चित्तप्रशमनोपायो योग इत्यभिधीयते। प्राणस्पन्दनिरोधो वा द्वेधा योगस्य धारणा॥
cittapraśamanopāyo yoga ity abhidhīyate । prāṇaspandanirodho vā dvedhā yogasya dhāraṇā ॥
PM's MessageThe great success of International Day of Yoga is proof that yoga is not only helping crores of people around the world become physically healthy, but is also inspiring them to live positive lives with self-confidence.
Meaning of Cittapraśamanopāyo Yoga Ity Abhidhīyate
Yoga is the means of completely calming and quieting the mind. To attain this goal, two principal methods of yoga are prescribed: calming the mind and regulating the flow of the breath.
Word by word
- चित्तप्रशमनोपायःcittapraśamanopāyaḥ
the means of quieting the mind
चित्त + प्र + √शम् + उपाय
- योगःyogaḥ
yoga
√युज्
- इतिiti
thus
- अभिधीयतेabhidhīyate
is called
अभि + √धा
- प्राणस्पन्दनिरोधःprāṇaspandanirodhaḥ
the restraint of the movement of breath
प्राण + √स्पन्द् + नि + √रुध्
- वाvā
or
- द्वेधाdvedhā
twofold
द्वि
- योगस्यyogasya
of yoga
√युज्
- धारणाdhāraṇā
the discipline
√धृ
Commentary
This verse defines yoga through praśamana, the settling and quieting of the mind, rather than through physical posture alone. It then describes yoga's discipline as twofold: working directly with the movements of citta, the mind, and restraining or regulating prāṇa-spanda, the movement of the breath and vital energy. These are not unrelated techniques; a steady breath can help calm mental agitation, while a composed mind allows the breath to become more even and subtle. The teaching presents yoga as an integrated practice of attention, self-regulation, and inner balance. In the context of the International Day of Yoga, it also explains why yoga can support more than bodily health: its disciplined union of mind and breath can nurture calmness, confidence, and a more positive way of living.
Original Post
More subhashitams on Yoga
View topic pageअनुद्वेगकरं वाक्यं सत्यं प्रियहितं च यत्। स्वाध्यायाभ्यसनं चैव वाङ्मयं तप उच्यते॥
anudvegakaraṁ vākyaṁ satyaṁ priyahitaṁ ca yat । svādhyāyābhyasanaṁ caiva vāṅmayaṁ tapa ucyate ॥
The Bhagavad Gita describes truthful, pleasant, beneficial, and non-agitating words, together with regular study, as austerity of speech.
हिताहितं सुखं दुःखमायुस्तस्य हिताहितम्। मानं च तच्च यत्रोक्तमायुर्वेदः स उच्यते॥
hitāhitaṃ sukhaṃ duḥkham āyus tasya hitāhitam । mānaṃ ca tac ca yatroktam āyurvedaḥ sa ucyate ॥
Charaka Samhita defines Ayurveda through beneficial and harmful, happy and unhappy forms of life and the measure of lifespan.
सुत्रामाणं पृथिवीं द्यामनेहसं सुशर्माणमदितिं सुप्रणीतिम् । दैवीं नावं स्वरित्रामनागसो अस्रवन्तीमा रुहेमा स्वस्तये॥
sutrāmāṇaṃ pṛthivīṃ dyām anehasaṃ suśarmāṇam aditiṃ supraṇītim । daivīṃ nāvaṃ svaritrām anāgaso asravantīm ā ruhemā svastaye ॥
An Atharvaveda mantra envisions earth, heaven and Aditi as a secure divine boat that carries people toward well-being.