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abhyāsa-vairāgyābhyāṃ tat-nirodhaḥ

अभ्यासवैराग्याभ्यां तन्निरोधः

By both practice and dispassion that contained

abhyāsa - practice

vairāgya - dispassion

tat - that, this

nirodha - to contain, enclose; cover; confine, restrain; quell, surpress; quiesce

Commentary by T Krishnamacharya:

“In this Sūtra Patañjali states that there are two ways to discipline the five types of mental activity. They are Abhyāsa and Vairāgya. Abhyāsa is practice. In order to discipline the mind, we need to develop a mental practice that clearly reveals the distinction between the nature of Jīva and Prakṛti. Vairāgya is to disconnect or sever the link between the Citta and external objects. These two, Abhyāsa and Vairāgya, always go together as a pair.”

Commentary by TKV Desikachar:

“The phenomenon called Yoga allows the mind and its functions to orientate in one direction and receive something from that direction.”

“The idea is to bridge the gap that is between what exists and what is desired. This is what Abhyāsa refers to. This is not exactly practice.

1. We first require an appreciation of what we want to do or learn.
2. We then find out how to travel or go in that direction.
3. We then learn the techniques by which we travel.”

Commentary by Paul Harvey:

“Within the effort of trying to remain there not clinging to what arises within the effort of trying to remain there not clinging to what arises within the effort of trying to remain there not clinging to what arises within the effort of trying to remain there not……”

“Abhyāsa or Practice is, the effort to remain within the stillness of the present. Vairāgya or Dispassion is, the absence of thirst towards the dance of the past.” – Reflections around Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verses 12-15

“Yoga is about cultivating a profound discernment of the difference between the Nature of our Being and the Being of our Nature.”