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Yoga Sutra 1.1
About this Yoga Geek Design
The first word of Patanjali's Yoga Sutra is the word now - astha (अथ). The word "now" is a call for attention, a call for mindfulness, and has been central in the Yoga world from Ram Das' 1971 classic Be Here Now to Eckart Tolle's 1997 bestseller The Power of Now. It has been said that all of the remaining words of the Yoga Sutra are merely a footnote, that the essence of Yoga is found in this one word alone. Whether that is true or not is up to each of us to decide!
This sutra is only three words long, but it is deep, nuanced and evokes a mood of contemplation and inquiry. It has been translated and interpreted many different ways over the centuries and although we leave the last two words untranslated on this design we thought the first word should be translated. Whether on a t-shirt, tank top or sweatshirt, let this design speak to you and remind you of what matters. Now!
What this Sutra Means
Let's break it down and take a closer look. Hang in there... we're going to nerd out a bit here! (After all, we are Yoga Geek).
The design of your t-shirt consists of the three words of the first Sutra written in Devanagari script. Devanagari is the script in which ancient Sanskrit, Hindi, and other modern languages of India are written. The ancient language of Yoga looks like this:
Patanjali's Yoga Sutra 1.1:
(Pronounced a-noo-shah-sanam, with the emphasis on shah):
अथ योग अनुशासनम्
The first word is atha (अथ):
अथ योग अनुशासनम्
The second word is yoga (योग):
अथ योग अनुशासनम्
The third word is anuśāsanam (अनुशासनम्)(Pronounced a-noo-shah-sanam, with the emphasis on shah):
अथ योगाअनुशासनम्
Word-by-Word Translation
atha - अथ : now
yoga - योग : union, connecting, joining; from √ yuj (unite, join, connect employ, use)
anuśāsanam - अनुशासनम् : instruction, direction, teaching; anu (after, with) + śāsana from √śas (chastise, correct, restrain, teach)
Edwin F. Bryant
The Yoga Sutras of Patañjali: A New Edition, Translation, and Commentary"
Now, the teachings of yoga [are presented].
T.K.V. Desikachar
The Heart of Yoga: Developing a Personal Practice
Here begins the authoritative instruction on Yoga.
Chip Hartranft
The Yoga-Sutra of Patanjali: A New Translation with Commentary
Now, the teachings of yoga.
B. K. S. Iyengar
Light on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali
With prayers for divine blessings, now begins an exposition of the sacred art of yoga.
Matthew Remski
Threads of Yoga: A Remix of Patanjali-s Sutra-s, with Commentary and Reverie
We all inquire into yoga.
Swami Satchidananda
The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali: Commentary on the Raja Yoga Sutras
Now the exposition of Yoga is being made.
Swami Vivekananda
Raja Yoga
Now concentration is explained.
Keys to the Sutras
The Sanskrit word sutra (सूत्र) is related to the English word suture and means "thread" or "string." Patanjali's Yoga Sutra consists of 196 terse, aphoristic-like sutras divided into four parts or chapters.
Virtually nothing is known about the life or identity of Patanjali, though he is sometimes depicted symbolically as in the statue above. Although there is uncertainty about when the Yoga Sutra was written, many scholars believe it was composed sometime between 200 and 400AD.
Only three of the 196 sutras refer to asana (commonly refered to as "postures") and almost certainly refered to the seated postures of meditation. Contemporary scholarship points to a very recent origin for most of the styles of modern yoga.
