sabdajnana anupati vastusunyah vikalpah

It is the ninth yoga sutra contained in Patanjali Yoga Sutras.

Verbal knowledge devoid of substance is fancy or imagination- this very truth gains a divine diction amidst the comprehensiveness of the ninth yoga sutra of Patanjali Yoga, which has been named as Sabdajnana anupati vastusunyah vikalpa.

sabdajnana verbal knowledge
anupati followed in sequence, pursued, phased in regular succession
vastusunyah devoid of things, devoid of substance or meaning
vikalpah imagination, fancy

Verbal knowledge devoid of substance is fancy or imagination.

Vikalpa, a vague and uncertain knowledge stands for playing with fanciful thoughts or words, and living in one`s own world of thoughts and impressions which have no substantial basis, and which does not correspond to reality. In such a state of hallucination, one is similar to the hare in the fable that imagined it had horns.

If vikalpa is brought down to the level of factual knowledge by examination, trial, error, and discrimination, it can arouse a craving for correct or true knowledge, and delusion can be transformed into vision and discovery. Unless and until such a transformation occurs, knowledge based on imagination remains without substance.

Recently updated articles in Yoga

Khanda Manda Yoga
Khanda Manda Yoga Thumbnail

Khanda Manda Yoga

Khanda Manda Yoga is a difficult form of yoga where the Yogi cuts off his own arms and legs with a sharp cleaver, that is axe-like knife, and throws t...

Kaivalya Pada
Kaivalya Pada Thumbnail

Kaivalya Pada

Kaivalya Pada, the fourth chapter of Patanjali Yoga Sutra denotes an absolute, indivisible state of existence of the Yogi. The Kaivalya Pada is someti...

Vibhuti Pada
Vibhuti Pada Thumbnail

Vibhuti Pada

Vibhuti is the Sanskrit term for “power” or “manifestation.” In this third chapter, Patanjali introduces the final three limbs of Aṣṭanga Yoga, collec...

Sadhana Pada
Sadhana Pada Thumbnail

Sadhana Pada

Sadhana Pada in Patanjali Yoga Sutra denotes the idea of practicing yoga that leads to spiritual illumination. Sadhana, the Sanskrit term for “practic...

Samadhi Pada
Samadhi Pada Thumbnail

Samadhi Pada

Samadhi Pada is the first chapter of Patanjali Yoga Sutra. In this chapter, the author explains the essence of yoga, the nature of samadhi, and the me...