses and fitness for the vision of the self [puruṣa] (sattva-śuddhi-saumanasyaikāgryendriya-jayātma-darśana-yogyatvāni | nom pl).
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal
Patañjali Yoga Sūtra 2.42
saṃtoṣād anuttamaḥ sukha-lābhaḥ ||42||
From contentment (saṃtoṣāt | abl sg) [arises] the attainment of unsurpassed pleasure (anuttamaḥ sukha-lābhaḥ | nom sg m).
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal
Patañjali Yoga Sūtra 2.43
kāyendriya-siddhir aśuddhi-kṣayāt tapasaḥ ||43||
From asceticism (tapasaḥ | abl sg), through the dwindling of impurity (aśuddhi-kṣayāt | abl sg), [arises] perfection of the body and the senses (kāyendriya-siddhiḥ | nom sg).
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal
Patañjali Yoga Sūtra 2.44
svādhyāyād iṣṭa-devatā-saṃprayogaḥ ||44||
From recitation of sacred texts (svādhyāyāt | abl sg) [arises] communion with the chosen deity (iṣṭa-devatā-saṃprayogaḥ | nom sg).
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal
Patañjali Yoga Sūtra 2.45
samādhi-siddhir īśvarapraṇidhānāt ||45||
From devotion to Īśvara (īśvara-praṇidhānāt | abl sg) [arises] the perfection of samādhi (samādhi-siddhiḥ | nom sg).
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal
PYS 2.46–48: Āsana als Sitzhaltung
PYS 2.46–48: Āsana als Sitzhaltung

Yogaśāstra 2.46–48: A Stable Meditative Seat

Āsana is a stable, comfortable posture. It is perfected by relaxing effort or absorption in Ananta and makes the yogin impervious to pairs of opposites.

Patañjali Yoga Sūtra 2.46
sthira-sukham āsanam ||46||
Stable and comfortable (sthira-sukham | nom sg n) [is] the seated posture (āsanam | nom sg).
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal
Patañjali Yoga Sūtra 2.47
prayatna-śaithilyānanta-samāpattibhyām ||47||
Through relaxation of effort and absorption in Ananta (prayatna-śaithilyānanta-samāpattibhyām | ins du), [the seated posture is perfected].
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal
Patañjali Yoga Sūtra 2.48
tato dvaṃdvānabhighātaḥ ||48||
From this (tataḥ | adv) [arises] freedom from assault by the pairs of opposites (dvandvānabhighātaḥ | nom sg).
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal
PYS 2.49–51: Prāṇāyāma als Atemstillstand
PYS 2.49–51: Prāṇāyāma als Atemstillstand

Yogaśāstra 2.49–51: Interrupting the Breath

After mastery of the seat, prāṇāyāma interrupts inhalation and exhalation. External, internal, and suspended forms are measured and finally transcended.

Patañjali Yoga Sūtra 2.49
tasmin sati śvāsa-praśvāsayor gati-vicchedaḥ prāṇāyāmaḥ ||49||
When stability is present (sati | loc sg n pca) in this [posture] (tasmin | loc sg n), prāṇāyāma (prāṇāyāmaḥ | nom sg) [is] the interruption (gati-vicchedaḥ | nom sg) of the movement of inhalation and exhalation (śvāsa-praśvāsayoḥ | gen du).
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal
Patañjali Yoga Sūtra 2.50
bāhyābhyantara-stambha-vṛttir deśa-kāla-saṃkhyābhiḥ paridṛṣṭo dīrgha-sūkṣmaḥ ||50||
[Prāṇāyāma] has external, internal and suspended activity (bāhyābhyantara-stambha-vṛttiḥ | nom sg m), is measured (paridṛṣṭaḥ | nom sg m) by place, time and number (deśa-kāla-saṃkhyābhiḥ | ins pl), and [becomes] prolonged and subtle (dīrgha-sūkṣmaḥ | nom sg m).
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal
Patañjali Yoga Sūtra 2.51
bāhyābhyantara-viṣayākṣepī caturthaḥ ||51||
The fourth [prāṇāyāma] (caturthaḥ | nom sg m) transcends the external and internal sphere (bāhyābhyantara-viṣayākṣepī | nom sg m).
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal
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.

Patañjali Yoga Sūtra 2.52
tataḥ kṣīyate prakāśāvaraṇam ||52||
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
Patañjali Yoga Sūtra 2.53
dhāraṇāsu ca yogyatā manasaḥ ||53||
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
PYS 2.54-55: Pratyāhāra
PYS 2.54-55: Pratyāhāra

Yogaśāstra 2.54–55: Withdrawal of the Senses

Without contact with objects, the senses follow the restrained citta like bees follow their queen. Thus they are completely mastered without an additional...

Patañjali Yoga Sūtra 2.54
svaviṣayāsaṃprayoge citta-svarūpānukāra ivendriyāṇāṃ pratyāhāraḥ ||54||
When [the senses] are not conjoined with their own objects (sva-viṣayāsaṃprayoge | loc absl sg), withdrawal (pratyāhāraḥ | nom sg) of the senses (indriyāṇām | gen pl) [is] as though (iva) an imitation of citta's own form (citta-svarūpānukāraḥ | nom sg).
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal
Patañjali Yoga Sūtra 2.55
tataḥ paramā vaśyatendriyāṇām ||55||
From this (tataḥ | adv) [arises] the highest mastery (paramā vaśyatā | nom sg) of the senses (indriyāṇām | gen pl).
Dr. Ronald Steiner - 2026 - historically literal

Yoga Sūtra Kapitel 2: In Lautschrift und mit Tonaufnahme zum Mitchanten

Es ist eine meditative Praxis, das Yoga Sūtra zu chanten. Nutzte die Lautschrift, um die genaue Aussprache zu verstehen und chante in Call & Response mit...

Yoga Sūtra Kapitel 2: In Devanāgarī

Es ist eine meditative Praxis, das Yoga Sūtra zu chanten. Nutzte die Lautschrift, um die genaue Aussprache zu verstehen und chante in Call & Response mit...

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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 ›