Patanjali Yogasutra 3.55
(Kaivalya)
सत्त्वपुरुषयोः शुद्धिसाम्ये कैवल्यमिति ॥ ३.५५ ॥
“When there is equality in purity between sattva (the mind) and Purusha (the True Self), then there is Realization (kaivalya).”
In this Sutra, Patanjali addresses the Ultimate State of Realization, known as kaivalya, where one attains complete isolation from the material experiences of existence. This isolation is not a withdrawal from life, but rather a state of Self-Realization in which the yogi becomes aware of their True Nature beyond the fluctuations of the mind and the influence of the external world. Patanjali defines
kaivalya as the moment when there is a profound purity and equality between sattva, representing the clear and pure aspect of the mind, and Purusha, the eternal Consciousness or the Self. This purity of sattva means that the mind has become as clear as possible, free from impurities, desires, and mental fluctuations, thereby reflecting the Pure Consciousness of Purusha.
This Sutra implies that Realization is achieved when the mind has become as pure and undistorted as possible, creating a perfect mirror that reflects the True Self. The mind, free from distractions, attachments, and modifications, reaches a state where it no longer identifies with the external world but instead aligns with the purity and stability of Purusha. In this state, the distinction between the mind (or mental clarity) and Consciousness itself dissolves. The mind and Consciousness, or sattva and Purusha, are no longer separate entities with conflicting desires and attachments; they are harmonized, leading to a profound sense of Self-Awareness and liberation from the cycle of birth and death.
This Realization marks the culmination of yoga practice, where the yogi experiences kaivalya as an unconditioned, Pure State of Being. Unlike ordinary states of Consciousness, which are bound by sensory experiences and dualities, this state is entirely free from the limitations of the mind and body.
Patanjali presents this Realization as the Ultimate Goal of yoga, wherein the Self is no longer influenced by mental modifications or the ego but instead rests in its True, Eternal Nature. It signifies an enlightened state of Pure Awareness and contentment, unaltered by any external conditions or internal fluctuations.
Swami Vivekanand said:
"When the soul realises that it depends on nothing in the universe, from gods to the lowest atom, that it is called kaivalya (isolation) and Perfection. It is attained when this mixture of Purity and impurity called mind has been made as Pure as the Purusha itself; then the sattva, the mind, reflects only the unqualified Essence of Purity, which is the Purusha."
Comparison with Similar Verses from Other Vedic Texts
Bhagavad Gita 6.19
यथा दीपो निवातस्थो नेङ्गते सोपमा स्मृता।
योगिनो यतचित्तस्य युञ्जतो योगमात्मनः॥
"Just as a lamp in a windless place does not flicker, this is the comparison used to describe a yogi whose mind is disciplined, practicing union with the Self."
This verse from the Bhagavad Gita highlights the stability and stillness of the mind required for Self-Realization. Like Patanjali's concept of sattva-purusha equality, the Bhagavad Gita describes a state where the mind is unwavering and fully absorbed in the self, allowing for the experience of Union and Oneness.
Mundaka Upanishad 3.1.3
यदा पश्यः पश्यते रुक्मवर्णं
कर्तारमीशं पुरुषं ब्रह्मयोनिम्।
तदा विद्वान् पुण्यपापे विधूय
निरञ्जनः परमं साम्यमुपैति॥
"When the seer perceives the golden-colored Creator, the Lord, the Purusha, the Source of Brahman, then, Knowing Him, one becomes free from virtue and vice, and attains Supreme Equality."
This Upanishadic verse resonates with the idea in Patanjali's Sutra about reaching Purity and Equality. Here, the seer, upon Realizing the Divine presence within, becomes free from all dualities and achieves a State of Supreme Purity and balance, similar to sattva-purusha equality, leading to Realization.
Yoga Vashishta 6.218.24
चित्तं तु निर्मलं कुर्वन् नात्मानं चिन्तयेत् क्वचित्।
योगिनो ह्युपशान्तस्य कैवल्येऽप्येष सम्मतः॥
"Purifying the mind and not identifying with it, the yogi, calm and serene, attains Realization, which is the Highest State."
The Yoga Vashishta emphasizes the purification of the mind and the detachment from it, aligning with Patanjali's Sutra on achieving
kaivalya through the balance of
sattva and Purusha. The yogi, by reaching a tranquil mind free of desires and identifications, experiences Realization as the culmination of this Purity and calmness.
This is the end of Chapter-3 of Patanjali Yogasutra, also known as Vibhuti Pad.
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