Patanjali Yoga Sutra 3.42

Sanskrit Sutra

श्रोत्राकाशयोः सम्बन्धसंयमाद्दिव्यं श्रोत्रम्॥४२॥

Swami Vivekananda's translation

By making Samyama on the relation between the ear and the Akasha comes divine hearing.

Vyasa Bhashya (Sanskrit)

सर्वश्रोत्राणामाकाशं प्रतिष्ठा सर्वशब्दानां च। यथोक्तम् – तुल्यदेशश्रवणानामेकदेशश्रुतित्वं सर्वेषां भवतीति। तच्चैतदाकाशस्य लिङ्गम्। अनावरणं चोक्तम्। तथाऽमूर्तस्यानावरणदर्शनाद्विभुत्वमपि प्रख्यातमाकाशस्य। शब्दग्रहणानुमितं श्रोत्रम्। बधिराबधिरयोरेकः शब्दं गृह्णात्यपरो न गृह्णातीति। तस्माच्छ्रोत्रमेव शब्दविषयम्। श्रोत्राकाशयोः संबन्धे कृतसंयमस्य योगिनो दिव्यं श्रोत्रं प्रवर्तते ॥ ४१ ॥

Vyasa Bhashya (English Translation)

Akasha (space) is the basis of all ears/hearing and of all sounds. As it is said: ‘For those who hear in identical locations, the hearing of the sound as being in one place is common to all.’ This is a distinguishing mark (linga) of Akasha. Furthermore, it is said to be without covering/obstruction. Thus, seeing the unobstructed nature of what is formless, the all-pervading nature of Akasha is also established. The organ of hearing (shrotra) is inferred from the perception of sound. Between a deaf person and one who is not deaf, one grasps the sound while the other does not. Therefore, the ear alone is the organ for the object of sound. For the yogi who makes Samyama on the relationship between the ear and Akasha, divine hearing manifests. || 41 ||

Chapter link: Yoga Sutra Chapter 3