sarvāṇīndriya-karmāṇi prāṇa-karmāṇi chāpare
ātma-sanyama-yogāgnau juhvati jñāna-dīpite
sarvāṇi — all;
indriya — the senses;
karmāṇi — functions;
prāṇa-karmāṇi — functions of the life breath;
cha — and;
apare — others;
ātma-sanyama yogāgnau — in the fire of the controlled mind;
juhvati — sacrifice;
jñāna-dīpite — kindled by knowledge
In this verse, the focus is on the practice of controlling the mind and senses to achieve a deeper understanding of oneself. To break it down, let’s imagine that everyone has five senses: seeing, hearing, touching, tasting, and smelling. These senses help us experience the world, but they can also lead us to distractions and cravings. Sometimes, we might find ourselves caught up in endless desires for things that give us momentary pleasure, like indulging in tasty food or being glued to our screens. This attachment to physical pleasures can create a separation from our true selves.
The verse suggests that instead of being led by these senses, we should learn to control them. This is like using a fire to cook or to warm our home: when we control the fire, it serves us well, but if it gets out of control, it can burn us. Thus, the controlled mind is compared to a fire, and we are encouraged to 'offer' the activities of our senses and even our breath (which is life itself) into this fire.
When we do this, we are actually making sacrifices – we are choosing to focus on our inner growth rather than being distracted by outer temptations. This is what true self-realization means: understanding who we really are beyond our physical desires and mind chatter.
The teachings of Patanjali’s yoga come into play here. Patanjali explains that there are different types of 'vayu' or life forces in the body that help us function. For example:
- There is a force that allows us to breathe in (udana-vayu) and another that helps us breathe out (apana-vayu).
- There are forces that help balance us (samana-vayu) and those that help in circulation (vyana-vayu).
When we are enlightened or enlightened, we maximize these energies in our body to help purify our thoughts and actions. By practicing yoga – in other words, training our mind and body – we can turn these life forces into tools for growth, just like we would use a fire to cook food or warm a space.
This practice of control and sacrifice helps us clear away material desires and attachments, leading us closer to our true selves, which is often referred to as the 'soul' or 'true essence.' Hence, this verse encourages us to take charge of our senses and mind, using them as instruments to gain knowledge and achieve a higher state of awareness.