Critical Edition
युधिष्ठिर उवाच सांख्ये योगे च मे तात विशेषं वक्तुमर्हसि तव सर्वज्ञ सर्वं हि विदितं कुरुसत्तम
M. N. Dutt: Yudhishthira said You should explain to me, O sire, what the difference is between the Sankhya and the Yoga systems of philosophy. O foremost one of Kuru's race, you know everything is known, O you who are conversant with all duties.
भीष्म उवाच सांख्याः सांख्यं प्रशंसन्ति योगा योगं द्विजातयः वदन्ति कारणैः श्रैष्ठ्यं स्वपक्षोद्भावनाय वै
M. N. Dutt: Bhishma said The followers of Sankhya praise the Sankhya system and the Yogins praise the Yoga system. For fixing the superiority of their respective systems, each calls his own system to be better.
अनीश्वरः कथं मुच्येदित्येवं शत्रुकर्शन वदन्ति कारणैः श्रैष्ठ्यं योगाः सम्यङ्मनीषिणः
M. N. Dutt: Wise men devoted to Yoga point out proper and very good reasons, O crusher of enemies, for showing that one who does not believe in the existence of God cannot acquire Liberation.
वदन्ति कारणं चेदं सांख्याः सम्यग्द्विजातयः विज्ञायेह गतीः सर्वा विरक्तो विषयेषु यः
AI Translation: The Sāṃkhyas, the twice-born, declare this to be the cause. Knowing all the destinies here, one who is detached from the objects,
ऊर्ध्वं स देहात्सुव्यक्तं विमुच्येदिति नान्यथा एतदाहुर्महाप्राज्ञाः सांख्यं वै मोक्षदर्शनम्
AI Translation: He should be released from the body upwards, not otherwise. This is said by the greatly wise ones: Sāṃkhya is the view of liberation.
स्वपक्षे कारणं ग्राह्यं समर्थं वचनं हितम् शिष्टानां हि मतं ग्राह्यं त्वद्विधैः शिष्टसंमतैः
M. N. Dutt: When reasons are thus equally placed on both sides, those are assigned on that side which one is otherwise inclined to follow as one's own, should be accepted. Indeed, those words that are said on that side should be considered as wholesome. Good men may be found on both sides. Persons like you may adot either opinion.
प्रत्यक्षहेतवो योगाः सांख्याः शास्त्रविनिश्चयाः उभे चैते मते तत्त्वे मम तात युधिष्ठिर
M. N. Dutt: The evidences of Yoga are addressed to the direct perception of the senses; those of Sankhya are based on the scriptures. Both I systems of philosophy are approved by me, O Yudhishthira.
उभे चैते मते ज्ञाने नृपते शिष्टसंमते अनुष्ठिते यथाशास्त्रं नयेतां परमां गतिम्
AI Translation: Both these views are accepted by the wise, O king, and are approved by the good. When practiced according to the scriptures, they lead to the highest goal.
तुल्यं शौचं तयोर्युक्तं दया भूतेषु चानघ व्रतानां धारणं तुल्यं दर्शनं न समं तयोः
AI Translation: The two are equal in purity, in compassion for creatures, and in the observance of vows, but not in their views.
Supplementary Passages:
12.289.9 After 9, T G1.3.6 ins.: *745 तयोस्तु दर्शनं सम्यक्सूक्ष्मे भावे प्रसज्यते
युधिष्ठिर उवाच यदि तुल्यं व्रतं शौचं दया चात्र पितामह तुल्यं न दर्शनं कस्मात्तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह
M. N. Dutt: Yudhishthira said If the vows, the purity, the mercy, and the fruits thereof recommended in both systems be the same, tell me, O grandfather, why then are not their scriptures the same?
भीष्म उवाच रागं मोहं तथा स्नेहं कामं क्रोधं च केवलम् योगाच्छित्त्वादितो दोषान्पञ्चैतान्प्राप्नुवन्ति तत्
M. N. Dutt: Bhishma said By renouncing through the help of Yoga, these five faults, viz., attachment carelessness, affection, lust and anger one acquires Liberation.
यथा चानिमिषाः स्थूला जालं छित्त्वा पुनर्जलम् प्राप्नुवन्ति तथा योगास्तत्पदं वीतकल्मषाः
M. N. Dutt: As large fishes, breaking through the net pass into their own element, similarly, Yogins, become purged of all sins and acquire the happiness of Liberation.
तथैव वागुरां छित्त्वा बलवन्तो यथा मृगाः प्राप्नुयुर्विमलं मार्गं विमुक्ताः सर्वबन्धनैः
M. N. Dutt: As powerful animals breaking through the nets in which hunters catch them, enjoy the men happiness of freedom, so Yogins freed from all fetters, attain to the pure path that leads of Liberation.
लोभजानि तथा राजन्बन्धनानि बलान्विताः छित्त्वा योगाः परं मार्गं गच्छन्ति विमलाः शिवम्
M. N. Dutt: Truly, O king, breaking through the fetter born of cupidity, Yogins, gifted with strength acquire the sinless and auspicious and high path of Liberation.
अबलाश्च मृगा राजन्वागुरासु तथापरे विनश्यन्ति न संदेहस्तद्वद्योगबलादृते
M. N. Dutt: Feeble animals, O king, entangled in nets, are, forsooth, destroyed. Such is the case with persons shorn of Yoga power.
बलहीनाश्च कौन्तेय यथा जालगता झषाः अन्तं गच्छन्ति राजेन्द्र तथा योगाः सुदुर्बलाः
M. N. Dutt: As weak fishes, O son of Kunti, fallen into the net, become entangled in it, so, O king, shorn of Yoga power meet with destruction.
यथा च शकुनाः सूक्ष्माः प्राप्य जालमरिंदम तत्र सक्ता विपद्यन्ते मुच्यन्ते च बलान्विताः
AI Translation: Just as birds, O destroyer of enemies, when they enter a net, are caught there and perish, but those who are strong are freed.
कर्मजैर्बन्धनैर्बद्धास्तद्वद्योगाः परंतप अबला वै विनश्यन्ति मुच्यन्ते च बलान्विताः
AI Translation: Bound by the bonds of karma, so are the yogis, O scorcher of enemies. The weak perish, while the strong are liberated.
अल्पकश्च यथा राजन्वह्निः शाम्यति दुर्बलः आक्रान्त इन्धनैः स्थूलैस्तद्वद्योगोऽबलः प्रभो
M. N. Dutt: A small and weak fire, O king, is put out when large logs of timber are placed upon it. So the Yogin who is weak, O king, encounters ruin.
स एव च यदा राजन्वह्निर्जातबलः पुनः समीरणयुतः कृत्स्नां दहेत्क्षिप्रं महीमपि
M. N. Dutt: The same fire, however, O king, when it becomes strong, would burn with the help of the wind the entire Earth.
तद्वज्जातबलो योगी दीप्ततेजा महाबलः अन्तकाल इवादित्यः कृत्स्नं संशोषयेज्जगत्
M. N. Dutt: Similarly, the Yogin when grown in strength, burning with energy, and endued with power is capable of scorching the entire Universe like the Sun that rises at the time of the universal dissolution.
दुर्बलश्च यथा राजन्स्रोतसा ह्रियते नरः बलहीनस्तथा योगो विषयैर्ह्रियतेऽवशः
M. N. Dutt: As a weak man, O king, is carried away by a current, so is a weak Yogin helplessly carried away by objects of the senses.
तदेव च यथा स्रोतो विष्टम्भयति वारणः तद्वद्योगबलं लब्ध्वा व्यूहते विषयान्बहून्
M. N. Dutt: An elephant withstands a powerful current Similarly. a Yogin, having acquired Yogapower withstands all objects of the senses.
विशन्ति चावशाः पार्थ योगा योगबलान्विताः प्रजापतीनृषीन्देवान्महाभूतानि चेश्वराः
M. N. Dutt: Independent of all things, Yogins, gifted with Yoga-power and other lordly powers enter into the very lords of creation, the Rishis, the gods, and the great Beings in the universe.
