Sutra 22 from Patanjali’s Yogasutras

मृदुमध्याधिमात्रत्वात् ततोऽपि विशेषः ॥२२॥

पदविभाग: (separating individual words): मृदु-मध्य-अधिमात्रत्वात्, ततः, अपि, विशेषः। 

अन्वय: (Rearranging in logical prose sequence): मृदुमध्याधिमात्रत्वात् ततः अपि विशेषः

प्रतिपदार्थ: मृदु = mild / gentle, मध्य = medium / moderate, अधिमात्रत्वात् = due to being extreme / intense (the suffix -tvāt means “because of the state of being”), ततः = from that / therefore / even among those, अपि = also / even, विशेषः = distinction / difference / differentiation

तात्पर्यम्: (final translation): Even among those (who have momentum), there is a further distinction, because their means for practice can be mild, moderate, or supreme.

Further context on the 22nd Sutra from Patanjali’s Yogasutras

The word adhimātratvāt (and its prefixes mṛdu and madhya) refers to the methods the yogi applies to their practice.

Even if a yogi has tivra-samvega (intense momentum/desire for liberation), the speed of their success is still dictated by how aggressively they apply the tools of practice. Patanjali divides these means into three tiers:

1. मृदु (Mṛdu – Mild Means): The yogi has intense desire, but their physical or mental capacity to practice is still gentle or somewhat slow. Success is near.
2. मध्य (Madhya – Moderate Means): The yogi has intense desire and applies a solid, consistent, middle-of-the-road effort. Success is nearer.
3. अधिमात्र (Adhimātra – Supreme/Super-abundant Means): The yogi has intense desire and applies extreme, relentless, uncompromising effort. Success is most immediate.

Understanding विशेषः (Viśeṣaḥ)

This is one of the most important technical words in Samkhya and Yoga philosophy. It appears constantly, and it helps to understand its root.

Etymology:

• Prefix ‘वि’ (vi): meaning “apart,” “distinct,” or “different.”
• Root ‘शिष्’ (śiṣ): meaning “to leave as a remainder,” “to distinguish,” or “to separate.”
• विशेष (viśeṣa): Literally translates to “distinction,” “particularity,” “difference,” or “specialization.”

As you continue through the Yoga Sutras, you will see Patanjali use viśeṣa to describe how the universe is built. In yogic physics, everything evolves from the unmanifest into the specific:

• Avishesha (Unparticularized): These are the universal, subtle building blocks of nature (like pure energy or the concept of sound).
• Vishesha (Particularized): These are the distinct, gross physical objects we can touch and see (like a specific tree or a specific spoken word).

So, whenever you see विशेषः, Patanjali is drawing a sharp line. He is taking something broad or generalized and separating it into highly specific categories.