History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v7.c94.120

v7.c94.120

The word 'yoga' occurs in some of the Upanisads in the same sense in which it is employed in the Yogasūtra. In Katha Up. II. 12, it is said²²⁷⁴ 'the wise man reflecting on God by means of yoga, by concentrating the mind on the inner spirit becomes free from joy and grief' (adhyātmayogādhigamena). The same Upanisad says that the state described in VI. 11 is regarded as Yoga because therein the organs (and the mind and buddhi) are firmly held under control. In Katha Up VI. 18 it is said that Naciketas having understood the *vidyā* and the whole procedure of Yoga propounded by Yama attained (the realization of) *brahma*. The word 'Yoga' occurs in the Tai. Up. II. 4 (in speaking about vijñānamaya ātman, yoga is said to be its ātman, the exact sense being doubtful), and in the Śv Up. II. 11 and VI. 13. Praśna (5. 5-6) speaks of the three mātrās (a, u, m) of Om In Śv. Up. 1. 3 occurs the word 'dhyānayoga'. The Śv. Up. (II. 8-13) refers to *āsana* and prāṇāyāma and sets out the first signs of the successful practice of Yoga. The Chān. Up. VIII. 15 appears to refer to pratyāhāra (though the technical word is not used) in 'ātmani sarvendriyāni pratisthāpya' (having brought all organs of sense to rest in the ātman).' The Br. Up. (I. 5. 23) appears to refer to prāṇāyāma in 'he should observe the one vow, viz. inhalation and exhalation (tasmād-ekameva vratam caret prānyāc-caiva apānyācca).