Sutra 1.51

Upon cancellation of even that, everything else is cancelled. This is called nirbija samadhi.

tasyāpi = tasya + api

  • tasya possessive of tat; of that, pertaining to that, related to that
  • api also, even

nirodhe locative of the word nirodha; upon restraining, controlling, cancelling

together, upon cancellation of even that; upon going beyond even that state of meditation

sarvanirodhāt = sarva + nirodhāt

  • sarva all
  • nirodhāt from the cancellation of, the restraint of, the mastery of

together, due to the cancellation of everything; because of the fact that all mental impressions have been cancelled, erased

nirbījaḥ without seed, without any consequence; technically nirbīja refers to the highest state of samādhisamādhiḥ the completely still state of mind; spiritual absorption

SUTRA 1.50 & SUTRA 1.51

Sutra 1.50 तज्जः संस्कारोऽन्यसंस्कारप्रतिबन्धी ॥५०॥

(tajjas-samskāronya-samskāra pratibandhī ॥50॥)


Swami Prabhavananda, ‘The impression which is made upon the mind by that samadhi wipes out all other past impressions.’ Samadhi, you remember, is that awesome, awful glimpse into the Spirit, a moment of fullness and emptiness, almost like glancing into the ‘eye of the storm’ multiplied thousandfold.

Sutra 1.51 तस्यापि निरोधे सर्वनिरोधान्निर्बीजः समाधिः ॥५१॥

(tasyāpi nirodhey sarva-nirodhān-nirbījaḥa samādhiḥi ॥51॥) 

Barbara Miller, ‘When the turnings of thought cease completely, even wisdom ceases, and contemplation bears no seeds.’ It is being ‘born again’ following an ego shattering experience – that of ‘nirbija samadhi’.

These two sutras conclude Chapter 1, Samadhi Pada, the Path to Enlightened Being. After an experience of Nirbija Samadhi, an awareness of clarity, in its absolute sense, there is no going back to our old ways of thinking, perceiving, behaving. Those ‘seeds’ are destroyed. It is a new and novel state after which nothing is the same as before.

SUTRA 1.50 & SUTRA 1.51

Sutra 1.50 तज्जः संस्कारोऽन्यसंस्कारप्रतिबन्धी ॥५०॥

(tajjas-samskāronya-samskāra pratibandhī ॥50॥) 
Swami Prabhavananda, ‘The impression which is made upon the mind by that samadhi wipes out all other past impressions.’ Samadhi, you remember, is that awesome, awful glimpse into the Spirit, a moment of fullness and emptiness, almost like glancing into the ‘eye of the storm’ multiplied thousandfold.

Sutra 1.51 तस्यापि निरोधे सर्वनिरोधान्निर्बीजः समाधिः ॥५१॥

(tasyāpi nirodhey sarva-nirodhān-nirbījaḥa samādhiḥi ॥51॥) 

Barbara Miller, ‘When the turnings of thought cease completely, even wisdom ceases, and contemplation bears no seeds.’ It is being ‘born again’ following an ego shattering experience – that of ‘nirbija samadhi’.

These two sutras conclude Chapter 1, Samadhi Pada, the Path to Enlightened Being. After an experience of Nirbija Samadhi, an awareness of clarity, in its absolute sense, there is no going back to our old ways of thinking, perceiving, behaving. Those ‘seeds’ are destroyed. It is a new and novel state after which nothing is the same as before. 

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