Penguin Classics Patanjalis Yoga Sutra

DETAILS : 

• Author : Shyam Ranganathan
  
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Penguin Books India Pvt. Ltd.
  
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ February 24, 2009
  
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
  
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 336 pages
  
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0143102192 
  
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0143102199
  
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 250 g

ABOUT THE BOOK

Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra, published as part of the prestigious Penguin Classics series, is a groundbreaking translation and commentary by Shyam Ranganathan. While many versions of this text treat it as a religious manual or a collection of mystical aphorisms, Ranganathan approaches the Yoga Sutra as a rigorous work of Moral Philosophy.

Key features of this edition include:

• The Four Padas: It covers the complete four chapters—Samadhi (Concentration), Sadhana (Practice), Vibhuti (Extraordinary Powers), and Kaivalya (Isolation/Liberation).
• Ashtanga Yoga: A detailed philosophical breakdown of the "Eight Limbs of Yoga," moving from ethical restraints (Yamas) to the ultimate state of meditative absorption.
• Ethics over Mysticism: Ranganathan argues that Patanjali’s system is primarily about the "Ethics of Sovereignty"—gaining autonomy over one's own consciousness and resisting the external pressures of the material world.
• Linguistic Precision: The translation avoids the common "spiritual buzzwords" of the New Age movement, opting instead for precise philosophical terminology that highlights Patanjali's logical consistency.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Shyam Ranganathan is a professional philosopher, scholar of South Asian studies, and an expert in translation theory. He is a member of the Department of Philosophy and the York Centre for Asian Research at York University in Toronto.

Ranganathan is known for his "Radical Translation" approach, which seeks to understand Indian philosophy on its own terms rather than through the lens of Western colonial or theological frameworks. He specializes in the intersection of ethics, linguistics, and Indian thought. His work on Patanjali is highly respected for its intellectual rigor, making it a favorite for university students and serious practitioners who want to understand the Yoga Sutra as a sophisticated philosophical system rather than just a guide for physical exercise.