Sanskrit | Yoga Sūtras | Lists
(these are a work in progress)
Original Text
vitarka-bādhane pratipakṣa-bhāvanam
Translation
When troubled by harmful thoughts, cultivate their opposites.
Terms
vitarka (troubling thoughts)
pratipaksha bhavana (cultivating the opposite)
Background
This sūtra introduces the powerful practice of pratipakṣa bhāvanam, often translated as "cultivating the opposite." It offers a practical, psychological method for dealing with negative or unwholesome mental patterns, especially those that conflict with the yamas and niyamas.