The Eightfold Yoga

Verse 1 (skanda.2.219.1)

स्कन्द उवाच । वासुदेवार्चनविधिं निशम्येत्थं स नारदः । प्रसन्नः पुनरप्राक्षीत्तं मुनीनां परं गुरुम्

skanda uvāca | vāsudevārcanavidhiṁ niśamyetthaṁ sa nāradaḥ | prasannaḥ punaraprākṣīttaṁ munīnāṁ paraṁ gurum

Skanda said: Having thus heard the rite of worship of Vasudeva, Narada, pleased, questioned again that supreme guru of the sages.

Verse 2 (skanda.2.219.2)

नारद उवाच । सम्यगुक्तो भगवता क्रियायोगो महाफलः । एकेन मनसा योऽसौ कार्यः सिद्धिमभीप्सुभिः

nārada uvāca | samyagukto bhagavatā kriyāyogo mahāphalaḥ | ekena manasā yo'sau kāryaḥ siddhimabhīpsubhiḥ

Narada said: You have well declared, O Lord, the ritual discipline of great fruit, which those who desire accomplishment must perform with a single-pointed mind.

Verse 3 (skanda.2.219.3)

मनसो निग्रहस्तत्र ज्ञानिनामपि सद्गुरो । दुष्करः किं पुनस्तर्हि नृणां कर्मात्मनां भुवि

manaso nigrahastatra jñānināmapi sadguro | duṣkaraḥ kiṁ punastarhi nṛṇāṁ karmātmanāṁ bhuvi

But in that, O true guru, the control of the mind is difficult even for the wise; how much more so, then, for men on earth who are given to action?

Verse 4 (skanda.2.219.4)

तमृते तु हरेरर्चा नाभीष्टफलदायिनी । अतस्तन्निग्रहोपायमपि मे वक्तुमर्हसि

tamṛte tu harerarcā nābhīṣṭaphaladāyinī | atastannigrahopāyamapi me vaktumarhasi

Yet without that control, the worship of Hari does not bestow the desired fruit; therefore you should also tell me the means of controlling it.

Verse 5 (skanda.2.219.5)

स्कन्द उवाच । इत्यापृष्टः स मुनिना मुनीन्द्रः सर्वदर्शनः । नारायणो नरसखो नारदं तमभाषत

skanda uvāca | ityāpṛṣṭaḥ sa muninā munīndraḥ sarvadarśanaḥ | nārāyaṇo narasakho nāradaṁ tamabhāṣata

Skanda said: Thus questioned by the sage, Narayana — the lord of sages, all-seeing, the friend of Nara — spoke to that Narada.

Verse 6 (skanda.2.219.6)

श्रीनारायण उवाच । सत्यमेव मुने वक्षि मनसोस्ति बलं महत् । जितेपि यस्मिन्विश्वासः शत्रुवन्न विवेकिनाम्

śrīnārāyaṇa uvāca | satyameva mune vakṣi manasosti balaṁ mahat | jitepi yasminviśvāsaḥ śatruvanna vivekinām

Sri Narayana said: What you say, O sage, is indeed true — the mind possesses great strength; the wise place no trust in it, even when it seems conquered, as they would not trust an enemy.

Verse 7 (skanda.2.219.7)

मनसा सदृशोन्यस्तु शत्रुर्न्नास्त्येव देहिनाम् । विष्णुध्यानाभ्यासयोगान्निर्दोषं तद्धि शाम्यति

manasā sadṛśonyastu śatrurnnāstyeva dehinām | viṣṇudhyānābhyāsayogānnirdoṣaṁ taddhi śāmyati

For embodied beings there is truly no other enemy equal to the mind; yet through the discipline of practising meditation on Vishnu, it is indeed calmed, free of fault.

Verse 8 (skanda.2.219.8)

अदान्ताश्ववदेवैतद्यतोस्ति दुरवग्रहम् । अतो वैराग्ययुक्पुम्भिः सदुपायैर्निगृह्यते

adāntāśvavadevaitadyatosti duravagraham | ato vairāgyayukpumbhiḥ sadupāyairnigṛhyate

Because this mind is as hard to restrain as an untamed horse, it is subdued by men endowed with dispassion, through proper means.

