प्रयत्नशैथिल्यानन्तसमापत्तिभ्याम् — Word-by-Word Meaning
प्रयत्नशैथिल्यानन्तसमापत्तिभ्याम्
Every Sanskrit word explained in English
Word-by-Word Breakdown
प्रयत्न
prayatna
Effort, striving, tension, exertion
शैथिल्य
shaithilya
Relaxation, loosening, slackening, letting go
प्रयत्नशैथिल्य
prayatna-shaithilya
By relaxing the effort; the loosening of striving
अनन्त
ananta
The infinite, the endless, the boundless (also Ananta, the cosmic serpent)
समापत्ति
samapatti
Absorption, complete merging, coalescence of the mind with an object
अनन्तसमापत्ति
ananta-samapatti
Absorption in / meditation upon the infinite
समापत्तिभ्याम्
samapattibhyam
By these two (means) — used in the dual / instrumental
प्रयत्नशैथिल्यानन्तसमापत्तिभ्याम्
prayatna-shaithilya-ananta-samapattibhyam
By relaxation of effort and absorption in the infinite (the posture is perfected)
Complete Translation
प्रयत्न की शिथिलता (प्रयास को ढीला छोड़ने) और अनन्त (असीम) में समापत्ति (तल्लीनता) द्वारा आसन सिद्ध होता है।
Origin & History
Source: Patanjali Yoga Sutras 2.47
Author: Patanjali
Period: Classical (c. 2nd century BCE – 4th century CE)
This aphorism appears in the Sadhana Pada of Maharshi Patanjali's Yoga Sutras, immediately following the definition of asana as steady and comfortable. Here Patanjali gives the method by which such a posture is perfected — relaxation of effort and absorption in the infinite. Traditional commentators link 'ananta' to the cosmic serpent Ananta-Shesha who effortlessly bears the earth, a perfect image of steadiness without strain.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the meaning of Yoga Sutra 2.47?▼
It means 'Posture is mastered by relaxing effort and by absorbing the mind in the infinite.' Patanjali gives two means — prayatna-shaithilya (relaxing the effort) and ananta-samapatti (merging the mind with the boundless) — to perfect the asana defined in the previous sutra.
How do you 'relax the effort' in a posture?▼
Prayatna-shaithilya means releasing all the unnecessary tension and striving used to hold a pose. One keeps only the minimum needed for stability and lets everything else soften, so the posture becomes effortless and the body forgets itself.
What does 'absorption in the infinite' mean?▼
Ananta-samapatti is letting the mind merge with something boundless — endless space, the infinite, or (in tradition) Ananta the cosmic serpent who supports the earth. As the mind rests in the limitless, the body grows steady and the restlessness that disturbs posture fades away.
How does this sutra relate to Sthira Sukham Asanam?▼
Sutra 2.46 defines posture as steady and comfortable; sutra 2.47 explains how that quality is achieved — by relaxing effort and absorbing the mind in the infinite. Together they form Patanjali's complete teaching on asana and its perfection.
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