Yoga Sutra Book III - Vibhuti Pada

Yoga Sutra - Book Three - Vibhuti Pada - Portion on Accomplishments

Before Swami Satchidananda goes on to comment on the Third Book (section) of The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, he tells us that this book is called Vibhuti Pada. "The vibhuti are all the accomplishments which come as by-products of your Yoga practice. They are also sometimes called the siddhis, or supernatural powers. These powers begin to come with the practice of the final three limbs of Raja Yoga: dharana (concentration), dhyana (meditation), and samadhi (contemplation)."

From the Wikipedia, under Yoga Sutras of Patanjali - Vibhuti is the Sanskrit word for "power" or "manifestation". 'Supra-normal powers' (Sanskrit: siddhi) are acquired by the practice of yoga. The temptation of these powers should be avoided and the attention should be fixed only on liberation.

There is a note for books three and four from Swami Satchidananda telling us he has translated on all the sutras, but has chosen not comment on all of them. The ones he has commented on are the ones he feels most useful for the understanding of Yoga aspirants. For more information on the sutras he did not comment on, a selected reading section includes books that has comments.

Related post:

• The Eight Limbs of Yoga - YS II - 28, 29