Patanjali Yoga Sutras — प्रकाश क्रिया शितितिशीलं भूतेन्द्रियात्मकं भोगापवर्गार्थं दृश्यम् ॥2.18॥
prakāśa kriyā sthitiśīlaṃ bhūtendriyātmakaṃ bhogāpavargārthaṃ dṛśyam॥
The perceptible world around us is a conglomeration of triguṇas, mind, pañca bhūtas, Pañca tanmātras, pañca jñānendriyas, pañca karmendriyas. The very purpose of this existence is for seer’s or experiencer’s gratification and for his liberation (or emancipation through his sādhana).
Besides bringing out the purpose of this visible universe, what all we find in this perceptible universe is also exhaustively explained in this sūtra:
1. Triguṇas: Three attributes:
a. Sattva: Characterised by prakāśa — Purity/Glow
b. Rajas: Characterised by kriyā — Actions/Energy
c. Tamas: Characterised by sthiti — Delusion/Inertia
2. pañca Mahābhūtas: Five primordial elements of the universe:
a. Pṛthvi: Earth
b. Jala/Ap: Water
c. Agni: Fire
d. Vāyu: Air
e. Ākāśa: Sky
3. pañca jñānendriyas: Five sense organs:
a. Ghrāṇa: Nose
b. Jihvā: Tongue
c. Cakṣu: Eyes
d. Tvak: Skin
e. śrotra: Ears
4. Pañca tanmātras: Five evolutes of Pañca bhūtas, perceptible by senses:
a. Gandha: Smell
b. Rasa: Taste
c. Rūpa: Vision
d. Sparśa: Touch
e. śabda: Sound
5. Pañca karmendriyas: Five organs of actions:
a. Pāṇi: Hands
b. Pāda: Legs
c. Vāk: Mouth as an organ of speech
d. Upastha: Organ of procreation
e. Pāyu: Excretory system
6. Manas: Mind: Tool or organ interacting with the world.
Patañjali Maharṣi warns us that though prakṛti exists for the benefit of the ‘Experiencer’, that is not the end. The end is, by using the prakṛti for sādhana, ‘Experiencer’ should get kaivalya or mokṣa i.e., the liberation of the ‘Experiencer’.
Bhagavān describes His nature thus:
भूमिरापोऽनलो वायुः खं मनो बुद्धिरेव च।
अहंकार इतीयं मे भिन्ना प्रकृतिरष्टधा॥गीता ७.०४॥
अपरेयमितस्त्वन्यां प्रकृतिं विद्धि मे पराम्।
जीवभूतां महाबाहो ययेदं धार्यते जगत्॥गीता ७.०५॥
दैवी ह्येषा गुणमयी मम माया दुरत्यया।
मामेव ये प्रपद्यन्ते मायामेतां तरन्ति ते॥गीता ७.१४॥
bhūmirāpo’nalo vāyuḥ khaṃ mano buddhireva ca|
ahaṅkāra itīyaṃ me bhinnā prakṛtiraṣṭadhā॥Gītā 7.4॥
apareyamitastvanyāṃ prakṛtiṃ viddhi me parām|
jīvabhūtāṃ mahābāho yayedaṃ dhāryate jagat॥Gītā 7.5॥
daivī hyeṣā guṇamayī mama māyā duratyayā|
māmeva ye prapadyante māyāmetāṃ taranti te॥Gītā 7.14॥
Earth, water, fire, air, sky, mind, intellect and ego are the eight division of Me forming visible world. But, this visible prakṛti is just My gross or lower nature. Apart from this, I have subtler, higher nature, forming source of all the life in this prakṛti. This causal nature of Mine is sustaining the entire universe (Thus, I am the creator, sustainer and dissolver of this universe). This incomprehensible divine māya made of three attributes (Triguṇas) is difficult to transcend. But sādhakas totally surrendering to Me would (understand My Māya and) become free from the influence of prakṛti.
A man should first be able to know why he is bound, nature of his binding, causes of his confinement. Without such simple awareness, there is no way out for him from his present predicament.
