Shloka 48

Adhyaya 39 — Yoga Discipline: Posture, Breath Control, Sense Withdrawal, and Signs of Attainment

Sanskrit

कालेष्वेतेषु युञ्जीत न योगं ध्यानतत्परः ।

सशब्दाग्निजालभ्यासे जीर्णगोष्ठे चतुष्पथे ॥

Transliteration

kāleṣv eteṣu yuñjīta na yogaṃ dhyāna-tatparaḥ / saśabdāgni-jāla-bhyāse jīrṇa-goṣṭhe catuṣpathe

Translation

专志禅定者，不应在此等时处修习瑜伽：喧哗之地，近火与炽焰之旁，破败的牛舍/围栏之中，或四衢交叉之处。

Word by Word

• kāleṣu: at times/periods
• kāleṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (Locative), बहुवचनम्

• eteṣu: in these
• eteṣu: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे/नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (Locative), बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम्—कालेषु

• yuñjīta: should practice
• yuñjīta: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yuj (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम्

• na: not
• na: Nishedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्ययम्

• yogam: yoga
• yogam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yoga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• dhyāna-tatparaḥ: one intent on meditation
• dhyāna-tatparaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dhyāna (प्रातिपदिक) + tatpara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषः—ध्यानं तत्परः (intent on meditation); पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (कर्तृ-विशेषण)

• sa-śabda-agni-jāla-abhyāse: in practice amid noise, fire, and nets/entanglements
• sa-śabda-agni-jāla-abhyāse: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sa (प्रातिपदिक/उपसर्गार्थ) + śabda (प्रातिपदिक) + agni (प्रातिपदिक) + jāla (प्रातिपदिक) + abhyāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः; अभ्यासनाम (पुंलिङ्गः), सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; sa- = सहित (with); अर्थः—शब्दाग्निजालसहिते अभ्यासे

• jīrṇa-goṣṭhe: in a dilapidated cowshed/enclosure
• jīrṇa-goṣṭhe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jīrṇa (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + goṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारयः—जीर्णं गोष्ठम्; नपुंसकलिङ्गः, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• catuṣ-pathe: at a crossroads
• catuṣ-pathe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: catuṣ (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + patha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समासः—चत्वारः पथाः यस्य (crossroads); पुंलिङ्गः, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

Speakers

• Instructional voice within the chapter

Verse Rasa

{ "primaryRasa": "shanta", "secondaryRasa": "dharma", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

Key Themes

• Yoga
• Meditation environment
• Safety and concentration
• Auspicious/inauspicious places

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Meditation requires a setting that supports sattva and steadiness. Places associated with danger, distraction, or social flux (crossroads) weaken recollection and composure.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

Didactic yoga-vidhi, not a pancalakṣaṇa narrative unit.

What is the esoteric significance?

Crossroads and noisy/fire-filled places symbolize a mind at ‘junctions’—pulled in many directions. The instruction is to choose ekāgratā-supporting spaces that reduce sensory ‘sparks’.