सोपक्रमं निरुपक्रमम्

Patanjal Yoga-Sutra : vibhUtipada --

Aphorisms 23-24-25

पातञ्जल योग-सूत्र : विभूतिपाद

योग-सूत्र २३-२४-२५

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In the last post : कायरूपसंयमात् ...

विभूतिपाद  /  vibhUtipada -- योग-सूत्र २१-२२, and  Aphorisms 21 and 22 have been dealt with.

The relevant words are in bold, to indicate how this happens with one who follows the path of practicing the  योग / Yoga. One can see the text श्रीरमण गीता अध्याय १२, अध्याय १४ referred to there.

Presently let us go onto the next :

सोपक्रमं निरुपक्रमं च कर्म तत्संयमादपरान्तज्ञानमरिष्टेभ्यो

वा।।२३।।

(स-उपक्रमं निर्-उपक्रममं च कर्म तत्संयमात् अपरान्त ज्ञानं अरिष्टेभ्यः वा।।)

कर्म - deeds / action is of two kinds --

स उपक्रमं  The one in steps and planning that is about and at the worldly level. This could be managed in advance and according to the  knowledge of the worldly things. 

निर् उपक्रमं - One where one is prompted by the forces beyond one's control.  Time is such a factor. Destiny is another one. As is indicated in the श्रीमद्भगवद्गीता / Shrimadbhagvad-gita :

The five factors that govern and determine the fate / consequences of कर्म / deed / action that happens is described here :

अनिष्टमिष्टं मिश्रं च त्रिविधं कर्मणः फलम्।।

भवत्यत्यागिनां प्रेत्य न तु संन्यासिनां क्वचित्।।१२।।

पञ्चेमानि महाबाहो कारणानि निबोध मे।।

साङ्ख्ये कृतान्ते प्रोक्तानि सिद्धये सर्वकर्मणाम्।।१३।।

अधिष्ठानं तथा कर्ता करणं च पृथग्विधम्।।

विविधाश्च पृथक्चेष्टा दैवं चैवात्र पञ्चमम्।।१४।।

शरीरवाङ्मनोभिर्यत्कर्म प्रारभते नरः।।

न्याय्यं वा विपरीतं वा पञ्चैते तस्य हेतवः।।१५।।

(अध्याय १८, Chapter 18, Stanza 12-13-14-15)

These consequences are beyond knowledge and control of anyone who is not योगी / Yogi or संन्यासी / sannyAsI.

A योगी / yogi may have however, premonition of the same. He can see the exact moment of अपरान्तम्  / death, or its signs, indicative of the imminent death through and by means of applying संयम / samyama, if so desires.

मैत्र्यादिषु बलानि।।२४।।

(मैत्री आदिषु बलानि।।)

This has reference to योग-सूत्र ३३ / Aphorism 33 of साधनपाद / Sadhanapada :

मैत्रीकरुणामुदितोपेक्षाणां सुखदुःखपुण्यापुण्यविषयाणां भावनातश्चित्तप्रसादनम्।।३३।।

Through संयम / samyama (as is pointed out in योग-सूत्र ४ / Aphorism 4 - साधनपाद Sadhanapada, one can understand the strength / power of a relationship, - like the friendship etc. in the same way as we understand about the other many things of strength.

The strength / power is thus understood (and may or may not be physically acquired also) as is estimated. This has been clarified in the next Aphorism :

बलेषु हस्तिबलादीनि।।२५।।

(बलेषु हस्तिबल आदीनि।।)

Just as one can easily understand / estimate the strength / force of an elephant or such.

Just like the one who rides and has control over an elephant, has control over the same and could be thought of to be more powerful than the elephant, a योगी / Yogi too may have subtle control over the subtle powers ( प्राण / prANa) and that explains how a योगी / Yogi, if so needs can defy gravitational force as well, could walk upon water and fly through air. As is described in the text रामायण / Ramayana about हनुमान / Hanumana.

But for us presently this is all hypothetical fancy only!

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