On Accomplishments
56 Verses
On Accomplishments
विभूति पाद
The third pada covers the three inner limbs — concentration, meditation, and samadhi — and their combined practice as samyama. It then describes the extraordinary powers (vibhutis) that arise from applying samyama to various objects: knowledge of past and future, understanding other minds, mastery over the elements, and more. The chapter warns that these powers are obstacles on the path to liberation and concludes with the discriminative knowledge that leads to freedom.
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देशबन्धश्चित्तस्य धारणा ॥ ३.१ ॥
deśabandhaścittasya dhāraṇā || 3.1 ||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Concentration is binding the mind to a single place.
तत्र प्रत्ययैकतानता ध्यानम् ॥ ३.२ ॥
tatra pratyayaikatānatā dhyānam || 3.2 ||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Meditation is the unbroken flow of thought toward that place.
तदेवार्थमात्रनिर्भासं स्वरूपशून्यमिव समाधिः ॥ ३.३ ॥
tadevārthamātranirbhāsaṃ svarūpaśūnyamiva samādhiḥ || 3.3 ||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Samadhi is when only the object shines and the mind seems to lose its own form.
त्रयमेकत्र संयमः ॥ ३.४ ॥
trayamekatra saṃyamaḥ || 3.4 ||
Simple English
Primary Translation
The three together — concentration, meditation, and absorption — applied to one object is samyama.
तज्जयात्प्रज्ञालोकः ॥ ३.५ ॥
tajjayātprajñālokaḥ || 3.5 ||
Simple English
Primary Translation
By mastering samyama comes the light of higher knowledge.
तस्य भूमिषु विनियोगः ॥ ३.६ ॥
tasya bhūmiṣu viniyogaḥ || 3.6 ||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Samyama is applied stage by stage.
त्रयमन्तरङ्गं पूर्वेभ्यः ॥ ३.७ ॥
trayamantaraṅgaṃ pūrvebhyaḥ || 3.7 ||
Simple English
Primary Translation
These three are more internal than the preceding five limbs.
तदपि बहिरङ्गं निर्बीजस्य ॥ ३.८ ॥
tadapi bahiraṅgaṃ nirbījasya || 3.8 ||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Even these three are external compared to seedless samadhi.
व्युत्थाननिरोधसंस्कारयोरभिभवप्रादुर्भावौ निरोधक्षणचित्तान्वयो निरोधपरिणामः ॥ ३.९ ॥
vyutthānanirodhasaṃskārayorabhibhavaprādurbhāvau nirodhakṣaṇacittānvayo nirodhapariṇāmaḥ || 3.9 ||
Simple English
Primary Translation
The transformation of suppression occurs when the suppressing impressions overpower the arising impressions at that moment.
तस्य प्रशान्तवाहिता संस्कारात् ॥ ३.१० ॥
tasya praśāntavāhitā saṃskārāt || 3.10 ||
Simple English
Primary Translation
The flow of this becomes steady through repeated practice.
सर्वार्थतैकाग्रतयोः क्षयोदयौ चित्तस्य समाधिपरिणामः ॥ ३.११ ॥
sarvārthataikāgratayoḥ kṣayodayau cittasya samādhipariṇāmaḥ || 3.11 ||
Simple English
Primary Translation
The samadhi transformation of the mind is when scattered attention decreases and one-pointedness arises.
ततः पुनः शान्तोदितौ तुल्यप्रत्ययौ चित्तस्यैकाग्रतापरिणामः ॥ ३.१२ ॥
tataḥ punaḥ śāntoditau tulyapratyayau cittasyaikāgratāpariṇāmaḥ || 3.12 ||
Simple English
Primary Translation
When the subsided and the arisen thought are equal, the one-pointedness transformation of the mind occurs.
एतेन भूतेन्द्रियेषु धर्मलक्षणावस्थापरिणामा व्याख्याताः ॥ ३.१३ ॥
etena bhūtendriyeṣu dharmalakṣaṇāvasthāpariṇāmā vyākhyātāḥ || 3.13 ||
Simple English
Primary Translation
By this, the transformations of property, character, and condition in elements and sense organs are explained.
शान्तोदिताव्यपदेश्यधर्मानुपाती धर्मी ॥ ३.१४ ॥
śāntoditāvyapadeśyadharmānupātī dharmī || 3.14 ||
Simple English
Primary Translation
The substratum underlies all properties — the quiescent, the arising, and the unmanifest.
