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vyādhi-styāna-saṃśaya-pramāda-ālasya-avirati-bhrānti-darśana-alabdha-bhūmikatva-anavasthitatvāni citta-vikṣepāḥ te-antarāyāḥ

व्याधिस्त्यानसंशयप्रमादालस्याविरतिभ्रान्तिदर्शनालब्धभूमिकत्वानवस्थितत्वानि चित्तविक्षेपास्तेऽन्तरायाः

These interventions which distract the psyche are: disorder, dullness, doubt, carelessness, laziness, over-indulgence, fallacious views, non-attainment of a stage and losing stability

vyādhi - disorder, disease, ailment

styāna - dullness

saṃśaya - doubt

pramāda - carelessness, negligence; intoxication

ālasya - laziness; idle

avirati - over-indulgence, intemperance; incontinence

bhrānti - fallacious

darśana - view; seeing

alabdha - non-attainment, unobtained

bhūmikatva - of a stage

anavasthitatvā - losing stability

citta - psyche (the totality of the human mind, conscious and unconscious); mind; heart

vikṣepa - distraction, inattention, confusion, perplexity; scattering, dispersion; moving about, to and fro

te - these

antarāya - intervention, obstacle

Commentary by T Krishnamacharya:

“In this Sūtra, Patañjali lists the nine kinds of obstacles that are confronted by those who, though fit and able to meditate on Īśvara, neglect to do so.”

“The power of the breath, the power of the senses and physical strength of the body are each distinct properties. They should not work against each other but rather contribute to each others well being.”

“Serious practitioners of Yoga from Vedic times to the present day emphasise that a clear mind is a prerequisite for Bhakti and that it is only through Bhakti that the true nature of the Jīva is revealed. Bhakti, singe minded and abiding, is the mark of a certain unique relationship characterised by unshakeable faith, absolute trust and boundless devotion.”

“Can these four Yoga Aṅga – Yama, Niyama, Āsana, Prāṇāyāma – be practiced by everyone at every stage of life? How often and how long should one practice? How can we adapt our practice to changing circumstances? These questions and others like them must be answered by a competent teacher, according to each student’s individual circumstances.”

Commentary by Paul Harvey:

“These interventions that distract the psyche from attaining awareness are disease, dullness, doubt, carelessness, laziness, over-indulgence, fallacious views, non-attainment of a state and losing stability.”

“The use of Āsana and Prāṇāyāma is an investigation of all the 9 obstacles in Yoga Sūtra Chapter One verse 30. Those things that come between how we are and how we would like to be.”