Advaita Meditation Center

The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali

This difficult but important work explores various disciplines for deep meditation. Available in a number of excellent standard translations and many derivative works by modern authors. We recommend the following:

Recommended Books

Sankara on the Yoga Sutras

(translated by Trevor Leggett): This seminal work contains a very accessible translation of the Yoga Sutras as well as commentary by Shankara. Beautifully organized and a critical reference for those interested in Shankara's yogic insights and advice on meditative practices. Published by Motilal Banarsidass Publishers in 1992, ISBN 81-208-1028-7. Available directly from the publisher.

Yoga Philosophy of Patanjali

(with notes and original translation into Bengali by Swami Hariharananda Aranya, rendered into English by P.N. Mukerji): A comprehensive and scholarly translation of both the Yoga Sutras and Vyasa's commentary with original Sanskrit, English translation and many notes. First published by Calcutta University Press in 1963, then by SUNY Press in 1983; ISBN 0-87395-729-6. Available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble and SUNY Press.

Patanjali's Yoga Sutras

(translated by Rama Prasada): This is the standard reference edition with the original Sanskrit of both the Sutras and Vyasa's commentary, as well as English translation of those plus Vachaspati's gloss. While not an easy version to study in full, it is an excellent source for researching details. First published in 1912 by the Panini Office in Allahabad, and then by Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers, ISBN 81-215-0424-9, it is currently out of print.