क्रमान्यत्वं परिणामान्यत्वे हेतुः ॥ ३.१५ ॥
kramānyatvaṃ pariṇāmānyatve hetuḥ || 3.15 ||
Simple English
Primary Translation
The difference in sequence is the reason for the difference in transformation.
परिणामत्रयसंयमादतीतानागतज्ञानम् ॥ ३.१६ ॥
pariṇāmatrayasaṃyamādatītānāgatajñānam || 3.16 ||
Simple English
Primary Translation
By samyama on the three transformations comes knowledge of the past and future.
शब्दार्थप्रत्ययानामितरेतराध्यासात्सङ्करस्तत्प्रविभागसंयमात्सर्वभूतरुतज्ञानम् ॥ ३.१७ ॥
śabdārthapratyayānāmitaretarādhyāsātsaṅkaratatpravibhāgasaṃyamātsarvabhūtarutajñānam || 3.17 ||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Word, meaning, and idea are confused by mutual overlap. By samyama on their distinctions comes knowledge of the speech of all beings.
संस्कारसाक्षात्करणात्पूर्वजातिज्ञानम् ॥ ३.१८ ॥
saṃskārasākṣātkaraṇātpūrvajātijñānam || 3.18 ||
Simple English
Primary Translation
By direct perception of latent impressions comes knowledge of previous lives.
प्रत्ययस्य परचित्तज्ञानम् ॥ ३.१९ ॥
pratyayasya paracittajñānam || 3.19 ||
Simple English
Primary Translation
By samyama on another's mental impressions comes knowledge of that person's mind.
न च तत्सालम्बनं तस्याविषयीभूतत्वात् ॥ ३.२० ॥
na ca tatsālambanaṃ tasyāviṣayībhūtatvāt || 3.20 ||
Simple English
Primary Translation
But not its supporting object, since that is not the focus of the samyama.
कायरूपसंयमात्तद्ग्राह्यशक्तिस्तम्भे चक्षुःप्रकाशासंप्रयोगेऽन्तर्धानम् ॥ ३.२१ ॥
kāyarūpasaṃyamāttadgrāhyaśaktistambhe cakṣuḥprakāśāsaṃprayoge 'ntardhānam || 3.21 ||
Simple English
Primary Translation
By samyama on the form of the body, when the power of perception is suspended, the body becomes invisible.
सोपक्रमं निरुपक्रमं च कर्म तत्संयमादपरान्तज्ञानमरिष्टेभ्यो वा ॥ ३.२२ ॥
sopakramaṃ nirupakramaṃ ca karma tatsaṃyamādaparāntajñānamarṣṭebhyo vā || 3.22 ||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Karma is either fast-ripening or slow. By samyama on these comes knowledge of death, or from omens.
मैत्र्यादिषु बलानि ॥ ३.२३ ॥
maitryādiṣu balāni || 3.23 ||
Simple English
Primary Translation
By samyama on friendliness and other such qualities, those powers are gained.
बलेषु हस्तिबलादीनि ॥ ३.२४ ॥
baleṣu hastibalādīni || 3.24 ||
Simple English
Primary Translation
By samyama on various strengths, one gains the strength of an elephant and so forth.
प्रवृत्त्यालोकन्यासात्सूक्ष्मव्यवहितविप्रकृष्टज्ञानम् ॥ ३.२५ ॥
pravṛttyālokannyāsātsūkṣmavyavahitaviprakṛṣṭajñānam || 3.25 ||
Simple English
Primary Translation
By directing the inner light comes knowledge of the subtle, the concealed, and the distant.
भुवनज्ञानं सूर्ये संयमात् ॥ ३.२६ ॥
bhuvanajñānaṃ sūrye saṃyamāt || 3.26 ||
Simple English
Primary Translation
By samyama on the sun comes knowledge of the worlds.
चन्द्रे तारव्यूहज्ञानम् ॥ ३.२७ ॥
candre tārāvyūhajñānam || 3.27 ||
Simple English
Primary Translation
By samyama on the moon comes knowledge of the arrangement of the stars.
ध्रुवे तद्गतिज्ञानम् ॥ ३.२८ ॥
dhruve tadgatijñānam || 3.28 ||
Simple English
Primary Translation
By samyama on the pole star comes knowledge of the movements of the stars.
नाभिचक्रे कायव्यूहज्ञानम् ॥ ३.२९ ॥
nābhicakre kāyavyūhajñānam || 3.29 ||
Simple English
Primary Translation
By samyama on the navel center comes knowledge of the constitution of the body.
कण्ठकूपे क्षुत्पिपासानिवृत्तिः ॥ ३.३० ॥
kaṇṭhakūpe kṣutpipāsānivṛttiḥ || 3.30 ||
Simple English
Primary Translation
By samyama on the throat pit comes cessation of hunger and thirst.
