Patanjali Yoga Sutra 3.45

Sanskrit Sutra

स्थूल-स्वरूप-सूक्ष्मान्वयार्थवत्त्वसंयमाद्भूतजयः॥४५॥

Swami Vivekananda's translation

By making Samyama on the gross and fine forms of the elements, their essential traits, the inherence of the Gunas in them and on their contributing to the experience of the soul, comes mastery of the elements.

Vyasa Bhashya (Sanskrit)

तत्र पार्थिवाद्याः शब्दादयो विशेषाः सहाऽऽकारादिभिर्धर्मैः स्थूलशब्देन परिभाषिताः। एतद्भूतानां प्रथमं रूपम्। द्वितीयं रूपं स्वसामान्यं मूर्तिर्भूमिः स्नेहो जलं वह्निरुष्णता वायुः प्रणामी सर्वतोगतिराकाश इत्येतत्स्वरूपशब्देनोच्यते। … अस्य सामान्यस्य शब्दादयो विशेषाः। … तत्र पञ्च भूतस्वरूपाणि जित्वा भूतजयी भवति। तज्जयाद्वत्सानुसारिण्य इव गावोऽस्य संकल्पानुविधायिन्यो भूतप्रकृतयो भवन्ति ॥ ४४ ॥

Vyasa Bhashya (English Translation)

The elements have five forms. 1. Gross (sthula): their specific properties like sound, form, etc. 2. Basic form (svarupa): their generic natures, such as shape for earth, liquidity for water, heat for fire, mobility for air, and all-pervasiveness for space. 3. Subtle (sukshma): their cause, the subtle elements (tanmatras). 4. Pervasive (anvaya): the three gunas (sattva, rajas, tamas) which invariably accompany the effects. 5. Purposeful (arthavattva): their teleological purpose for the Purusha’s experience and liberation. By performing Samyama on these five forms of the elements, their vision and mastery arise. Conquering these five forms makes one the conqueror of the elements, and their primary natures obey the yogi’s resolve like cows following a calf. || 44 ||

Chapter link: Yoga Sutra Chapter 3