Patanjali Yogasutra 2.3
अविद्यास्मितारागद्वेषाभिनिवेशाः क्लेशाः ॥ २.३॥
"The afflictions (kleśas) are ignorance (avidyā), egoism (asmitā), attachment (rāga), aversion (dveṣa), and clinging to life (abhiniveśa)."
Patanjali's Yogasutra 2.3 identifies five fundamental afflictions or obstacles (kleśas) that hinder spiritual progress and cause suffering. The first of these is avidyā (ignorance), which is the root cause of all other afflictions. Ignorance here refers to a fundamental misunderstanding of the Nature of Reality, where one mistakes the transient and impermanent for the eternal and unchanging. This ignorance leads to a distorted perception of the Self and the world, causing suffering and delusion.
The second affliction is asmita (egoism), which arises from ignorance. Egoism is the false identification of the Self with the mind, body, and senses. It is the sense of "I-ness" or the ego that creates a separation between the individual and the universal Consciousness. This false identification leads to a sense of individuality and separateness, which is the source of many psychological and emotional disturbances.
The remaining three afflictions are rāga (attachment), dveṣa (aversion), and abhiniveśa (clinging to life). Attachment is the desire for pleasurable experiences, while aversion is the avoidance of unpleasant experiences. Both are rooted in the ego's desire to seek pleasure and avoid pain. Clinging to life is the deep-seated fear of death and the instinctual drive for self-preservation. Together, these afflictions create a cycle of desire and aversion that binds the individual to the cycle of birth and death (samsara).
Swami Vivekanand says:
"These are the five pains, the fivefold tie that binds us down. Of course ignorance is the mother of all the rest. She is the only cause of all our misery. What else can make us miserable? The nature of the soul is eternal Bliss. What can make it sorrowful except ignorance, hallucination, delusion; all this pain of the soul is simply delusion."
Comparison with Similar Verses from Vedic Texts
Bhagavad Gita 2.62-63:
ध्यायतो विषयान्पुंसः सङ्गस्तेषूपजायते।
सङ्गात्सञ्जायते कामः कामात्क्रोधोऽभिजायते॥ २.६२॥
क्रोधाद्भवति सम्मोहः सम्मोहात्स्मृतिविभ्रमः।
स्मृतिभ्रंशाद्बुद्धिनाशो बुद्धिनाशात्प्रणश्यति॥ २.६३॥
"When a man dwells on the objects of sense, attachment to them is born; from attachment arises desire, from desire arises anger. From anger comes delusion; from delusion, loss of memory; from loss of memory, the destruction of intelligence; and from the destruction of intelligence, he perishes."
Mundaka Upanishad 3.1.1:
द्वा सुपर्णा सयुजा सखाया समानं वृक्षं परिषस्वजाते।
तयोरन्यः पिप्पलं स्वाद्वत्त्यनश्नन्नन्यो अभिचाकशीति॥ ३.१.१॥
"Two birds, inseparable companions, perch on the same tree. One eats the sweet fruit, the other looks on without eating."
Yoga Vashishta 6.1.12:
मन एव मनुष्याणां कारणं बन्धमोक्षयोः।
बन्धाय विषयासक्तं मुक्त्यै निर्विषयं स्मृतम्॥ ६.१.१२॥
"The mind alone is the cause of bondage and liberation for human beings. Attached to sense objects, it leads to bondage; free from sense objects, it leads to liberation."
These verses from the Bhagavad Gita, Mundaka Upanishad, and Yoga Vashishta echo the themes found in Patanjali's Yogasutra 2.3. They emphasize the role of the mind and its attachments in creating suffering and the importance of overcoming ignorance and egoism to achieve liberation. The Bhagavad Gita highlights the destructive cycle of attachment and desire, the Mundaka Upanishad illustrates the dual nature of experience and observation, and the Yoga Vashishta underscores the mind's pivotal role in bondage and liberation. Together, these texts provide a comprehensive understanding of the obstacles to spiritual growth and the path to overcoming them.
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