Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 17
वितर्कविचारानन्दास्मितारुपानुगमात्संप्रज्ञातः ॥१७॥
vitarka-vicāra-ānanda-asmitā-rūpa-anugamāt-saṃprajñātaḥ ||17||
Total knowing follows the form of gross deliberation,
subtle reflection, joy and the sense of ‘I’ am-ness.
Commentaries and Reflections
Commentary by T Krishnamacharya:
“Abhyāsa is the practice that leads to Viveka,
the state which there are no external distractions
to prevent clear perception.”
Commentary by Paul Harvey:
“Total knowing follows the form of
deliberation on gross objects,
reflection on subtle objects,
the feeling of pure joy and
the sense of pure ‘I’ am-ness.”
“There are times when our Dhyāna feels like being
merged with ones lover, a state full of presence,
vibrancy, passion and bliss.
Tempting to want more of the same, however Yoga
says we can’t have our bliss and want to repeat it.
Also Yoga reminds us that a state of bliss is different
from and merely a stage towards a state of oneness.”