Patanjali Yogasutra 2.13
सति मूले तद्विपाको जात्यायुर्भोगाः॥१३॥
"When the root exists, its fruition is experienced as birth, lifespan, and experiences."
Patanjali Yogasutra 2.13 addresses the concept of karma and its consequences. The "root" (moola) here refers to the accumulated karmic seeds (karmashaya) that influence future lives and experiences. As long as these seeds exist, they will manifest in the form of birth, duration of life, and the various experiences one undergoes. This suggests a cyclic nature of existence driven by past actions, where one's current state is a result of previously sown karmic seeds.
This Sutra emphasizes the continuity and interconnectedness of actions and their results across lifetimes. It implies that every action has a consequence that shapes future experiences. This cycle continues until the root cause, the karmashaya, is eradicated. The eradication of these seeds is possible through the practice of yoga, which aims to purify the mind and dissolve karmic impressions, leading to liberation (moksha).
In essence, this verse highlights the importance of understanding and addressing the root cause of suffering. By focusing on the moola, or the fundamental causes of our experiences, practitioners can work towards transforming their karma and ultimately achieving freedom from the cycle of birth and rebirth. This teaching aligns with the broader yogic philosophy that emphasizes inner transformation and the dissolution of the ego and karmic bonds.
Swami Vivekanand said:
"The roots, the causes, the Samskaras being there, they again manifest, and form the effects. The cause dying down becomes the effect, and the effect becomes more subtle, and becomes the cause of the next effect. The tree bears a seed, and becomes the cause of the next tree, and so on. All our works now, are the effects of past Samskaras. Again, these Samskaras become the cause of future actions, and thus we go on. So this aphorism says that the cause being there, the fruit must come, in the form of species; one will be a man, another an angel, another an animal, another a demon. Then there are different effects in life; one man lives fifty years, another a hundred, and another dies in two years, and never attains maturity; all these differences in life are regulated by these past actions. One man is born, as it were, for pleasure; if he buries himself in a forest pleasure will follow him there. Another man, wherever he goes, pain follows him, everything becomes painful. It is all the result of their own past. According to the philosophy of the Yogis all virtuous actions bring pleasure, and all vicious actions bring pain. Any man who does wicked deeds is sure to reap the fruit of them in the form of pain."
Comparison with Similar Verses from Vedic Texts
Bhagavad Gita 4.17
कर्मणो ह्यपि बोद्धव्यं बोद्धव्यं च विकर्मणः।
अकर्मणश्च बोद्धव्यं गहना कर्मणो गतिः॥१७॥
"The intricacies of action are very hard to understand. Therefore, one should know properly what action is, what forbidden action is, and what inaction is."
This verse from the Bhagavad Gita echoes the complexity of karma mentioned in the Yogasutra. It suggests that understanding the nature of actions, their consequences, and the path to transcend them is challenging. Both texts highlight the importance of knowledge and discernment in navigating the karmic cycle.
Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 4.4.5
यथाकारी यथाचारी तथैव तस्य भवति।
साधुकारी साधुर्भवति, पापकारी पापो भवति।
पुण्यः पुण्येन कर्मणा भवति, पापः पापेन॥
"As a person acts, as he behaves, so does he become. The doer of good becomes good, and the doer of evil becomes evil. By virtuous acts, he becomes virtuous; by evil acts, evil."
This Upanishadic verse reinforces the idea that actions shape future experiences and character. It aligns with the Yogasutra’s assertion that the root causes (karma) influence one's existence, emphasizing personal responsibility and the moral consequences of actions.
Yoga Vashistha 3.1.26
यथा दृश्यमिदं प्रोतं धातुषु धातुभिः सदा।
तथैव सर्वभूतानि दृष्ट्यात्मन्येव संस्थिताः॥२६॥
"As the world is woven into the five elements, so are all beings rooted in the Self through perception."
This verse from the Yoga Vashistha suggests that all beings and their experiences are deeply rooted in the Self, much like how the world is interwoven with the elements. It complements the Yogasutra’s idea that the root cause of experiences lies within, pointing towards the deeper spiritual truth of unity and interconnectedness.
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