Pratyahara is the fifth limb in Patanjali’s Ashtanga Yoga system, marking the transition from external to internal practices. The Yoga Sutras define it in verse 2.54: “Sva vishaya asamprayoge chittasya svarupanukarah iva indriyanam pratyaharah” — “When the senses withdraw from their objects and take on the nature of the mind itself, that is Pratyahara.” In this state, the senses no longer chase stimulation in the outside world but begin to turn inward, following the mind's growing stillness.
Classical commentators like Vyasa explain that Pratyahara doesn't mean forcibly shutting out the senses, but instead creating such inner focus that the senses naturally disengage from the external. It’s a gentle, organic withdrawal that allows the practitioner to break habitual reactions to sensory input. Pratyahara sets the stage for deeper concentration and meditation, offering a much-needed pause in the stream of sense impressions. It's a practice of inner containment—quieting the senses so the awareness can move toward its true source.
