657:18 The explanation of Dhárańá given in the text is rendered unnecessarily perplexed by the double doctrine here taught, and the attempt to combine the abstractions of Yoga theism with the sectarian worship of Vishńu.

657:19 The two last implements are from the comment; the text specifies only six.

657:20 They are, 1. Yama &c., acts of restraint and obligation; 2. Ásana, sitting in particular postures; 3. Prańáyáma, modes of breathing; 4. Pratyáhára, exclusion of all external ideas; 5. Bhávaná, apprehension of internal ideas; 6. Dhárańá, fixation or retention of those ideas.

657:21 The result of the Dhyána or Samádhi is the absence of all idea of individuality, when the meditator, the meditation, and p. 658 the thing or object meditated upon, are all considered to be but one. According to the text of Patanjali: 'Restraint of the body, retention of the mind, and meditation, which thence is exclusively confined to one object, is Dhyána: the idea of identification with the object of such meditation, so as if devoid of individual nature, is Samádhi.'

658:22 The expressions of the text are somewhat obscure, nor does the commentator make them much more intelligible, until he cuts the matter short by stating the meaning to be, that 'discriminative knowledge enables the living spirit to attain Brahma.'

658:23 The text is very elliptical and obscure. Having stated that embodied spirit (Kshetrajna) is the Karańin, the possessor or user of the Karana, which is knowledge, it adds, ### literally, 'by that, of that, that;' i. e. Tat, 'that which is; and Brahma, or supreme spirit, is the attainment of that spirit which abides in body by that instrument, or discriminative knowledge, of which it has become possessed through perfect meditation.

659:24 The commentator, in order to explain how Kháńd́ikya should have given what he did not possess, states that it is to be understood that Keśidhwaja relinquished to him the kingdom; or the term Rájá may denote merely, master of, or acquainted with, mystic prayers, or Mantras.

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Hinduism

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