yogas citta vrtti nirodhah
Yoga is the ability to direct the mind exclusively toward an object and sustain that direction without any distractions.
This sutra is often quoted as the definition of Yoga. But it is not true. This sutra kicks off explaining what is Yoga. Yoga is controlling the mind, bringing down the fluctuations.
Arjuna’s focus is used to explain this sutra. Drona decided to test his students in the skill of archery. He tied a wooden bird on a tree and asked each of his students to aim at the bird and to tell him what they saw. The students told him they saw trees, flowers, garden, sky and what not. He asked them to step aside and asked Arjuna to take an aim at the bird. He asked Arjuna what he saw. Arjuna told him he saw only the bird’s eye. Drona was satisifed with this answer and allowed Arjuna to shoot the bird.
yogas citta vrtti nirodhah
Yoga – Yoga
Citta – mind, consciousness, Cit is to perceive, be bright
Vrtti – fluctuation, Vrt is to whirl
Nirodha – restriction, from ni + rudh to restrict, suppress
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