स्वप्ननिद्राज्ञानालम्बनमं वा ॥३८॥
पदविभाग: स्वप्न-निद्रा-ज्ञान-आलम्बनम्, वा।
अन्वय: वा स्वप्ननिद्राज्ञानालम्बनम् ।
प्रतिपदार्थ: स्वप्न = (of) the dream state, निद्रा = (of) the deep, dreamless sleep state, ज्ञान = knowledge / experience / insight, आलम्बनम् = having as a support / using as an anchor base, वा = or.
तात्पर्यम्: Or, (the mind attains steadiness) by meditating on the knowledge that comes in deep sleep.
Further context on the 38th Sutra from Patanjali’s Yogasutras
In deep, dreamless sleep, the mind is said to be devoid of fluctuations (Vrittis). There is no ego, and hence no anxiety, no pain, and no memory. It feels like absolute nothingness (often associated with the Tamas guna in its most restful form). I have slept like that a few times and when I have woken up, I have felt as if I slept like there’s no tomorrow. Patanjali asks us to meditate on this experience to reach the state of Samadhi.
Comments