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smṛti-pariśuddhau sva-rūpa-śūnya-iva-artha-mātra-nirbhāsā nirvitarkā

स्मृतिपरिशुद्धौ स्वरूपशून्येवार्थमात्रनिर्भासा निर्वितर्का

Refined gross deliberation is when the memory is purified, as if empty of its own character, so that only the purpose shines forth

smṛti - remembrance; memory; mindfulness; the whole body of sacred tradition or what is remembered by human teachers and constantly revised

pariśuddhi - purified

svarūpa - own character

śūnya - empty

iva - as if

artha - purpose, aim; meaning; thing, object

mātrā - only; measure, quantity, sum, size, duration

nirbhāsā - shines forth

nirvitarka - refined gross deliberation

Commentary by T Krishnamacharya:

“The continuity of Dhyānam is compared to a flame which is free from wind.”

Commentary by TKV Desikachar:

“When we look at things, memory always intrudes. To see clearly, we need to be in that state described in the Yoga Sutra in Chapter One verse 43. In such a state, memory dies, imagination vanishes, then we can see the reality of the object. This state is Samādhi.” – TKV Desikachar Madras December 21st 1988

Commentary by Paul Harvey:

“The next stage is refined deliberation on a gross object, it is when the memory is purified, as if empty of its own content, so that only the true nature of the gross object shines forth.”

“If you remove the past from the present what is left?”