The Yogadarsana- Comprising Yogasutra with Vyasabhasya (Original and Romanized Sanskrit with English Translation and Notes)

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The Yogadarsana comprises the Sutras of Patanjali along with the Bhasya of Vyasa. The texts are in original Sanskrit and also in romanized form. The English translation with invaluable notes by Mahamahopadhyaya Dr. Sir Ganganath Jha opens the gate of Yogic wisdom enshrined in these two foundational texts along with Tattvavaisaradi of Indian Yoga tradition. The exhaustive preface is also helpful to understand the summary of Yoga philosophy.

Yogadarsana, comprising the Sutras of Patanjali with the Bhasya of Vyasa, was translated into English from original Sanskrit by Dr. Ganganatha Jha, an acclaimed scholar of Indian knowledge systems. It also includes notes from the Tattvavaisaradi of Vacaspati Misra and other commentaries. This book was firstly published by Theosophical Publishing House, Adyar, Madras in 1934 with a long introduction. This volume was the first one which opened the door of the Yoga philosophy for English speaking readers and spread Vedic thought across Indian boundary especially to the European countries.

Important notes on serious philosophical issues based on the extracts from Tattvavaisaradi and other commentaries made this volume more valuable for researchers and serious readers of Indian philosophy. But one important aspect that was to include original Sanskrit of the Sutras of Patanjali with the Bhasya of Vyasa to the English translation of Ganganatha Jha required immediate attention. Being a student of Sanskrit and Indian philosophy I always prefer to go through original Sanskrit lines first and then any translations. English translation without original Sanskrit sometimes loses the rhythm of textual meaning. As per my understanding original Sanskrit with English translation can become more beneficial and understandable to traditional Indian scholars as well as English speaking western scholars.

Other important point that requires attention in this volume is the un-updated diacritical marks. Diacritical mark used in the first quarter of 20th Century is not so much relevant now as it was in that period of time.

This revised and entirely re-written translation is presented before the world of scholars, in liquidation of the fourth, and I hope, the last; debt due from me. This is the last of my works. which I myself regarded as imperfect; and it was therefore due to the scholarly world that. it should be revised. I got the requisite opportunity for fulfilling this obligation when the Theosophical Publishing House asked me to revise the work for its second edition. It was a source of satisfaction to me that imperfect as it was, the first edition had secured enough. readers to render it 'out of stock, though in twenty-five years. In this revised edition, I have made the work as good as it lay in my power to make it. I trust and hope that readers of this work will be more numerous than those of the first edition, and they will also derive greater benefit from it.

The Yogabhasya is an admittedly obscure and difficult text. There may be some people therefore, who may not have the courage to read through it. For their benefit a brief resume of the teachings is here appended.

'Yoga' has been defined as the nirodha 'inhibition' of the vrtti 'function' of the citta 'Mind,' brought about by 'Practice' and 'Freedom from Attachment'. In reality, the 'citta' of the original is something different from 'mind,' and 'nirodha,' by which is meant 'withdrawal' or 'inhibition,' is different from 'control'. But all the accurate renderings of the definition that have been attempted in English have only helped to make the original less intelligible. This 'inhibition' or 'control' of the 'mind' becomes yoga only when the 'mind' is so far 'inhibited' that the presiding Spirit becomes free from its shackles and abides in its own pure nature.