Kapila Describes Aṣṭāṅga Yoga

Chapter Twenty-eight

Kapila Describes Aṣṭāṅga Yoga

|| 3.28.1 ||

śrī-bhagavān uvāca

yogasya lakṣaṇaṁ vakṣye

sabījasya nṛpātmaje

mano yenaiva vidhinā

prasannaṁ yāti sat-patham

The Lord said: I shall speak about the characteristics of yoga, dependent on bhakti, by following which the mind attains the joyful, spiritual path.

In the Twenty-eighth Chapter, meditation in the asṭāṅga-yoga system is described in detail, by which the yogī attains liberation without effort. Teaching devotion to himself (Chapter 26), and speaking about Sāṅkhya mixed with bhakti (Chapter 27,28), the Lord now begins to speak about aṣṭāṅga-yoga mixed with bhakti.

Sabījasya means “taking support.”

|| 3.28.2 ||

sva-dharmācaraṇaṁ śaktyā

vidharmāc ca nivartanam

daivāl labdhena santoṣa

ātmavic-caraṇārcanam

One must follow one’s duties of varṇāśrama to the best of one’s ability and avoid sin. One should be satisfied with what comes of its own accord and worship the lotus feet of those who know the Lord.

 

Three verses and two syllables in verse 5 now explain the rules for controlling the mind. Non-violence, truthfulness, not stealing, not accepting more than necessary, celibacy and silence are a description of yama, the first stage of aṣṭāṅga-yoga (verse 4-5). The other items in verses 2, 3 and 4 are part of niyama.

|| 3.28.3 ||

grāmya-dharma-nivṛttiś ca

mokṣa-dharma-ratis tathā

mita-medhyādanaṁ śaśvad

vivikta-kṣema-sevanam

One should avoid duties that lead to material attachment and be absorbed in those which lead to liberation. One should eat pure food in moderated quantities and always live in a secluded, peaceful place.

Grāmya-dharma means artha, dharma and kāma.  According to the smṛti, moderate quantity of food means the following:

 

dvau bhāgau pūrayed annais toyenaikaṁ prapūrayet.

mārutasya pracārārthaṁ caturtham avaśeṣayet

 

One should fill half the stomach with food, one quarter with water. One quarter should remain with air for freedom of movement.

 

One should select a place which is solitary and free from fear (kṣemam).

:

|| 3.28.4 ||