Ancient Indian Education (Brahmanical and Buddhist) c16.110

c16.110

**Yoga-Sūtras.** In course of time the Science of Yoga, presented differently by different teachers through the ages, became complicated and difficult of comprehension, until it was given to Patañjali to present it in the simple and comprehensible form of *Sūtras*. The *Sūtra* is "that literary form which is known by the following marks, viz. (1) economy of words, (2) absence of ambiguity, (3) use of words that are absolutely necessary, strictly relevant, and full of meaning, (4) what may be understood from all points of view, (5) absence of superfluous or unnecessary words, and (6) absence of any flaws" (Svalpāksharaṁ asaṁdigdhaṁ sāravat viśvatomukham| astobhaṁ anavadyaṁ cha sūtraṁ sūtravido viduḥ).