Sūtra 4.4

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration and English translation of Sūtra 4.4:

निर्माणचित्तान्यस्मितामात्रात् ॥ ४.४ ॥

nirmāṇacittānyasmitāmātrāt || 4.4 ||

4. The created thinking principles (proceed) solely from egoism.

The Rajamartanda commentary by King Bhoja:

[English translation of the 11th century commentary by Bhoja called the Rājamārtaṇḍa]

[Sanskrit text for commentary available]

When a Yogi, who has a mastery over the cardinal principles, with a view to enjoy at once the fruits of his actions, from the perception of his own superior transcendental powers, wishes to assume many bodies at the same time, whence does he derive many thinking principles (to vitalize those bodies)? In reply to this question the author, says:

[Read Sūtra 4.4]

The thinking principles which animate the bodies created by a Yogī, proceed through his will solely from their original cause, i.e., from egoism. They emanate at once as sparks from a fire.

Notes and Extracts

[Notes and comparative extracts from other commentaries on the Yogasūtra]

[Among the perfections mentioned in chapter III the power of multiplying one’s own body, so as to produce many where there is one, is not mentioned, but here it is taken for granted that an accomplished Yogī possesses this power, and that he does produce them to effect quickly his emancipation by simultaneously performing in many bodies those works which promote his end, and the question is raised as to how does a Yogī, who creates many bodies and himself animates them all, provide a thinking principle for each of them? The answer given is that through his will he makes his egoism send forth the needful, even as a fire sends forth sparks from itself. This multiplication of bodies is called Kāyavyūha Yoga or the Yoga of many bodies.]

Then, how do numerous thinking principles, having diversity of objects, produce one effect? To this, he replies: