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𑌸𑍍𑌥𑌿𑌰𑌸𑍁𑌖𑌮𑌾𑌸𑌨𑌮𑍍

स्थिरसुखमासनम् in Grantha · 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

🕉️ yoga·📿 3× repetitions·🕐 Before asana practice or meditation·📜 Patanjali Yoga Sutras 2.46
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हिन्दी / देवनागरीతెలుగుதமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡമലയാളംગુજરાતીবাংলাଓଡ଼ିଆਪੰਜਾਬੀEnglishසිංහල𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

Origin & Story

Patanjali Yoga Sutras 2.46 · Patanjali · Classical (c. 2nd century BCE – 4th century CE)

This aphorism appears in the Sadhana Pada of Maharshi Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, where the eight limbs are described one by one. Reaching asana, the third limb, Patanjali defines it in just three words — sthira-sukham asanam — capturing the entire essence of yogic posture. The following sutras explain how such a posture is perfected. This verse is the philosophical root of all asana practice.

✦ As told in scripture

Practitioners discover that when a posture becomes truly steady and comfortable, the awareness of the body falls away entirely — and in that effortless stillness, the breath deepens and the mind grows quiet of its own accord, as Patanjali intended.

The Mantra

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𑌸𑍍𑌥𑌿𑌰𑌸𑍁𑌖𑌮𑌾𑌸𑌨𑌮𑍍 ॥ ௨.௪௬ ॥ (𑌪𑌦𑌪𑌾𑌠 — 𑌸𑍍𑌥𑌿𑌰𑌮𑍍 𑌸𑍁𑌖𑌮𑍍 𑌆𑌸𑌨𑌮𑍍)

Sthira-sukham asanam || 2.46 || (pada-patha — sthiram sukham asanam)

Meaning:आसन स्थिर (दृढ़) और सुखमय (आरामदायक) होना चाहिए।

Word-by-Word Meaning

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𑌸𑍍𑌥𑌿𑌰🔊sthiraSteady, stable, firm, motionless
𑌸𑍁𑌖𑌮𑍍🔊sukhamComfortable, easy, pleasant, at ease
𑌆𑌸𑌨𑌮𑍍🔊asanamPosture, seat, the way of sitting (the 3rd limb of yoga)
𑌸𑍍𑌥𑌿𑌰𑌸𑍁𑌖𑌮𑍍🔊sthira-sukhamSteady and comfortable; firm yet relaxed
𑌸𑍍𑌥𑌿𑌰𑌮𑍍 𑌆𑌸𑌨𑌮𑍍🔊sthiram asanamA steady posture
𑌸𑍁𑌖𑌮𑍍 𑌆𑌸𑌨𑌮𑍍🔊sukham asanamA comfortable posture
𑌆𑌸𑌨🔊asanaThe yogic seat; here defined by its two essential qualities
𑌸𑍍𑌥𑌿𑌰𑌸𑍁𑌖𑌮𑍍 𑌆𑌸𑌨𑌮𑍍🔊sthira-sukham asanamPosture (asana) is that which is steady and comfortable

Benefits of Chanting स्थिरसुखमासनम्

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Gives the timeless definition of asana — steady (sthira) and comfortable (sukha) — the key to every yoga posture.

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Reminds practitioners that posture should balance firmness with relaxation, never forced or strained.

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Provides the ideal seat for meditation: stable enough to forget the body, easy enough to sit long.

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Promotes physical steadiness and bodily ease as a foundation for breath and meditation practice.

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A guiding principle that protects against injury and tension in asana practice.

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Often recited and reflected upon by yoga teachers and students as the heart of asana.

How to Chant स्थिरसुखमासनम्

Repetitions3times
Best TimeBefore asana practice or meditation
FaceEast or facing one's place of practice

Recite the sutra before settling into your posture, then find a seat that is both steady and at ease. Let stability and comfort guide every asana — firm but never strained, relaxed but never slack. It is meant to be embodied in the very way you sit, the sutra serving as a constant reminder of how a posture should feel.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete स्थिरसुखमासनम् written in the Grantha script — the same Sanskrit/Hindi verses, transliterated character-by-character so you can read and chant comfortably. Tap any line (or the ▶ button) to hear it recited aloud.
Yes — only the script changes; the words and their meaning are the original. The verse-by-verse meaning, benefits and how-to-chant guidance on this page apply exactly the same.
From Patanjali's Yoga Sutras 2.46, it means 'Posture should be steady and comfortable.' Sthira means steady or stable, sukha means comfortable or at ease, and asana means posture. It is the classical definition of the third limb of yoga.
A posture that is steady but uncomfortable causes strain; one that is comfortable but unsteady cannot support meditation. Patanjali asks for both together — a seat firm enough to hold and easy enough to remain in effortlessly, freeing the mind to turn inward.
The next sutra (2.47) explains: 'Prayatna-shaithilya-ananta-samapattibhyam' — by relaxing effort and meditating on the infinite. Posture is perfected when the striving relaxes and the mind rests in something boundless, so the body becomes both still and at ease.
Although asana originally referred to the meditation seat, this principle of steadiness with comfort applies to every yoga posture. It is the standard by which any asana is judged correct — held with stability and without strain.

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