Muni's PlayPatanjali Yoga Sutra 3.24
Sanskrit Sutra
मैत्र्यादिषु बलानि॥२४॥
Swami Vivekananda's translation
By making Samyama on friendship, mercy, etc. (I.33), the Yogi excels in the respective qualities.
Vyasa Bhashya (Sanskrit)
मैत्री करुणा मुदितेति तिस्रो भावनास्तत्र भूतेषु सुखितेषु मैत्रीं भावयित्वा मैत्रीबलं लभते।
दुःखितेषु करुणां भावयित्वा करुणाबलं लभते।
पुण्यशीलेषु मुदितां भावयित्वा मुदिताबलं लभते।
भावनातः समाधिर्यः स संयमस्ततो बलान्यवन्ध्यवीर्याणि जायन्ते।
पापशीलेषूपेक्षा न तु भावना। ततश्च तस्यां नास्ति समाधिरित्यतो न बलमुपेक्षातस्तत्र संयमाभावादिति ॥ २३ ॥
Vyasa Bhashya (English Translation)
Friendliness (Maitri), compassion (Karuna), and gladness (Mudita) are the three contemplations (bhavanas). Among these, by cultivating friendliness towards all living beings who are happy, one attains the strength of friendliness (maitri-bala).
By cultivating compassion towards those who are in misery, one attains the strength of compassion (karuna-bala).
By cultivating gladness towards those who are virtuous, one attains the strength of gladness (mudita-bala).
The Samadhi which arises from such contemplation is Samyama. From that, strengths of unfailing potency are produced.
Indifference (Upeksha) towards the wicked is merely an attitude, not a contemplation (bhavana). Therefore, there is no Samadhi in it; hence no strength arises from indifference, due to the absence of Samyama on it. || 23 ||
Chapter link: Yoga Sutra Chapter 3
Cross-references:
- Dhammapada Verse 25.9 (Sage abiding in universal love/Maitri)