Sūtra 1.27

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration and English translation of Sūtra 1.27:

तस्य वाचकः प्रणवः ॥ १.२७ ॥

tasya vācakaḥ praṇavaḥ || 1.27 ||

27. His indicator is the Praṇava.

The Rajamartanda commentary by King Bhoja:

[English translation of the 11th century commentary by Bhoja called the Rājamārtaṇḍa]

[Sanskrit text for commentary available]

Having thus described the greatness of God, the author now supplies His indicator, with a view to help people in their devotion.

[Read Sūtra 1.27]

Of the Iśvara thus described, the “indicator,” name, expressive word, whereby one is thoroughly (pra = prakarṣeṇa) lauded (nu) or praised, glorified, or hymned is—praṇava, which is the same with the syllable Om. (The sentence indirectly gives the derivation which is pra = “ excessive” and nu = “to laud,” whence Praṇava). Between the two (the name and the being denominated) the relation of the indicator and the indicated is eternal. This is conventionally expressed, but not produced by any one; (it is the same) as in the case of a father and his son, when one points out the existing relation (by saying) “this is the father, and this is the son,” (though the relationship exists from before, and is not produced by the saying.)

Notes and Extracts

[Notes and comparative extracts from other commentaries on the Yogasūtra]

[Praṇava is the technical name of Om, and the injunction is that that syllable should be frequently muttered. Care is taken to show that the relation between the indicator Om and the indicated God is eternal and not produced by man, and the example of the father and son explains what is intended. The Vedas, the Upaniṣads and all Hindu works recommend the same process, accepting the term as the most sacred name of the Divinity. See Chāndogya Upaniṣad, Chapter I. In two short notes, published in the ‘Proceedings of the Asiatic Society of Bengal’ for 1865, pp. 46—208, I take the word to be the Indianized form of the Hebrew Āman and the English Amen.]

His adoration is next enjoined.