Patanjali begins his Yoga Sutras with a definition that has become one of the most well-known and frequently quoted in the entire text: “yogaścittavṛttinirodhaḥ”. This single compound word—deceptively simple—contains within it the entire aim of Yoga. The sutra is traditionally translated as “Yoga is the cessation of the fluctuations of the mind.”
Let’s break it down:
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yogaḥ – Yoga, not merely as a practice, but as a state of being
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citta – Mind-stuff, the complete field of consciousness, including thought, memory, imagination, and emotion
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vṛtti – Fluctuations, modifications, or movements—the ever-changing patterns that arise in the citta
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nirodhaḥ – Cessation, stilling, or containment—a quieting of the vṛttis so that the underlying awareness can be revealed
Patanjali doesn’t begin with postures or breathing techniques. He begins with this: the essence of Yoga is stilling the movements of the mind. When the endless ripples of thought settle, when our identification with them is released, something extraordinary happens—awareness becomes clear, steady, and reflective like a calm lake. This stillness is not dullness; it is presence, undistracted and luminous.
From this definition flows the entire structure of the Ashtanga (eight-limbed) Yoga system. Each limb—from ethical living and bodily discipline to deep concentration—is a means of gradually preparing the mind for this inner stillness. And when that stillness is established, what remains is absolute clarity: the self, seen in its true nature.