न यमो नान्तकः क्रुद्धो न मृत्युर्भीमविक्रमः ईशते नृपते सर्वे योगस्यामिततेजसः
M. N. Dutt: Neither Yama, nor the Destroyer, nor Death, himself of terrible power, when irate, ever succeeds in lording over the Yogin, O king, who is gifted with immeasurable energy.
आत्मनां च सहस्राणि बहूनि भरतर्षभ योगः कुर्याद्बलं प्राप्य तैश्च सर्वैर्महीं चरेत्
M. N. Dutt: The Yogin, acquiring Yoga-power, can create thousands of bodies and with them walks over the Earth.
प्राप्नुयाद्विषयांश्चैव पुनश्चोग्रं तपश्चरेत् संक्षिपेच्च पुनः पार्थ सूर्यस्तेजोगुणानिव
M. N. Dutt: Some amongst them enjoy objects of the and again practise the austerest penances, and once again, like the Sun withdraw themselves from such penances. senses
बलस्थस्य हि योगस्य बन्धनेशस्य पार्थिव विमोक्षप्रभविष्णुत्वमुपपन्नमसंशयम्
M. N. Dutt: The Yogin, who is gifted with strength and whom fetters bind not, certainly succeeds in acquiring Liberation.
बलानि योगे प्रोक्तानि मयैतानि विशां पते निदर्शनार्थं सूक्ष्माणि वक्ष्यामि च पुनस्तव
M. N. Dutt: I have now described to you, O king, on all these powers of Yoga. I shall once more tell you what the subtile powers of Yoga are with their marks.
आत्मनश्च समाधाने धारणां प्रति चाभिभो निदर्शनानि सूक्ष्माणि शृणु मे भरतर्षभ
M. N. Dutt: Hear, O chief of Bharata's race, the subtile marks of the meditation and the concentration of the Soul.
अप्रमत्तो यथा धन्वी लक्ष्यं हन्ति समाहितः युक्तः सम्यक्तथा योगी मोक्षं प्राप्नोत्यसंशयम्
M. N. Dutt: As a bowman who is careful and attentive succeeds in striking the aim, so the Yogin with absorbed soul, forsooth, acquires Liberation.
स्नेहपूर्णे यथा पात्रे मन आधाय निश्चलम् पुरुषो यत्त आरोहेत्सोपानं युक्तमानसः
AI Translation: Just as a person, with his mind fixed and unwavering, would climb a ladder into a vessel full of oil, with his mind properly focused.
युक्त्वा तथायमात्मानं योगः पार्थिव निश्चलम् करोत्यमलमात्मानं भास्करोपमदर्शनम्
AI Translation: Having thus united the self with the self, O king, one becomes motionless. It makes the self stainless, having the appearance of the sun.
यथा च नावं कौन्तेय कर्णधारः समाहितः महार्णवगतां शीघ्रं नयेत्पार्थिव पत्तनम्
AI Translation: Just as a helmsman, O son of Kunti, with great effort, would quickly take a ship to a port on the great ocean.
तद्वदात्मसमाधानं युक्त्वा योगेन तत्त्ववित् दुर्गमं स्थानमाप्नोति हित्वा देहमिमं नृप
AI Translation: Having thus united the self with yoga, the knower of reality, attains a place difficult to reach, leaving this body, O king.
सारथिश्च यथा युक्त्वा सदश्वान्सुसमाहितः देशमिष्टं नयत्याशु धन्विनं पुरुषर्षभ
AI Translation: And the charioteer, having yoked the good horses well, and being well-composed, quickly leads the archer, the bull among men, to the desired place.
तथैव नृपते योगी धारणासु समाहितः प्राप्नोत्याशु परं स्थानं लक्षं मुक्त इवाशुगः
AI Translation: In the same way, O king, the yogi who is absorbed in the dhāraṇās quickly attains the supreme state, like an arrow released from a bow.
आवेश्यात्मनि चात्मानं योगी तिष्ठति योऽचलः पापं हन्तेव मीनानां पदमाप्नोति सोऽजरम्
M. N. Dutt: The Yogin who stay immovably after having entered his self into the soul, dissipates his sins and gets at that indestructible spot which is the possession of those who are pious.
