Te samadhau upasargah vyutthane siddhayah

This is the thirty-eighth yogic sutra that is contained in the third phase of the Patanjali Yoga Sutras.

Te samadhau upasargah vyutthane siddhayah, Patanjali Yoga SutraThe thirty-eighth yoga sutra explains about the dichotomy of such hindrances, which hampers in the path of samadhi. These divine perceptions stand in the way of a yogi, whose wisdom is supreme and goal is spiritual absorption. The attainments come within the range of the gunas, and after such an accomplishment, a sadhaka stands every chance to become misled from his original path to self-realisation. He can think the attainments as the spiritual heights in yogic practice, which is very wrong in his path.

te they (divine perceptions)
samadhau in samadhi
upasargah hindrances, obstacles
vyut
hane
rising up, following one`s own inclination, outgoing mind siddhayah powers

These attainments are impediments to samadhi, although they are powers in active life.

Divine perceptions are hindrances to a yogi, whose wisdom is supreme and whose goal is spiritual absorption. They are great accomplishments, but he should know that they fall within the range of the gunas of nature, and in acquiring them, he might forget his main aim in life and luxuriate within them. If they are shunned, however, they become aids to samadhi.

The yogi may mistake these accomplishments and rewards for the end and aim of yogic practices. He might imagine that he has attained great spiritual heights, and that whatever is attainable through yoga has been achieved. In this process, he can forget the goal of Self-Realisation.

Patanjali warns yogis to treat these powers as impediments in their sadhana. One should control them as whole-heartedly as one fought earlier to conquer the afflictions of the body and fluctuations of the mind. Then one can move forward towards kaivalya, emancipation.

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...