Yoga Aphorisms of Patanjali

Author(s): Prabhavnanda Swami, Christopher Isherwood
Publisher: Ramkrishna Math Madras

Page 94

YOGA AND ITS PRACTICE
external, physical manifestation, the state of the gunas is described as gross or "defined.” (Because of the difficulty of rendering these technical terms into English, an alternative translation has been given in each case.)
द्रष्टा दृशिमात्रः शुद्धोऽपि प्रत्ययानुपश्यः ॥२०॥ 20. The Atman-the experiencer—is pure consciousness.
It appears to take on the changing colors of the mind. In reality, it is unchangeable.
तदर्थ एव दृश्यस्यात्मा ॥२१॥ 21. The object of experience exists only to serve the purpose
of the Atman.
22.
कृतार्थं प्रति नष्टमप्यनष्ट तदन्यसाधारणत्वात् ॥२२॥ Though the object of experience becomes unreal to him who has reached the state of liberation, it remains real to all other beings. स्वस्वामिशक्त्योः स्वरूपोपलब्धिहेतुः संयोगः ॥२३॥ The Atman--the experiencer-is identified with Prakriti-the object of experience--in order that the true nature of both Prakriti and Atman may be known.
23.
117811 24. This identification is caused by ignorance. तदभावात संयोगाभावो हानं तदृशेः
arrer 117411 25. When ignorance has been destroyed, this identification
ceases. Then bondage is at an end and the experiencer
is indepedent and free. These aphorisms would seem, at first sight, to express a paradoxical idea. When Patanjali says that the experiencer is