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Shloka 18

Mahāyoga: Detachment from ‘I/Mine’, Aṣṭāṅga Practice, Oṁkāra and Aham-Brahmāsmi Contemplation

Devanagari script

रजसा तमसो वृत्तिं सत्त्वेन रजसस्तथा / निरुध्य निश्चलो भूत्वा स्थितो युञ्जीत योगवित्

Transliteration

rajasā tamaso vṛttiṃ sattvena rajasastathā / nirudhya niścalo bhūtvā sthito yuñjīta yogavit

Translation

Mit rajas soll man die Regung von tamas zügeln, und mit sattva ebenso rajas; nachdem man sie so gebändigt hat, unbeweglich und standhaft geworden, soll der Kenner des Yoga in der geordneten Versenkung verweilen.

Word by Word
रजसाby rajas (activity)
रजसा:
Karana (Instrument/करण)
TypeNoun
Rootरजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्गे, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; करणम्
तमसःof tamas (inertia)
तमसः:
Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootतमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्गे, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (genitive)
वृत्तिम्activity, tendency
वृत्तिम्:
Karma (Object/कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootवृत्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; कर्मपदम् (निरुध्य इत्यस्य)
सत्त्वेनby sattva (clarity)
सत्त्वेन:
Karana (Instrument/करण)
TypeNoun
Rootसत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्गे, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; करणम्
रजसःof rajas
रजसः:
Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootरजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्गे, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (genitive)
तथाlikewise
तथा:
Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतथा (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय (adverb): "likewise/in the same way"
निरुध्यhaving restrained
निरुध्य:
Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootरुध् (धातु)
Formक्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund) उपसर्ग-नि:; "having restrained"
निश्चलःmotionless, steady
निश्चलः:
Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootनिश्चल (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्तृविशेषणम्
भूत्वाhaving become
भूत्वा:
Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootभू (धातु)
Formक्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund): "having become"
स्थितःremaining, stationed
स्थितः:
Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootस्थित (स्था-धातोः क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त)
Formपुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि क्त (past participle) कर्तृविशेषणम्
युञ्जीतshould practice (yoga)
युञ्जीत:
Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootयुज् (धातु)
Formविधिलिङ् (Optative), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन
योगवित्the knower of yoga
योगवित्:
Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootयोगविद् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formतत्पुरुषः (योगं वेत्ति इति); पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्तृपदम्
Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Guṇa-nirodha as method: use rajas to overcome tamas (inertia), then sattva to pacify rajas (restlessness); then abide steady as a yoga-knower.

Vedantic Theme: Transcending prakṛti’s guṇas (guṇātīta orientation) as a bridge from sattvic clarity toward non-dual steadiness.

Application: First energize practice to dispel lethargy; then refine into calm clarity; finally rest in stable attention without agitation—progressing from activation to serenity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.226.16-17 (stages; posture and praṇava); Garuda Purana 1.226.19-20 (pratyāhāra; prāṇāyāma/dhāraṇā)

Characters & Entities
V
Vishnu
G
Garuda

FAQs

This verse teaches a stepwise inner discipline: first restrain tamasic inertia through purposeful effort (rajas), then refine that effort by cultivating clarity (sattva), finally arriving at steady stillness fit for meditation.

By emphasizing mastery over mental qualities (tamas and rajas) and establishment in steadiness, it points to purification of consciousness—an inner preparation that supports right conduct and higher realization, central to the Purana’s spiritual aims.

Use disciplined routines to overcome lethargy (tamas), then simplify and calm the mind through clarity-building habits (sattva)—such as moderation, truthful living, and regular meditation—until attention becomes steady.

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