3.45 · Touching the Moon

From that come the power to become minute and the other powers, perfection of the body, and freedom from obstruction by the properties of the elements.

Word by word

tataḥ

from that

aṇimā-ādi

minuteness and the rest

prādurbhāvaḥ

appearance

kāya-saṃpat

perfection of the body

tad-dharma

their properties

anabhighātaḥ

freedom from obstruction

ca

and

Where it fits

The fruit of 3.44: the eight powers beginning with becoming minute, a perfected body, and freedom from the elements' resistance. Vyāsa adds a limit: though able, the yogi does not overturn the order of things, already willed by one perfected from the beginning (p. 278). 3.46 defines the perfected body.

Reading

From mastery of the elements, Patañjali says, come the eight classic powers, familiar from Indian story: becoming tiny, light or vast; reaching anything, as Vyāsa says, touching the moon with a fingertip; and four more of will and mastery. Vyāsa adds that water no longer wets the yogin and fire no longer burns him. Then he sets a limit: though able, the yogin does not overturn the order of things, because the elements were already so willed by one perfected from the beginning, whom Vācaspati identifies as Īśvara.

Vyāsa

“Reach (prāpti): he touches the moon even with his fingertip. … Yet although he is able, he does not overturn the order of things. Why not? Because another, whose will is always fulfilled and who was perfected from the beginning, has already willed the elements to be as they are.”

Vyāsa's Yoga-bhāṣya, the oldest commentary. New translation from the Sanskrit, with reference to Woods (1914), p. 278.

Practice

Notice one moment today when you want to bend things to your will: a queue, a delay, another person's choice. For one minute, let it be as it is. Then act, if action is still needed.

A question to sit with

Where are you trying to overturn the order of things?

Where commentators disagree

If the yogin masters the elements, can he change the order of nature?

Vyāsa

Lists the eight powers, ending with the power to will things as one wishes. Yet, though able, the yogin does not reverse the nature of things, because the elements were already so willed by another, perfect from the beginning, who determines things as he wills. Woods takes this to be Īśvara. (Woods 1914, p. 278)

Vācaspati Miśra

The yogin may make poison work like nectar, since the powers of things vary; but he will not turn the moon into the sun, because those whose desires are fulfilled do not venture to transgress the order of the Highest Īśvara. (Woods 1914, pp. 279–280)

Bhoja

Lists the eight great powers as aids to meditation that follow mastery of the elements, with the perfection of body and the indestructibility of its qualities. He does not discuss any limit on them. (Tatya 1885, pp. 131–132; Mitra 1883, wisdomlib on 3.45)

Key ideas

siddhi (powers), prakṛti (nature, the seen)