Sanskrit | Yoga Sūtras | Lists
(these are a work in progress)
Original Text
svapna-nidrā-jñānālambanaṁ vā
Translation
Or, the mind becomes steady by resting in insight from dreams or deep sleep.
Background
We often think of dreams and sleep as unconscious or passive states, but this sutra invites us to reflect more deeply. In dreams, the mind reveals symbolic truths, desires, and fears. In deep sleep, there's a kind of letting go—a release of the ego and senses. Patanjali suggests that even these subtle experiences can offer insight. When we recall and contemplate them, they can become doorways to stillness. Rather than chasing every thought, we learn to rest in what we already know at deeper levels. This is another gentle path to steadiness. It's a reminder that wisdom is not always found in doing, but in noticing what arises when we are quiet.