Bhavana Pratyahara in Yoga Tattva Upanishad

This beautiful excerpt from the Yoga Tattva Upanishad (verses 69–71) outlines a profound approach to pratyahara (withdrawal of the senses). Instead of a forceful, negative suppression of sensory experience, it describes a meditative sublimation (bhavana): recognizing the ultimate Self (Atman) in every single sensory input.

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Verses 69–72a: Meditative Pratyahara (Withdrawal of Senses)

Sanskrit

यद्यत्पश्यति चक्षुर्भ्यां तत्तदात्मेति भावयेत् ।
यद्यच्छृणोति कर्णाभ्यां तत्तदात्मेति भावयेत् ।
लभते नासया यद्यत्तत्तदात्मेति भावयेत् ॥
जिह्वया यद्रसं ह्यत्ति तत्तदात्मेति भावयेत् ।
त्वचा यद्यत्स्पृशेद्योगी तत्तदात्मेति भावयेत् ॥
एवं ज्ञानेन्द्रियाणां तु तत्तत्सौख्यं सुसाधयेत् ॥

Transliteration

yadyatpaśyati cakṣurbhyāṃ tattadātmeti bhāvayet |
yadyacchṛṇoti karṇābhyāṃ tattadātmeti bhāvayet |
labhate nāsayā yadyattatadātmeti bhāvayet ||
jihvayā yadrasaṃ hyatti tattadātmeti bhāvayet |
tvacā yadyatspṛśedyogī tattadātmeti bhāvayet ||
evaṃ jñānendriyāṇāṃ tu tattatsaukhyaṃ susādhayet ||

Translation

[69] Whatever one sees with the eyes, one should contemplate that very thing as the Self (Atman).

[70] Whatever one hears with the ears, one should contemplate that very thing as the Self. Whatever one perceives with the nose, one should contemplate that very thing as the Self.

[71] Whatever taste one consumes with the tongue, one should contemplate that very thing as the Self. Whatever the yogi touches with the skin, one should contemplate that very thing as the Self.

[72a] In this manner, the yogi successfully masters the respective pleasures of all the five cognitive senses [by aligning them with the Divine Self].

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Reference: Yoga Tattva Upanishad