Muni's PlayPatanjali Yoga Sutra 2.46
Sanskrit Sutra
स्थिरसुखमासनम्॥४६॥
Swami Vivekananda's translation
Posture is that which is firm and pleasant.
Vyasa Bhashya (Sanskrit)
तद्यथा पद्मासनं भद्रासनं स्वस्तिकं दण्डासनं सोपाश्रयं पर्यङ्कं क्रौञ्चनिषदनं हस्तिनिषदनमुष्ट्रनिषदनं समसंस्थानं स्थिरसुखं यथासुखं चेत्येवमादीनि ॥ ४६ ॥
Vyasa Bhashya (English Translation)
They (the postures) are, for example: Padmasana (Lotus), Bhadrasana (Auspicious), Svastikasana (Auspicious mark), Dandasana (Staff), Sopashraya (Supported), Paryanka (Bedstead), Krauncha-nishadana (Seated heron), Hasti-nishadana (Seated elephant), Ushtra-nishadana (Seated camel), Sama-samsthana (Evenly balanced), Sthira-sukha (Steady and comfortable), and Yatha-sukha (Any posture that brings comfort) — and so on. || 46 ||
The Asanas mentioned by Vyasa
In this short commentary, Vyasa lists several classical seated postures that fulfill Patanjali’s criteria of being steady and comfortable.
| Asana (Sanskrit) | English Translation / Description |
|---|---|
| पद्मासनं (Padmasana) | Lotus posture |
| भद्रासनं (Bhadrasana) | Auspicious posture |
| स्वस्तिकं (Svastikasana) | Auspicious mark posture |
| दण्डासनं (Dandasana) | Staff posture (legs stretched out straight) |
| सोपाश्रयं (Sopashraya) | Supported posture (using a yoga danda or support) |
| पर्यङ्कं (Paryanka) | Bedstead posture |
| क्रौञ्चनिषदनं (Krauncha-nishadana) | Seated heron posture |
| हस्तिनिषदनं (Hasti-nishadana) | Seated elephant posture |
| उष्ट्रनिषदनं (Ushtra-nishadana) | Seated camel posture |
| समसंस्थानं (Sama-samsthana) | Evenly balanced posture |
| स्थिरसुखं (Sthira-sukha) | Any steady and comfortable posture |
| यथासुखं (Yatha-sukha) | Any posture in which one finds comfort |
Chapter link: Yoga Sutra Chapter 2