नाभ्यां कण्ठे च शीर्षे च हृदि वक्षसि पार्श्वयोः दर्शने स्पर्शने चापि घ्राणे चामितविक्रम
AI Translation: On the navel, throat, head, heart, chest, and sides. In seeing, touching, and smelling, O one of immeasurable prowess,
स्थानेष्वेतेषु यो योगी महाव्रतसमाहितः आत्मना सूक्ष्ममात्मानं युङ्क्ते सम्यग्विशां पते
AI Translation: In these places, the yogi who is absorbed in the great vow Unites his subtle self with the self, O Lord of the universe.
स शीघ्रममलप्रज्ञः कर्म दग्ध्वा शुभाशुभम् उत्तमं योगमास्थाय यदीच्छति विमुच्यते
AI Translation: He quickly burns up good and bad deeds with stainless wisdom, and, having attained the supreme yoga, he is liberated if he so desires.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच आहारान्कीदृशान्कृत्वा कानि जित्वा च भारत योगी बलमवाप्नोति तद्भवान्वक्तुमर्हति
M. N. Dutt: Yudhishthira said You should tell me, O grandfather, what the kinds of diet are by taking which, and what the things are by conquering which, the Yogin, O Bharata, gains Yoga-power.
भीष्म उवाच कणानां भक्षणे युक्तः पिण्याकस्य च भक्षणे स्नेहानां वर्जने युक्तो योगी बलमवाप्नुयात्
M. N. Dutt: Engaged, O Bharata, in subsisting upon broken grains of rice and sodden cakes of sesame, and abstaining from oil and butter, the Yogin gains Yoga-power.
भुञ्जानो यावकं रूक्षं दीर्घकालमरिंदम एकारामो विशुद्धात्मा योगी बलमवाप्नुयात्
M. N. Dutt: By subsisting for a long time on powdered barely unmixed with any liquid, and by taking only one meal a day, the Yogin, of purified soul gains Yoga-power.
पक्षान्मासानृतूंश्चित्रान्संचरंश्च गुहास्तथा अपः पीत्वा पयोमिश्रा योगी बलमवाप्नुयात्
M. N. Dutt: By drinking only water mixed with milk, first only once during the day, then once during a fortnight, then once during a month, then once during three months, and then once during a whole year, the Yogin gains Yogapower.
अखण्डमपि वा मासं सततं मनुजेश्वर उपोष्य सम्यक्शुद्धात्मा योगी बलमवाप्नुयात्
M. N. Dutt: By abstaining entirely from meat, О king, the Yogin of purified soul acquires power.
कामं जित्वा तथा क्रोधं शीतोष्णे वर्षमेव च भयं निद्रां तथा श्वासं पौरुषं विषयांस्तथा
AI Translation: Having conquered desire, anger, cold, heat, rain, fear, sleep, and breath, and the objects of the senses,
अरतिं दुर्जयां चैव घोरां तृष्णां च पार्थिव स्पर्शान्सर्वांस्तथा तन्द्रीं दुर्जयां नृपसत्तम
AI Translation: O king, you should know that the five aggregates are the basis of all suffering. O king, you should know that the five aggregates are the basis of all suffering. O king, you should know that the five aggregates are the basis of all suffering. O king, you should know that the five aggregates are the basis of all suffering. O king, you should know that the
दीपयन्ति महात्मानः सूक्ष्ममात्मानमात्मना वीतरागा महाप्राज्ञा ध्यानाध्ययनसंपदा
AI Translation: The great ones illuminate the subtle self with the self. The passionless, the very wise, endowed with meditation and study,
दुर्गस्त्वेष मतः पन्था ब्राह्मणानां विपश्चिताम् न कश्चिद्व्रजति ह्यस्मिन्क्षेमेण भरतर्षभ
M. N. Dutt: This high path of learned Brahmanas is highly difficult to tread. No one can walk along this path with ease.
यथा कश्चिद्वनं घोरं बहुसर्पसरीसृपम् श्वभ्रवत्तोयहीनं च दुर्गमं बहुकण्टकम्
M. N. Dutt: That path is like a dreadful forest which is full of numberless snakes and crawling vermin, with pits everywhere, without water for satisfying one's thirst, and full of thorns, and inaccessible on that account.
