Sutra 3.2
तत्र प्रत्ययैकतानता ध्यानम् ॥
Tatra pratyayaikatānatā dhyānam
When the cognition there flows uninterruptedly, that is meditation.
Pada 3 · 56 sutras
विभूति पाद
Vibhuti Pada — On Powers
Vibhūti Pāda
Central focus: The inner three limbs and the siddhis (supernatural powers) they unfold
Audience: The mature practitioner whose meditation has stabilized
Summary
The final three limbs — dhāraṇā (concentration), dhyāna (meditation), and samādhi — together form saṁyama. When applied to specific objects, saṁyama unlocks the famous siddhis: knowledge of past and future, invisibility, levitation, knowledge of other minds, and the elemental powers (aṇimā, mahimā, etc.). Patanjali is careful to warn that these powers are obstacles to the final goal, not signs of success.
Key concepts
- ●Dhāraṇā (concentration) → Dhyāna (meditation) → Samādhi
- ●Saṁyama = all three combined on a single object
- ●Knowledge from saṁyama on time, language, marks, etc.
- ●Eight major siddhis (aṇimā, mahimā, laghimā, garimā, prāpti, prākāmya, īśitva, vaśitva)
- ●Te samādhāv upasargā vyutthāne siddhayaḥ — powers are obstacles to samadhi
- ●Discrimination between sattva and puruṣa as the final attainment
Practice pillars
DhāraṇāDhyānaSamādhi (the three together = saṁyama)
Key sutras
Sutra 3.3
तदेवार्थमात्रनिर्भासं स्वरूपशून्यमिव समाधिः ॥
Tad-evārtha-mātra-nirbhāsaṁ svarūpa-śūnyam iva samādhiḥ
When only the object shines forth, as if empty of one’s own form, that is samadhi.
Sutra 3.4
त्रयमेकत्र संयमः ॥
Trayam ekatra saṁyamaḥ
The three [dharana, dhyana, samadhi] together upon one object is saṁyama.
Sutra 3.37
ते समाधावुपसर्गा व्युत्थाने सिद्धयः ॥
Te samādhāv upasargā vyutthāne siddhayaḥ
These [powers] are obstacles to samadhi, though they are accomplishments in the outgoing state.
Patanjali’s great warning: do not chase siddhis.
Takeaway
Powers come — but they are tests, not trophies. The yogi who stops to collect them never reaches the goal.