Patanjali Yogasutra 2.42
(Santosh)
संतोषादनुत्तमसुखलाभः
"From contentment, the Highest Happiness is attained."
This Sutra from Patanjali emphasizes the profound importance of contentment (संतोष, Santosha) as a spiritual practice. Santosha, which is one of the five Niyamas in the eightfold path of yoga, teaches that true happiness comes not from external possessions or achievements, but from within. This inner satisfaction leads to a state of Bliss, where one's happiness is no longer dependent on circumstances. Instead, it is an innate quality that transcends material conditions.
Contentment is described here as the source of anuttama sukha, or the highest form of happiness. This suggests that contentment is not merely a passive acceptance of what one has, but an active Realization of the sufficiency of the present moment. By embracing contentment, a practitioner finds joy in what is, rather than what could be. This state of Inner Peace leads to a kind of happiness that is superior to any other—unaffected by external fluctuations and rooted in the self.
This teaching holds practical implications for daily life. In a world that often encourages the pursuit of more—whether it be wealth, power, or success.
Patanjali's Sutra offers a counterpoint. It suggests that by cultivating contentment, one can achieve a lasting state of happiness, free from the endless cycle of desire and dissatisfaction. This is a transformative Realization, encouraging individuals to look inward for fulfillment rather than seeking it externally.
Comparison with Similar Verses from Vedic Texts
Taittiriya Upanishad 2.7.1
ॠतं पिबन्तौ सुकृतस्य लोके गुप्ता धीरा निहितं गুহायाम्।
बिभ्रज्ज्येति यतयो विशन्ति वेदान्तविज्ञानसुनिश्चितार्थाः॥
"They who dwell in the world of righteous deeds, those wise ones who drink the nectar of Truth, protected and hidden in the cave of the heart, they enter into the light, free from delusion."
This verse from the Taittiriya Upanishad discusses the state of those who have Realized the Ultimate Truth within themselves. Similar to the idea of contentment in Patanjali's Sutra, the Upanishad emphasizes that true fulfillment and joy are found within the heart, where the essence of Truth resides. Just as contentment leads to the highest happiness, the Inner Realization of Truth leads to liberation and Eternal Bliss.
Bhagavad Gita 2.70
आपूर्यमाणमचलप्रतिष्ठं समुद्रमापः प्रविशन्ति यद्वत्।
तद्वत्कामा यं प्रविशन्ति सर्वे स शान्तिमाप्नोति न कामकामी॥
"Just as rivers enter the ocean, which is full and unmoved, likewise, all desires enter into the sage who is at peace, but he who desires the desires is never peaceful."
This verse from the Bhagavad Gita compares the state of inner contentment to an ocean that remains undisturbed regardless of how many rivers flow into it. It reflects the idea in Patanjali's Sutra that contentment leads to supreme peace and happiness. The sage who is content and self-sufficient remains unshaken by desires, much like the ocean that remains full regardless of the waters that enter it.
Yoga Vashishta 6.2.99
मनः प्रसन्नं भवति आत्मज्योतिर्विलोकनात्।
अप्रसन्नमनाः पुरुषः सवित्तापैः पीड्यते॥
"The mind becomes serene upon beholding the light of the Self. A person with a disturbed mind, however, is tormented by endless desires."
In the Yoga Vashishta, the serenity of the mind is linked to the Realization of the Self, paralleling the idea of contentment in Patanjali's Sutra. The verse suggests that when the mind is at peace and content, one experiences the joy of the Self. Conversely, a mind disturbed by desires leads to suffering, reinforcing the Yogasutra's message that contentment is the path to the highest happiness.
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