Yoga Sutras By Patanjali (Ashtanga Yoga) - Samadhi Pada Sutra 3

Yoga Sutras By Patanjali (Ashtanga Yoga) - Samadhi Pada Sutra 3

By Yogacharya Vishwas Mandlik

• Yoga Sutra - 1
• Yoga Sutra - 2
• Yoga Sutra - 4

|| Tada Drastu Swaroope Awasthanam ||

Tada = then
Drastu = Seer
Swaroope = True state of self (Real nature of Soul)
Awasthanam = restored or established

"So the 3rd Sutra in 1st chapter of Patanjal Yoga Sutras is "Then the seer is established in his real or true (original) state or nature."

In the earlier sutra Patanjali has explained that Yoga is blocking the functions of the mind. Now if the functioning is blocked or totally controlled the the Chitta or mind will also stop interacting with seer or Atman and Atman / soul will be free of the body ? mind complex. Otherwise the Atman is confined by this Body - Mind complex and has no way to unfold its true nature or original state. This is like a person who does not have any job or responsibility and peacefully resting in his house without any attachments.

This state is the aim or ultimate goal of Yoga. Patanjali firmly reiterates in this sutra that the practitioner of Yoga can achieve the ultimate goal of Yoga trough "control of Vrittis" or control of modifications / functions of the mind. Patanjali talks about a final state of achievement as "Kaivalya". But now the question is how to control this functions of the mind or Vrittis which normally stimulates the Chitta or Mind to act on the Atman, the real self.

This question of how to tackle with the Vrittis is tackled by Patanjali in the remaining sutras. Patanjali is explaining different ways to achieve this goal. One way may not be suitable to all Yoga Sadhakas / practitioners, hence he mentions many ways but in the sutras, he has mostly focused on Ashtanga Yoga.

In the next sutra, Patanjali is explaining the starting point of this journey.

References -

1. Science of Yoga - I.K. Taimini
2. Four Chapters on Freedom - Swami Satyananda Saraswati
3. Yoga Sutra - Mr. K. K. Kolhatkar
4. Yoga Sutra - Original Sanskrit Text