Patanjali Yoga Sutra 3.36

Sanskrit Sutra

सत्त्वपुरुषयोरत्यन्तासंकीर्णयोः प्रत्ययाविशेषाद् भोगः परार्थत्वात् स्वार्थसंयमात् पुरुषज्ञानम्॥३६॥

Swami Vivekananda's translation

Enjoyment comes from the non-discrimination of the soul and Sattva which are totally different because the latter’s actions are for another. Samyama on the self-centred one gives knowledge of the Purusha.

Vyasa Bhashya (Sanskrit)

बुद्धिसत्त्वं प्रख्याशीलं समानसत्त्वोपनिबन्धने रजस्तमसी वशीकृत्य सत्त्वपुरुषान्यताप्रत्ययेन परिणतम्। तस्माच्च सत्त्वात्परिणामिनोऽत्यन्तविधर्मा विशुद्धोऽन्यश्चितिमात्ररूपः पुरुषः। तयोरत्यन्तासंकीर्णयोः प्रत्ययाविशेषो भोगः पुरुषस्य दर्शितविषयत्वात्। स भोगप्रत्ययः सत्त्वस्य परार्थत्वाद्दृश्यः।

यस्तु तस्माद्विशिष्टश्चितिमात्ररूपोऽन्यः पौरुषेयः प्रत्ययस्तत्र संयमात्पुरुषविषया प्रज्ञा जायते। न च पुरुषप्रत्ययेन बुद्धिसत्त्वात्मना पुरुषो दृश्यते। पुरुष एव तं प्रत्ययं स्वात्मावलम्बनं पश्यति। तथा ह्युक्तम् - विज्ञातारमरे केन विजानीयात् इति ॥ ३५ ॥

Vyasa Bhashya (English Translation)

The intellect (buddhi-sattva), whose nature is illumination, having subdued rajas and tamas which are bound up equally with sattva, modifies into the cognition of the distinction between sattva and Purusha. The Purusha, which is purely of the nature of consciousness (chiti-matra), is entirely distinct from and completely dissimilar to this mutating sattva. Enjoyment (bhoga) is the non-distinction in cognition between these two, which are completely distinct, because [sattva] merely presents objects to the Purusha. That cognition of enjoyment, being for the sake of another (parartha), is an object of perception (drisya).

But that which is distinct from it, which is purely of the nature of consciousness, is the cognition belonging to Purusha (the self-centered cognition, svartha). By making Samyama on that, the knowledge of Purusha arises. Purusha is not perceived by the cognition of Purusha which is of the nature of buddhi-sattva. It is Purusha alone that perceives that cognition resting on itself. As it has been said: ‘Through what should one know the Knower?’ || 35 ||

Chapter link: Yoga Sutra Chapter 3

Related Gunas: Sattva