यमनियमासनप्राणायामप्रत्याहारधारणाध्यानसमाधयोऽष्टावङ्गानि — Word-by-Word Meaning
यमनियमासनप्राणायामप्रत्याहारधारणाध्यानसमाधयोऽष्टावङ्गानि
Every Sanskrit word explained in English
Word-by-Word Breakdown
यम
yama
Restraints; ethical disciplines toward others (1st limb)
नियम
niyama
Observances; personal disciplines toward oneself (2nd limb)
आसन
asana
Posture; a steady, comfortable seat (3rd limb)
प्राणायाम
pranayama
Regulation of the breath / life-force (4th limb)
प्रत्याहार
pratyahara
Withdrawal of the senses from their objects (5th limb)
धारणा
dharana
Concentration; fixing the mind on a single point (6th limb)
ध्यान
dhyana
Meditation; unbroken flow of attention (7th limb)
समाधयः
samadhayah
Absorption; union of meditator and object (8th limb, samadhi)
अष्टौ
ashtau
Eight
अङ्गानि
angani
Limbs, components, parts
अष्टौ अङ्गानि
ashtau angani
The eight limbs (of yoga) — Ashtanga Yoga
Complete Translation
यम, नियम, आसन, प्राणायाम, प्रत्याहार, धारणा, ध्यान और समाधि — ये योग के आठ अंग (अष्टांग योग) हैं।
Origin & History
Source: Patanjali Yoga Sutras 2.29
Author: Patanjali
Period: Classical (c. 2nd century BCE – 4th century CE)
This aphorism appears in the Sadhana Pada of Maharshi Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, where Patanjali sets out the practical path of yoga. It enumerates the eight limbs that have since defined classical yoga — Ashtanga Yoga. The sutras that follow describe each limb in detail. This single verse is among the most quoted in all of yoga, providing the structure for the entire discipline.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the eight limbs of yoga in Yoga Sutra 2.29?▼
They are yama (restraints), niyama (observances), asana (posture), pranayama (breath-regulation), pratyahara (sense-withdrawal), dharana (concentration), dhyana (meditation) and samadhi (absorption). Together they are called Ashtanga Yoga — the eight-limbed yoga of Patanjali.
Why is this sutra called the basis of Ashtanga Yoga?▼
Ashtanga means 'eight limbs'. This sutra explicitly enumerates those eight limbs, making it the source verse for the entire eightfold path. Everything from ethical conduct to deep meditation is organized under these eight stages.
Are the eight limbs to be practiced in order?▼
They form a progressive sequence — outer disciplines (yama, niyama) and the body and breath (asana, pranayama) prepare the mind, while the inner limbs (pratyahara, dharana, dhyana, samadhi) lead to deep absorption. Yet they also support one another and are cultivated together over time.
What is the goal of the eight limbs?▼
The final limb, samadhi, is the goal — complete absorption in which the meditator merges with the object of meditation. This fulfils the very purpose of yoga stated in 1.2–1.3: the stilling of the mind and the abiding of the Self in its own nature.
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