Yoga Sūtra Chapter Four verse 1

जन्मौषधिमन्त्रतपः समाधिजाः सिद्धयः ॥१॥

janma-oṣadhi-mantra-tapaḥ samādhi-jāḥ siddhayaḥ ||1||

Accomplishments arise from
birth, blessed herbs, sacred formulae, self-discipline and integration.

janman - birth, production; re-birthoṣadhi - blessed herbs, medicinal herbsmantra - a sacred formula addressed to any individual deity; instrument of thought; sacrificial formula; mystical verse or magical formula; incantation, charm, spelltapas - to heat; religious austerity; self-discipline; pain, sufferingsamādhi - putting together; communion; combining; integrationja - born or descended from; produced or caused by; arises out ofsiddhi - accomplishment, performance, fulfilment, attainment, success
<<< >>>

Commentaries and Reflections

Commentary by TKV Desikachar:

“The Yoga Sūtra in Chapter Four verse One indicate five ways to reach the highest.
The fifth is the most laboured because we must start from the bottom.”
– TKV Desikachar Madras December 19th 1988

Commentary by S Ramaswami:

“Having described the Siddhi in the Third Chapter, Patañjali says that it is not only out of the practice of Yoga that they are obtained and gives four other means by which they can be realised.”

Commentary by Paul Harvey:

“There are five ways that Powers are produced.”