कूर्मनाड्यां स्थैर्यम् ॥ ३.३१ ॥
kūrmanāḍyāṃ sthairyam || 3.31 ||
Simple English
Primary Translation
By samyama on the kurma nerve comes steadiness.
मूर्धज्योतिषि सिद्धदर्शनम् ॥ ३.३२ ॥
mūrdhajyotiṣi siddhadarśanam || 3.32 ||
Simple English
Primary Translation
By samyama on the light at the crown of the head comes the vision of the perfected ones.
प्रातिभाद्वा सर्वम् ॥ ३.३३ ॥
prātibhādvā sarvam || 3.33 ||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Or through spontaneous intuitive insight, all things become known.
हृदये चित्तसंवित् ॥ ३.३४ ॥
hṛdaye cittasaṃvit || 3.34 ||
Simple English
Primary Translation
By samyama on the heart comes knowledge of consciousness.
सत्त्वपुरुषयोरत्यन्तासङ्कीर्णयोः प्रत्ययाविशेषो भोगः परार्थत्वात्स्वार्थसंयमात्पुरुषज्ञानम् ॥ ३.३५ ॥
sattvapuruṣayoratyantāsaṅkīrṇayoḥ pratyayāviśeṣo bhogaḥ parārthatvāt svārthasaṃyamātpuruṣajñānam || 3.35 ||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Experience comes from not distinguishing between the intellect and pure awareness. By samyama on pure awareness for its own sake comes knowledge of the true self.
ततः प्रातिभश्रावणवेदनादर्शास्वादवार्ता जायन्ते ॥ ३.३६ ॥
tataḥ prātibhaśrāvaṇavedanādarśāsvādavārtā jāyante || 3.36 ||
Simple English
Primary Translation
From this arise intuitive hearing, touch, sight, taste, and smell.
ते समाधावुपसर्गा व्युत्थाने सिद्धयः ॥ ३.३७ ॥
te samādhāvupasargā vyutthāne siddhayaḥ || 3.37 ||
Simple English
Primary Translation
These are obstacles to samadhi but powers in the outward-turned state.
बन्धकारणशैथिल्यात्प्रचारसंवेदनाच्च चित्तस्य परशरीरावेशः ॥ ३.३८ ॥
bandhakāraṇaśaithilyātpracārasaṃvedanācca cittasya paraśarīrāveśaḥ || 3.38 ||
Simple English
Primary Translation
By loosening the bonds of karma and knowing the channels of movement, the mind can enter another body.
उदानजयाज्जलपङ्ककण्टकादिष्वसङ्ग उत्क्रान्तिश्च ॥ ३.३९ ॥
udānajayājjalapaṅkakaṇṭakādiṣvasaṅga utkrāntiśca || 3.39 ||
Simple English
Primary Translation
By mastery of udana, one is not hindered by water, mud, or thorns, and levitation becomes possible.
समानजयाज्ज्वलनम् ॥ ३.४० ॥
samānajayājjvalanam || 3.40 ||
Simple English
Primary Translation
By mastery of samana the body blazes with radiance.
श्रोत्राकाशयोः सम्बन्धसंयमाद्दिव्यं श्रोत्रम् ॥ ३.४१ ॥
śrotrākāśayoḥ sambandhasaṃyamāddivyaṃ śrotram || 3.41 ||
Simple English
Primary Translation
By samyama on the relation between hearing and space comes divine hearing.
कायाकाशयोः सम्बन्धसंयमाल्लघुतूलसमापत्तेश्चाकाशगमनम् ॥ ३.४२ ॥
kāyākāśayoḥ sambandhasaṃyamāllaghutūlasamāpatteścākāśagamanam || 3.42 ||
Simple English
Primary Translation
By samyama on the relation between the body and space, and by absorption into the lightness of cotton, comes the ability to move through space.
बहिरकल्पिता वृत्तिर्महाविदेहा ततः प्रकाशावरणक्षयः ॥ ३.४३ ॥
bahirakalpitā vṛttirmahāvidehā tataḥ prakāśāvaraṇakṣayaḥ || 3.43 ||
Simple English
Primary Translation
The great bodiless state is an actual external movement of the mind. Through it, the veil over the light is destroyed.
स्थूलस्वरूपसूक्ष्मान्वयार्थवत्त्वसंयमाद्भूतजयः ॥ ३.४४ ॥
sthūlasvarūpasūkṣmānvayārthavattvasaṃyamādbhūtajayaḥ || 3.44 ||
Simple English
Primary Translation
By samyama on the gross form, essential nature, subtle aspect, interconnection, and purpose of the elements comes mastery over them.
ततोऽणिमादिप्रादुर्भावः कायसम्पत्तद्धर्मानभिघातश्च ॥ ३.४५ ॥
tato 'ṇimādiprādurbhāvaḥ kāyasampattaddharmānabhighātaśca || 3.45 ||
Simple English
Primary Translation
From mastery of the elements arise the powers of minuteness and the rest, perfection of the body, and freedom from obstruction by their properties.
रूपलावण्यबलवज्रसंहननत्वानि कायसम्पत् ॥ ३.४६ ॥
rūpalāvaṇyabalavajrasaṃhananatvāni kāyasampat || 3.46 ||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Bodily perfection consists of beauty, grace, strength, and the solidity of a thunderbolt.
ग्रहणस्वरूपास्मितान्वयार्थवत्त्वसंयमादिन्द्रियजयः ॥ ३.४७ ॥
grahaṇasvarūpāsmitānvayārthavattvasaṃyamādindriyajayaḥ || 3.47 ||
Simple English
Primary Translation
By samyama on the act of perception, the essential form, the ego, interconnection, and purpose of the senses comes mastery over them.
ततो मनोजवित्वं विकरणभावः प्रधानजयश्च ॥ ३.४८ ॥
tato manojavitvaṃ vikaraṇabhāvaḥ pradhānajayaśca || 3.48 ||
Simple English
Primary Translation
From this come swiftness like the mind, functioning without bodily organs, and mastery over primordial nature.
सत्त्वपुरुषान्यताख्यातिमात्रस्य सर्वभावाधिष्ठातृत्वं सर्वज्ञातृत्वं च ॥ ३.४९ ॥
sattvapuruṣānyatākhyātimātrasya sarvabhāvādhiṣṭhātṛtvaṃ sarvajñātṛtvaṃ ca || 3.49 ||
Simple English
Primary Translation
For one who knows the distinction between the intellect and pure awareness comes supremacy over all states and omniscience.
तद्वैराग्यादपि दोषबीजक्षये कैवल्यम् ॥ ३.५० ॥
tadvairāgyādapi doṣabījakṣaye kaivalyam || 3.50 ||
Simple English
Primary Translation
By non-attachment even to those powers, the seeds of impurity are destroyed and liberation comes.
स्थान्युपनिमन्त्रणे सङ्गस्मयाकरणं पुनरनिष्टप्रसङ्गात् ॥ ३.५१ ॥
sthānyupanimantraṇe saṅgasmayākaraṇaṃ punaraniṣṭaprasaṅgāt || 3.51 ||
Simple English
Primary Translation
When invited by celestial beings, one should not take pride or become attached, to avoid recurrence of what is undesirable.
क्षणतत्क्रमयोः संयमाद्विवेकजं ज्ञानम् ॥ ३.५२ ॥
kṣaṇatatkramayoḥ saṃyamādvivekajaṃ jñānam || 3.52 ||
Simple English
Primary Translation
By samyama on the moment and its succession comes knowledge born of discrimination.
जातिलक्षणदेशैरन्यतानवच्छेदात्तुल्ययोस्ततः प्रतिपत्तिः ॥ ३.५३ ॥
jātilakṣaṇadeśairanyatānavacchedāttulyayostataḥ pratipattiḥ || 3.53 ||
Simple English
Primary Translation
From this comes the ability to distinguish between two similar things that cannot be told apart by class, characteristic, or position.
तारकं सर्वविषयं सर्वथाविषयमक्रमं चेति विवेकजं ज्ञानम् ॥ ३.५४ ॥
tārakaṃ sarvaviṣayaṃ sarvathāviṣayamakramaṃ ceti vivekajaṃ jñānam || 3.54 ||
Simple English
Primary Translation
The knowledge born of discrimination is all-encompassing, covering all objects at all times simultaneously, and is the means of liberation.
सत्त्वपुरुषयोः शुद्धिसाम्ये कैवल्यम् ॥ ३.५५ ॥
sattvapuruṣayoḥ śuddhisāmye kaivalyam || 3.55 ||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Liberation comes when the intellect and pure awareness become equally pure.
इति पातञ्जलयोगशास्त्रे विभूतिपादस्तृतीयः ॥ ३.५६ ॥
iti pātañjalayogaśāstre vibhūtipādas tṛtīyaḥ || 3.56 ||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Here ends the third chapter, Vibhuti Pada, of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras.