Patanjali Yoga Sutra — te pratiprasavaheyāḥ sūkṣmāḥ॥2.10॥
ते प्रतिप्रसवहेयाः सूक्ष्माः॥
Subtler and residual impressions of (the five obstacles described above) can be wiped out by withdrawal of mind to its source (pratiprasava).
The five obstacles described in the previous aphorisms have gross as well as subtle attributes. The four antaḥkaraṇās (Internal faculties) namely manas, buddhi, ahaṅkāra and citta (refer sūtra 1.2) are driven and propelled by saṃskārās (impressions). When sādhaka is able to wipe out the grosser attributes of obstacles with the help of Kriyāyoga (refer sūtra 2.1), there are chances that certain afflictions might remain in a very subtle form owing to his residual saṃskārās. Patañjali Maharṣi stipulates complete annihilation of these obstacles in all forms and their absorption in the mind itself before sādhaka is fit for total spiritual communion (with Paramātma). How is this possible? Patañjali says it is possible through the withdrawal of the mind to its source. Pulling in or withdrawal of mind and senses from their respective objects is said to be Pratiprasava (opposite of Prasava — letting out) and directing the mind towards the Indweller.
Bhagavān expounds similar six attributes of his beloved devotees:
अनपेक्षः शुचिर्दक्ष उदासीनो गतव्यथः।
सर्वारम्भपरित्यागी यो मद्भक्तः स मे प्रियः॥गीता १२.१६॥
anapekṣaḥ śucirdakṣa udāsīno gatavyathaḥ.
sarvārambhaparityāgī yo madbhaktaḥ sa me priyaḥ ॥Gītā 12.16॥
My dearest devotee is, sans all kinds of desires (anapekṣaḥ), flawless both externally and internally (śuciḥ), efficient (dakṣaḥ)(in executing such actions for which his life is devoted), indifferent (udāsīnaḥ) to good and bad, transcended all kinds of apprehensions (gatavyathaḥ) like fear of failure and even the death, free from attachment to karma phala (sarvārambhaparityāgī).
It is said the king of Videha, Janaka Mahārāja (father of Sītāmātā) had all these qualities and he is said to be one of the most successful kings and a Brahmajñāni.
Michael Angelo was a magnificent sculptor. His sculptures were astonishingly perfect and outstanding! He was asked, what was his secret of success. His answer was very apt: ‘In every rock, there is already a sculpture waiting to manifest through the hands of an artist. Obviously, one’s job is to just remove the unwanted parts of the rock, mercilessly, through one’s chisel and a hammer’. Yes, it is understandable that one’s personality is a raw rock. One’s honest efforts are required to remove unwanted things in one’s personality to be a flawless person.