Verse 9 (skanda.2.219.9)

उपायास्तत्र बहवः सन्ति तेष्वपि सन्मते । अष्टांगयोगस्याभ्यासः श्रेष्ठः सद्यः फलप्रदः

upāyāstatra bahavaḥ santi teṣvapi sanmate | aṣṭāṁgayogasyābhyāsaḥ śreṣṭhaḥ sadyaḥ phalapradaḥ

There are many means for this; but among them, in the view of the wise, the practice of the eightfold yoga is the best, granting its fruit swiftly.

Verse 10 (skanda.2.219.10)

यमाश्च नियमा ब्रह्मन्नासनान्यसुसंयमः । प्रत्याहारो धारणा च ध्यानमंगं तु सप्तमम् । समाधिश्चाष्टमं प्रोक्तं योगस्यानुक्रमेण वै

yamāśca niyamā brahmannāsanānyasusaṁyamaḥ | pratyāhāro dhāraṇā ca dhyānamaṁgaṁ tu saptamam | samādhiścāṣṭamaṁ proktaṁ yogasyānukrameṇa vai

O Brahman, the Yamas, the Niyamas, the postures, breath-control, withdrawal of the senses, concentration, meditation as the seventh limb, and samadhi declared as the eighth — these are the limbs of Yoga in due order.

Verse 11 (skanda.2.219.11)

तत्राऽहिंसाब्रह्मचर्य सत्यास्तेयापरिग्रहाः । एते पञ्च यमाः प्रोक्ताः साधनीयाः प्रयत्नतः

tatrā'hiṁsābrahmacarya satyāsteyāparigrahāḥ | ete pañca yamāḥ proktāḥ sādhanīyāḥ prayatnataḥ

Among these, non-violence, celibacy, truthfulness, non-stealing, and non-possession — these five are declared to be the Yamas, to be diligently practised.

Verse 12 (skanda.2.219.12)

शौचं तपश्च संतोषः स्वाध्यायो विष्णुपूजनम् । एते च नियमाः पञ्च द्वितीयांगतया मताः

śaucaṁ tapaśca saṁtoṣaḥ svādhyāyo viṣṇupūjanam | ete ca niyamāḥ pañca dvitīyāṁgatayā matāḥ

Purity, austerity, contentment, study of scripture, and worship of Vishnu — these five are held to be the Niyamas, forming the second limb.

Verse 13 (skanda.2.219.13)

परिहायांगचाञ्चल्यं यथासुखतया स्थितिः । तदासनं स्वस्तिकादिप्रोक्तं द्वन्द्वार्त्तिजिन्मुने

parihāyāṁgacāñcalyaṁ yathāsukhatayā sthitiḥ | tadāsanaṁ svastikādiproktaṁ dvandvārttijinmune

O sage, that steady posture — free from restlessness of the limbs and held with ease — beginning with the Svastika posture, is declared as Asana, the conqueror of the affliction of opposites.

Verse 14 (skanda.2.219.14)

चरतां सर्वतोऽसूनामेकदेशे तु धारणम् । गुरूपदिष्टरीत्यैव प्राणायामः स उच्यते

caratāṁ sarvato'sūnāmekadeśe tu dhāraṇam | gurūpadiṣṭarītyaiva prāṇāyāmaḥ sa ucyate

The confining, in a single location, of the vital airs that move everywhere in the body, according to the method taught by the guru, is called Pranayama.

Verse 15 (skanda.2.219.15)

चले वायौ चलं चित्तं स्थिरे तस्मिन्स्थिरं ततः । सुदेशेऽयं सदाऽभ्यस्यः पूरकुम्भकरेचकैः

cale vāyau calaṁ cittaṁ sthire tasminsthiraṁ tataḥ | sudeśe'yaṁ sadā'bhyasyaḥ pūrakumbhakarecakaiḥ

When the breath is unsteady, the mind is unsteady; when it is steady, the mind becomes steady. This should always be practised in a suitable place, through inhalation, retention, and exhalation.

Verse 16 (skanda.2.219.16)

मनसेन्द्रियवृत्तीनां तत्तद्विषयतश्च यत् । आकर्षणं प्रतीचीनं प्रत्याहारः स ईरितः

manasendriyavṛttīnāṁ tattadviṣayataśca yat | ākarṣaṇaṁ pratīcīnaṁ pratyāhāraḥ sa īritaḥ

The withdrawing back of the activities of the mind and senses from their respective objects is declared to be Pratyahara.

