Yoga Sūtra Chapter Three verse 18

संस्कारसाक्षात्करणात् पूर्वजातिज्ञानम् ॥१८॥

saṃskāra-sākṣāt-karaṇāt-pūrva-jāti-jñānam ||18||

Effecting directly seeing tendencies,
knowledge of previous existences.

saṃskāra - tendencies, psychological imprint, mental impression, habitual potency; making sacred, hallowing, consecration, making ready, preparation; a sacred or sanctifying ceremonysākṣāt - directly seeingkaraṇa - a helper, companion; instrument, means of action; doing, making, effecting, causing; the act of making, doing, producing, effectingpūrva - eastward, to the east of; in front, before; former, prior, preceding, previous to, earlier thanjāti - the form of existence, existence; birth, production; re-birth; position assigned by birth, rank, caste, family, race, lineage; genusjñāna - knowing; knowledge; higher knowledge
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Commentaries and Reflections

Commentary by T Krishnamacharya:

“The cleansing process will
tell me what has been there.”

Commentary by TKV Desikachar:

Commentary by S Ramaswami:

“By Saṃyama, which can only happen out of Samādhi, on Saṃskāra.

By directly perceiving the Saṃskāra, one can only have knowledge or previous understanding of one’s previous birth or births.
Here the clue is Saṃskāra.
The only way is by knowledge of the Saṃskāra.

Saṃyama on the pattern of your thoughts or how your mind works leads to knowledge of the Saṃskāra and an understanding of previous births.

Vyāsa says knowledge of others’ births can be acquired in the same way.
Thus out of Saṃyama of Saṃskāra or latent impressions we have knowledge of previous births.

Thus we should also realise what is painful and what is not painful and from this knowledge should come the desire for Nirodha or Kaivalya.”

Commentary by Paul Harvey: