Sloka 27 (Chapter 4)

SARVANEENDRIYA KARMANI PRANAKARMANI CHAPARE’

ATMA SAMYOGAGNOU JUHYATI JNANA DEEPITE’

Others again sacrifice all the functions of the senses and the fuctions of breath (vital en-
ergy) in the fire of yoga of self-control, illumined by knowledge.

*** continued from last week ***

Patanjali was a grammarian and an author of Yoga sutras, the earliest systematic treatise on
yoga. He advocated eight limbed practice of yoga and it has come to be known as "Ashtanga
yoga of Patanjali."

The eight steps in yoga are:

1) Yama - disciplines/restraints in the spiritual practice like:

Ahimsa
Satyam:
practicing to speak and follow the truth
Asteya:
not stealing
Brahmacharya:
celibacy
Aparigraha:
not receiving gifts (as in course of time it leads to becoming greedy)
Kshama:
capacity to forgive
Dhriti:
firm resolve in the undertaking of any actions (in this case, the progress in the spiritual
path). Resolve to fulfil the obligations to one’s own body, to family, to the spiritual master, to
the society, to other forms of life and to the mother nature in general is “Dhriti.”
Daya:
compassion to all forms of life, to the ignorant, to the poor, to the handicapped etc is
"Daya".
Arjavam:
it is being straight forward and honest in all dealings socially and spiritually. It requires ca-
pacity to overcome habit of deception.
Mitahara:
habit to be moderate in food. In this sense “food” includes the impulses received from all
the five sense organs.

2) Niyama - observations needed in the practice of spiritual disciplines like:

Soucham: cleanliness.
Tapas: purification of body, speech and mind.
Swadhyaya: self study/analysis of one’s actions.
Ishwara poojana: worship of the deity of choice.
Trupti: contentment.
Danam: alms giving.
Astikya: faith in God and spiritual master and the spiritual texts.

Newsletter on Bhagavad Gita by Dr. P.V. Nath (Copyright Dr. Nath, 2009) sent out week 46 in 2009, Page 1
Hri: learning to be remorse by recollecting the faults/errors and make amends for the mista-
kes.
Vrata: observation of resolves undertaken and the spiritual practices.
Japa: recitation of a mantra, sacred syllable Om on a regular basis.
Dara: to give liberally without any thought of recognition or reward for the efforts put in.

*** will be continued***

Newsletter on Bhagavad Gita by Dr. P.V. Nath (Copyright Dr. Nath, 2009) sent out week 46 in 2009, Page 2