Verse 17 (skanda.2.219.17)

नाभ्याद्यन्यतमे स्थाने प्राणेन सह चेतसः । वासुदेवस्वरूपे यद्धारणं धारणोदिता

nābhyādyanyatame sthāne prāṇena saha cetasaḥ | vāsudevasvarūpe yaddhāraṇaṁ dhāraṇoditā

The fixing of the mind, together with the breath, upon the form of Vasudeva, in any one of the bodily centers beginning with the navel, is declared to be Dharana.

Verse 18 (skanda.2.219.18)

एकैकावयवस्यैव चिन्तनं यत्पृथक्पृथक् । पदाब्जादेर्भगवतस्तद्ध्यानमिति कीर्तितम्

ekaikāvayavasyaiva cintanaṁ yatpṛthakpṛthak | padābjāderbhagavatastaddhyānamiti kīrtitam

The separate contemplation of each single limb of the Lord, one by one, beginning with His lotus feet, is declared to be Dhyana.

Verse 19 (skanda.2.219.19)

निरोधः प्राणमनसोरतिप्रेम्णा हरौ तु यः । स समाधिरिति प्रोक्तो योगिनामभिवाञ्छितः

nirodhaḥ prāṇamanasoratipremṇā harau tu yaḥ | sa samādhiriti prokto yogināmabhivāñchitaḥ

That cessation of the breath and mind, out of intense love for Hari, is declared to be Samadhi, the goal desired by yogis.

Verse 20 (skanda.2.219.20)

अंगैरष्टभिरेतैर्हि शिक्षितैः सिद्धसद्गुरोः । योगः सिद्ध्यति वै पुंसां समाधेः पक्वतात्मकः

aṁgairaṣṭabhiretairhi śikṣitaiḥ siddhasadguroḥ | yogaḥ siddhyati vai puṁsāṁ samādheḥ pakvatātmakaḥ

By practising these eight limbs, as taught by a perfected true guru, Yoga is indeed accomplished for men, its essence being the ripening of Samadhi.

Verse 21 (skanda.2.219.21)

नैतादृशं परं सम्यङ् मनोनिग्रहसाधनम् । पुरुषाणां मुमुक्षूणामिति जानीहि नारद

naitādṛśaṁ paraṁ samyaṅ manonigrahasādhanam | puruṣāṇāṁ mumukṣūṇāmiti jānīhi nārada

Know, O Narada, that there is truly no higher means than this for the control of the mind, for men who seek liberation.

Verse 22 (skanda.2.219.22)

तपस्विनां महाशत्रोर्ब्रह्माण्डक्षोभकादपि । मदनान्नाभयं किञ्चिद्योगिनस्त्वस्ति कर्हिचित्

tapasvināṁ mahāśatrorbrahmāṇḍakṣobhakādapi | madanānnābhayaṁ kiñcidyoginastvasti karhicit

The yogi has no fear whatsoever, at any time, from Kama — the great enemy of ascetics, one who can agitate even the whole universe.

Verse 23 (skanda.2.219.23)

आयास्यन्तं विहित्वैव सोन्तकालं च योगवित् । स्वातन्त्र्येणैव देहं स्वं त्यजतीत्थं समाधिना

āyāsyantaṁ vihitvaiva sontakālaṁ ca yogavit | svātantryeṇaiva dehaṁ svaṁ tyajatītthaṁ samādhinā

The knower of Yoga, having determined in advance that his final hour is approaching, abandons his own body entirely of his own free will, by means of samadhi, in this manner:

Verse 24 (skanda.2.219.24)

पार्ष्णिभ्यां गुदमापीड्य वायुं पादद्वयस्थितम् । शनैःशनैः समाकृष्य मृत्युस्थानं नयत्यमुम्

pārṣṇibhyāṁ gudamāpīḍya vāyuṁ pādadvayasthitam | śanaiḥśanaiḥ samākṛṣya mṛtyusthānaṁ nayatyamum

Pressing the anus with the two heels, he slowly draws up the breath situated in the two legs and leads it to the seat of death.

