Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 41

क्षीणवृत्तेरभिजातस्येव मणेर्ग्रहीतृग्रहणग्राह्येषु तत्स्थतदञ्जनता समापत्तिः ॥४१॥

kṣīṇa-vṛtteḥ abhijātasya-iva maṇeḥ grahītṛ-grahaṇa-grāhyeṣu tat-stha-tat-añjanatā samāpattiḥ ||41||

When fluctuation is reduced,
as if a precious gem that assumes the colour of an object,
that staying with
that which is grasping,
the process of grasping and
that which is grasped,
is unity.

kṣīṇa - reducedvṛtti - fluctuation; modification; turning; set in motion, course of action, behaviour, movement; activity, function; profession, mode of life or conduct, course of action, behaviourabhijātasya - preciousiva - as it were, as ifmaṇi - a jewel, gem, pearl, any ornament or amulet, globule, crystalgrahītṛ - that which is grasping; one who takes or seizes; accepter, receiver, purchaser; perceiver, perceiving, observantgrahaṇa - the process of grasping; seizing, holding, taking, catching, seizure; taking by the handgrāhya - that which is grasped; to be seized or taken or held; to be clasped or spanned; to be captured or imprisoned; to be carried away; to be picked or gathered, acceptable; to be received, accepted, gained; to be perceived, observetat - that, thisstha - standing, staying, abiding, being situated in; existing, or being in, or on, or amongañjanatā - assume the colour of an objectsamāpatti - coming together, unity

Commentaries and Reflections

Commentary by T Krishnamacharya:

“In the case of a person whose mind
is calm and free from disturbances,
there is the integration of the person who meditates,
the mind which is utilised for meditation
and the object that is meditated upon.

“When disturbances that take the mind
everywhere but nowhere are contained,
then the individual is like a high class diamond,
with no blemishes.”

Commentary by Paul Harvey:

When the fluctuations are reduced,
the mind becomes as if a transparent gem,
able to assume the colour of whatever object is placed before it;
that coming together of,
that which is grasping,
the process of grasping
and that which is grasped,
is a state of meditational unity.

Inspirational Quote

“Beware that you do not lose the substance by grasping at the shadow.” Aesop’s Fables