Patanjali Yoga Sutra 2.30

Sanskrit Sutra

अहिंसा-सत्यास्तेय-ब्रह्मचर्यापरिग्रहा यमाः॥३०॥

Swami Vivekananda's translation

Non-killing, truthfulness, non-stealing, continence, and non-receiving are called Yamas.

Vyasa Bhashya (Sanskrit)

तत्राहिंसा सर्वथा सर्वदा सर्वभूतानामनभिद्रोहः। उत्तरे च यमनियमास्तन्मूलास्तत्सिद्धिपरतयैव तत्प्रतिपादनाय प्रतिपाद्यन्ते। तदवदातरूपकरणायेवोपादीयन्ते। तथा चोक्तम् – स खल्वयं ब्राह्मणो यथा यथा व्रतानि बहूनि समादित्सते तथा तथा प्रमादकृतेभ्यो हिंसानिदानेभ्यो निवर्तमानस्तामेवावदातरूपामहिंसां करोति।

सत्यं यथार्थे वाङ्मनसे। यथा दृष्टं यथाऽनुमितं तथा वाङ्मनश्चेति। परत्र स्वबोधसंक्रान्तये वागुक्ता, सा यदि न वञ्चिता भ्रान्ता वा प्रतिपत्तिवन्ध्या वा भवेदिति। एषा सर्वभूतोपकारार्थं प्रवृत्ता न भूतोपघाताय। यदि चैवमप्यभिधीयमाना भूतोपघातपरैव स्यान्न सत्यं भवेत्पापमेव भवेत्तेन पुण्याभासेन पुण्यप्रतिरूपकेण कष्टं तमः प्राप्नुयात्। तस्मात्परीक्ष्य सर्वभूतहितं सत्यं ब्रूयात्।

स्तेयमशास्त्रपूर्वकं द्रव्याणां परतः स्वीकरणं, तत्प्रतिषेधः पुनरस्पृहारूपमस्तेयमिति। ब्रह्मचर्यं गुप्तेन्द्रियस्योपस्थस्य संयमः। विषयाणामर्जनरक्षणक्षयसङ्गहिंसादोषदर्शनादस्वीकरणमपरिग्रह इत्येते यमाः ॥ ३० ॥

Vyasa Bhashya (English Translation)

Therein, Ahimsa (non-injury) is the absence of hostility or harm towards all living beings, in all ways, and at all times. And the subsequent Yamas and Niyamas are rooted in it; they are prescribed only for the sake of perfecting it, to bring it to maturity. They are taken up to make Ahimsa exceptionally pure. Thus it has been said: “Indeed, a Brahmana, as he undertakes many vows, proportionately turns away from the causes of injury committed through carelessness, and thereby makes his Ahimsa brilliantly pure.”

Satya (truthfulness) is speech and mind corresponding to reality. As it is seen, and as it is inferred, so it is in speech and mind. Speech is uttered to transfer one’s own understanding to another; it should not be deceitful, deluded, or barren of meaning (empty). This (truth) must be employed for the benefit of all living beings, not for their harm. If, even when spoken factually, it ultimately leads to the injury of living beings, it would not be truth; it would be a sin. Through such an appearance of merit, a counterfeit of virtue, one would attain grievous darkness (ignorance). Therefore, having carefully examined it, one should speak the truth which is beneficial to all living beings.

Steya (stealing) is the appropriation of things from another unlawfully. Its prohibition, in the form of absence of desire (for others’ possessions), is Asteya (non-stealing).

Brahmacharya (continence) is the control of the hidden reproductive organ.

Aparigraha (non-covetousness) is the non-acceptance (of objects) upon seeing the defects/faults in the acquisition, preservation, loss, attachment to, and violence involved in possessing objects. These are the Yamas. || 30 ||

The Five Yamas (Restraints) according to Vyasa

Vyasa defines each of the five Yamas with nuanced psychological insight, highlighting how they ultimately serve the practice of Ahimsa.

Yama	Sanskrit	Vyasa’s Definition	Key Insight
Non-injury	अहिंसा (Ahimsa)	सर्वथा सर्वदा सर्वभूतानामनभिद्रोहः (Absence of harm towards all living beings, in all ways, and at all times.)	It is the root of all other Yamas and Niyamas. The others exist only to perfect and purify Ahimsa.
Truthfulness	सत्य (Satya)	यथार्थे वाङ्मनसे (Speech and mind corresponding to reality.)	Truth must ultimately be for the benefit of all beings. If a factual truth causes harm, it is a sin, not truth.
Non-stealing	अस्तेय (Asteya)	अस्पृहारूपमस्तेयम् (Absence of desire to unlawfully appropriate another’s possessions.)	True non-stealing is not just avoiding the physical act, but removing the internal desire (spriha) for what belongs to another.
Continence	ब्रह्मचर्य (Brahmacharya)	गुप्तेन्द्रियस्योपस्थस्य संयमः (Control of the reproductive organ.)	The physical and mental restraint of sexual energy.
Non-possessiveness	अपरिग्रह (Aparigraha)	अर्जनरक्षणक्षयसङ्गहिंसादोषदर्शनादस्वीकरणम् (Non-acceptance of objects upon seeing the faults involved.)	Rejection of possessions stems from realizing the inevitable pain and violence involved in acquiring, protecting, and losing them.

Chapter link: Yoga Sutra Chapter 2