Word meanings
- sarva-dvārāṇi
- all gates
- sanyamya
- restraining
- manaḥ
- the mind
- hṛdi
- in the heart region
- nirudhya
- confining
- ca
- and
- mūrdhni
- in the head
- ādhāya
- establish
- ātmanaḥ
- of the self
- prāṇam
- the life breath
- āsthitaḥ
- situated (in)
- yoga-dhāraṇām
- the yogic concentration
Translations
Having closed all the gates, confined the mind in the heart, and fixed the life-breath in the head, engage in the practice of concentration.
Closing the gates of the body, drawing the forces of his mind into the heart, and, by the power of meditation, concentrating his vital energy in the brain;
Having controlled all the senses, confined the mind in the heart, and fixed his own vital force in the head, he should remain firm in yoga.
।।8.12 -- 8.13।। (इन्द्रियोंके) सम्पूर्ण द्वारोंको रोककर मनका हृदयमें निरोध करके और अपने प्राणोंको मस्तकमें स्थापित करके योगधारणामें सम्यक् प्रकारसे स्थित हुआ जो 'ऊँ' इस एक अक्षर ब्रह्मका उच्चारण और मेरा स्मरण करता हुआ शरीरको छोड़कर जाता है, वह परमगतिको प्राप्त होता है।Commentary
The gates are the senses of knowledge. Closing the gates means control of all senses by the practice of Pratyahara or withdrawal of the consciousness from them. Even if the senses are controlled, the mind will be dwelling on the sensual objects. Therefore the mind is confined or fixed in the lotus of the heart and thery all the thoughts or mental modifications are also controlled. The whole lifreath is now taken up and fixed at the crown of the head (Brahmarandhra or the hole of Brahman).