Yoga-sutras (with Bhoja’s Rajamartanda)
by Rajendralala Mitra | 1883 | 103,575 words
The Yoga-Sutra 2.38, English translation with Commentaries. The Yogasutra of Patanjali represents a collection of aphorisms dealing with spiritual topics such as meditation, absorption, Siddhis (yogic powers) and final liberation (Moksha). The Raja-Martanda is officialy classified as a Vritti (gloss) which means its explanatory in nature, as opposed to being a discursive commentary.
Sūtra 2.38
Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration and English translation of Sūtra 2.38:
ब्रह्मचर्यप्रतिष्ठायां वीर्यलाभः ॥ २.३८ ॥
brahmacaryapratiṣṭhāyāṃ vīryalābhaḥ || 2.38 ||
38. Attainment of vigour in confirmed continence.
The Rajamartanda commentary by King Bhoja:
[English translation of the 11th century commentary by Bhoja called the Rājamārtaṇḍa]
[Sanskrit text for commentary available]
The fruit of continence he next describes.
[Read Sūtra 2.38]
Whoever steadfastly practices continence obtains, on its attaining its highest pitch, “vigour” (vīrya), or manly power comes in him. Conservation of manly vigour is continence, and on its attaining a high degree, vigour comes in plenty in the body, the organs and the mind.
Notes and Extracts
[Notes and comparative extracts from other commentaries on the Yogasūtra]
[The meaning is that there is always a loss of vigour by incontinence, and therefore the Yogī should abstain from it in order to conserve his vigour.]
He next points out the fruit of non-covetousness.