Verse 25 (skanda.2.219.25)

मनसा केशवं ध्यायंस्तन्मनुं च षडक्षरम् । जपस्ततोऽमुं नयति वायुं स्थानं प्रजापतेः

manasā keśavaṁ dhyāyaṁstanmanuṁ ca ṣaḍakṣaram | japastato'muṁ nayati vāyuṁ sthānaṁ prajāpateḥ

Meditating in his mind upon Keshava and reciting His six-syllabled mantra, he then leads that breath to the seat of Prajapati.

Verse 26 (skanda.2.219.26)

ततो नाभिं च हदयमुरः कण्ठं च योगवित् । नयति भ्रुकुटिवायुं वासुदेवपरायणः

tato nābhiṁ ca hadayamuraḥ kaṇṭhaṁ ca yogavit | nayati bhrukuṭivāyuṁ vāsudevaparāyaṇaḥ

Then the knower of Yoga, devoted to Vasudeva, leads the breath through the navel, the heart, the chest, the throat, and the space between the eyebrows.

Verse 27 (skanda.2.219.27)

एतेषु षट्सु स्थानेषु त्वेकैकस्मिन्पृथक्पृथक् । योगी प्राणमनोक्षाणां निरोधं च विसर्जनम् । तावदभ्यसति स्वस्य यावत्स्यात्तत्स्वतन्त्रता

eteṣu ṣaṭsu sthāneṣu tvekaikasminpṛthakpṛthak | yogī prāṇamanokṣāṇāṁ nirodhaṁ ca visarjanam | tāvadabhyasati svasya yāvatsyāttatsvatantratā

At each single one of these six stations, separately, the yogi practises the restraint and release of the breath, mind, and senses, for as long as it takes until he attains mastery over that station.

Verse 28 (skanda.2.219.28)

जितंजितं विहायैव स्थानं याति परं परम् । प्राप्तस्य स्थानकं षष्ठं तदभ्यासे श्रमो न हि

jitaṁjitaṁ vihāyaiva sthānaṁ yāti paraṁ param | prāptasya sthānakaṁ ṣaṣṭhaṁ tadabhyāse śramo na hi

Leaving behind each station once mastered, he proceeds to the next higher one; and once he has reached the sixth station, there is no more effort needed in that practice.

Verse 29 (skanda.2.219.29)

सप्तच्छिद्राणि रुद्ध्वाऽथ प्राणमक्षमनोयुतम् । प्रापय्य तालु व्रजति ब्रह्मरन्ध्रं स योगवित्

saptacchidrāṇi ruddhvā'tha prāṇamakṣamanoyutam | prāpayya tālu vrajati brahmarandhraṁ sa yogavit

Then, having closed the seven bodily apertures, and having brought the breath, together with the senses and mind, up to the palate, the knower of Yoga proceeds to the Brahmarandhra.

Verse 30 (skanda.2.219.30)

मायामयपदार्थानां ततो हित्वैव वासनाः । स वासुदेवैकमनास्त्यजति स्वकलेवरम्

māyāmayapadārthānāṁ tato hitvaiva vāsanāḥ | sa vāsudevaikamanāstyajati svakalevaram

Then, having abandoned all attachment to things made of Maya, with his mind fixed solely on Vasudeva, he relinquishes his own body.

Verse 31 (skanda.2.219.31)

ततो भगवतो धाम श्रीकृष्णस्य तमःपरम् । उपेत्य सेवमानस्तं नन्दते दिव्यविग्रहः

tato bhagavato dhāma śrīkṛṣṇasya tamaḥparam | upetya sevamānastaṁ nandate divyavigrahaḥ

Then, having attained the abode of the Lord Sri Krishna, which lies beyond darkness, and serving Him there, he rejoices, his body now divine.

Verse 32 (skanda.2.219.32)

इति ते कथितो ब्रह्मन्योगशास्त्रस्य संग्रहः । जित्वा तेन मनः स्वीयं तमाराधय सर्वदा

iti te kathito brahmanyogaśāstrasya saṁgrahaḥ | jitvā tena manaḥ svīyaṁ tamārādhaya sarvadā

Thus, O Brahman, has the summary of the science of Yoga been declared to you; having conquered your own mind by it, worship Him always.