Yoga Sūtra Chapter Two verse 10

ते प्रतिप्रसवहेयाः सूक्ष्माः ॥१०॥

te prati-prasava-heyāḥ sūkṣmāḥ ||10||

These are subtle and are overcome by going back to their origin.

te - these, of thee, they, thoseprati - with regard to; towards, in the direction of; back, in return, again; in opposition to, against, counter; back, down upon, upon, onprasava - begetting, procreation, generation, conception, parturition, delivery, birth, originheya - overcome; to be left or quitted or abandoned; rejected or avoided; to be left or quitted or abandonedsūkṣma - minute, small, fine, thin; acute, subtle, keen; an atom, intangible matter; the subtle all-pervading spirit, Supreme Soul
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Commentaries and Reflections

Commentary by T Krishnamacharya:

“Kleśa are not always dominant.
Through Kriyā Yoga they become weaker and weaker.
How is it possible to completely subdue them?
No mental effort can help as Mind is the storehouse of the Kleśa.”

Commentary by TKV Desikachar:

‎”Meditation is
the process of
moving backwards.”

“Sometimes,
partial clarity leads
to complacency.”

Commentary by S Ramaswami:

“In subtle form, the Kleśa are fit to be taken from their Tanū Avasthā or greatly reduced state to the state of Prasupta Avasthā or dormancy.They are latent but not parched and thus still sproutable in the right conditions.

So far we have discussed Kriyā Yoga and the benefits of bringing the Kleśa from the totally active or Udāra Avasthā to Tanū Avasthā.

Patañjali explains the nature of the Kleśa and if you wish it can end there and you practice what has been taught.
Now Patañjali goes one step further. Sūkṣma indicates the lowest level you can take Avidya or Prasupta Avasthā. Here we are now going beyond Tanū Avasthā to the Sūkṣma or Prasupta Avasthā.

Krishnamacharya divides the Vikṣipta Citta of the second chapter into two classes:
Those who are dull, lacking in energy. For them Kriyā Yoga is given.
Others who are capable of standing up to the rigours of Aṣṭāṅga Yoga.

Kriyā Yoga reduces the Kleśa to Tanū Avasthā, but does not prevent rebirths or prevent them re sprouting.
Sūkṣma refers to Kleśa not the effects or manifestations of Kleśa. For them to be taken to the stage where they will never sprout one must follow the indications given in the next Sūtra.”

Commentary by Paul Harvey:

“Building banks to channel
the flow of the river of
Kleśa is Kriyā Yoga.
Building a dam to block
the flow of Kleśa as
we journey upstream
going back to the source
of the flow is Aṣṭāṅga Yoga.”

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