Patañjali's Yogasūtra II.10 | Explained By Viniyoga® Expert Dr Kausthub Desikachar

Yogasūtra II.10 - te prati-prasava-heyāḥ sūkṣmāḥ

Having described the Kleśa-s that prevent us from moving closer to Samādhi, in the following Sūtra-s Patañjali indicates what must be done to overcome them.

When they are subtle, they [the afflictions] must be made impotent.

It is much easier to get rid of a toxic plant from our garden when it is small, rather than when it has grown into a huge tree. In a similar manner, we must nip the Kleça-s in the bud when they are still weak, rather than wait until they are fully manifested.

Sometimes, when we have clarity, we become complacent and arrogant. A temporary state of clarity must not be confused with a permanent state. It is even more important to stay vigilant when we are clear and act on the Kleśa-s to minimize their effects.


Dr. Kausthub Desikachar is the successor and current lineage holder of the classical Yoga tradition of T Krishnamacharya & TKV Desikachar. He is an acclaimed yoga teacher, yoga therapist, healer and spiritual adviser. His objectives include the sharing of the authentic teachings of Yoga to the modern era, as well as building bridges between different healing modalities to promote physical, emotional social and spiritual health.

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