अभक्तमटवीप्रायं दावदग्धमहीरुहम् पन्थानं तस्कराकीर्णं क्षेमेणाभिपतेद्युवा
M. N. Dutt: Indeed, the path of Yoga is like a road along which no food is available, which runs through a desert having all its trees burnt down in a fire, and which is unsafe for being infested with bands of robbers. Very few young men can pass safely through it.
योगमार्गं तथासाद्य यः कश्चिद्भजते द्विजः क्षेमेणोपरमेन्मार्गाद्बहुदोषो हि स स्मृतः
M. N. Dutt: Like such a path few Brahmanas can walk along the Yoga-path with ease and comfort. That man who, having followed this path, ceases to go forward is considered as guilty of many faults.
सुस्थेयं क्षुरधारासु निशितासु महीपते धारणासु तु योगस्य दुःस्थेयमकृतात्मभिः
M. N. Dutt: Men of purified souls, O king, can stay with ease upon Yoga-contemplation which is like the sharp edge of razor. Persons of impure souls, however, cannot stay on it.
विपन्ना धारणास्तात नयन्ति नशुभां गतिम् नेतृहीना यथा नावः पुरुषानर्णवे नृप
M. N. Dutt: When Yoga-contemplation is disturbed or. otherwise obstructed, it can never take the Yogin to an auspicious and even as a vessel which is without a captain cannot take the passengers to the other shore.
यस्तु तिष्ठति कौन्तेय धारणासु यथाविधि मरणं जन्म दुःखं च सुखं च स विमुञ्चति
M. N. Dutt: That man, O son of Kunti, who practises Yoga-contemplation according to due rites succeeds in renouncing off both birth and death, and happiness and sorrow.
नानाशास्त्रेषु निष्पन्नं योगेष्विदमुदाहृतम् परं योगं तु यत्कृत्स्नं निश्चितं तद्द्विजातिषु
M. N. Dutt: All this that I have told you has been stated in the various treatises on Yoga. The highest fruits of Yoga are seen in persons of the twiceborn order.
परं हि तद्ब्रह्म महन्महात्म;न्ब्रह्माणमीशं वरदं च विष्णुम् भवं च धर्मं च षडाननं च; षड्ब्रह्मपुत्रांश्च महानुभावान्
AI Translation: For that is the supreme Brahman, the great one, the great-souled one, the lord, the bestower of boons, and Vishnu, and Bhava, Dharma, the six-faced one, and the six sons of Brahma, the greatly powerful ones,
तमश्च कष्टं सुमहद्रजश्च; सत्त्वं च शुद्धं प्रकृतिं परां च सिद्धिं च देवीं वरुणस्य पत्नीं; तेजश्च कृत्स्नं सुमहच्च धैर्यम्
AI Translation: Darkness, great and terrible, and also dust, and pure goodness, and the supreme nature, And the goddess Siddhi, the wife of Varuna, and all the splendor, and great fortitude,
ताराधिपं वै विमलं सतारं; विश्वांश्च देवानुरगान्पितॄंश्च शैलांश्च कृत्स्नानुदधींश्च घोरा;न्नदीश्च सर्वाः सवनान्घनांश्च
AI Translation: The Lord of the Stars, the Immaculate, the Starry One, and all the gods, the serpents, and the ancestors, And all the mountains, the terrible oceans, and all the rivers, the clouds, and the forests,
नागान्नगान्यक्षगणान्दिशश्च; गन्धर्वसंघान्पुरुषान्स्त्रियश्च परस्परं प्राप्य महान्महात्मा; विशेत योगी नचिराद्विमुक्तः
AI Translation: The Nāgas, mountains, groups of Yakṣas, directions, groups of Gandharvas, men and women, having attained each other, the great-souled one, the liberated yogi, enters quickly.
कथा च येयं नृपते प्रसक्ता; देवे महावीर्यमतौ शुभेयम् योगान्स सर्वानभिभूय मर्त्या;न्नारायणात्मा कुरुते महात्मा
M. N. Dutt: This topic, "O king, about the Supreme Being of mighty energy should be considered as auspicious.” The Yogin has Narayana for his soul. Lording over all things, the great Yogin is capable of creating all things.