Patanjali Yogasutra 2.47
प्रयत्नशैथिल्यानन्तसमापत्तिभ्याम् ||२.४७||
"By slight effort and meditating on the Unlimited, posture becomes firm and pleasant. Light and darkness, pleasure and pain, will not then disturb you."
In this Sutra, Patanjali addresses how one can perfect an asana
(posture). The key to mastering an asana is to find a balance between effort and relaxation. "प्रयत्नशैथिल्य" (Prayatna-shaithilya) refers to the relaxation of effort. This implies that although effort is necessary to initially attain a posture, the next step involves easing into the posture and letting go of unnecessary tension. This relaxation doesn't mean losing awareness or control; rather, it is about achieving a state of calmness and steadiness without excessive physical or mental strain.
The second part of the Sutra, "अनन्तसमापत्तिभ्याम्" (Ananta-samapattibhyam), speaks to the merging of the Self with the Infinite, or "Ananta." Ananta can also be understood as the cosmic serpent, a symbol of Infinity, or as a metaphor for limitless Consciousness. Once the body is stable and relaxed in the posture, the mind is free to expand and merge with the Infinite. This process not only allows for physical stillness but also cultivates mental stillness, which is essential for the practice of meditation. Asana becomes a doorway to spiritual Awareness by grounding the body while liberating the mind.
In summary, Patanjali teaches that the perfection of an asana
isn't about physical strength or flexibility alone. It is about a subtle balance between effort and relaxation, coupled with the meditative expansion of the mind into the Infinite. Through this combination, the posture transforms into a vehicle for deeper spiritual practice. Asana ceases to be just a physical practice and becomes a method of aligning body, mind, and spirit in harmony.
Comparative Verses from Other Vedic Texts
Bhagavad Gita 6.13-14
समं कायशिरोग्रीवं धारयन्नचलं स्थिरः।
सम्प्रेक्ष्य नासिकाग्रं स्वं दिशश्चानवलोकयन्॥
प्रशान्तात्मा विगतभीः ब्रह्मचारिव्रते स्थितः।
मनः संयम्य मच्चित्तो युक्त आसीत मत्परः॥
"Holding the body, head, and neck upright, firm and steady, focusing the gaze at the tip of the nose without looking around; with a tranquil mind, fearless, firm in the vow of celibacy, keeping the mind controlled, and thinking of Me (the Divine), the yogi should sit absorbed in Me."
These verses from the Bhagavad Gita resonate with Patanjali’s teaching on the importance of steadiness and ease in posture.
While Patanjali speaks of relaxation and merging with the infinite, Krishna here emphasizes physical stability and mental focus, both necessary for entering a meditative state.
Mundaka Upanishad 2.2.4
स पर्यगाच्छुक्रमकायमव्रणं अस्नाविरं शुद्धमपापविद्धम्।
कविर्मनीषी परिभूः स्वयम्भूर्याथातथ्यतोर्थान्व्यदधाच्छाश्वतीभ्यः समाभ्यः॥
"He, the all-pervading, Pure, bodiless, without wound, without sinews, pure and untouched by sin, the Seer, all-knowing, transcendent, self-existent, has properly allotted different duties to the eternal years (of the creators)."
This verse from the Mundaka Upanishad connects with the idea of merging with the Infinite.
The description of the Divine as Pure, bodiless, and transcendent mirrors Patanjali's concept of "Ananta," the infinite consciousness. Just as the yogi merges with the infinite, the seer in the Upanishad perceives this transcendent purity and vastness.
Yoga Vashishta 6.1.70
यथा स्फटिकमणौ रूपमर्पितमात्रे तदेव रूपं प्रतिबिम्बते।
तद्वच्छुद्धेऽस्मिन्करणोपाधिनिष्ठे मायामये ब्रह्मणि साकल्यरूपिणि॥
"Just as the form placed in a crystal is reflected as its image, similarly, the Pure Consciousness reflects the forms in the illusion of the world, though it remains untainted and whole."
This verse from the Yoga Vashishta relates to Patanjali’s idea of merging with the Infinite by emphasizing the unchanging nature of Pure Consciousness.
Just as Patanjali teaches that the mind expands into the Infinite, the Yoga Vashishta compares the mind to a pure crystal, reflecting the forms of the world but remaining untouched by them. Both texts point toward the Ultimate Goal of Realizing the Infinite, unchanging essence of the Self.
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