Sūtra 3.19

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration and English translation of Sūtra 3.19:

प्रत्ययस्य परचित्तज्ञानम् ॥ ३.१९ ॥

pratyayasya paracittajñānam || 3.19 ||

pratyayasya—of the notions. para—of other (minds), citta—of minds. jñānam—knowledge.

19. Of the notions, the knowledge of other minds—125.

The Sankhya-pravachana commentary of Vyasa

[English translation of the 7th century commentary by Vyāsa called the Sāṅkhya-pravacana, Vyāsabhāṣya or Yogabhāṣya]

[Sanskrit text for commentary available]

By Saṃyama over the notions and thus by obtaining the direct knowledge of the notions, comes the knowledge of other minds. But not of its object, that not being the direct object of the Yogī’s mind. He knows the mental emotion of love, but does not know the object of love. Because that which has been the object of the other man’s mind has not been the object of the Yogī’s mind. It is only the other’s mental state that has been the object of the Yogi’s Saṃyama.

The Gloss of Vachaspati Mishra

[English translation of the 9th century Tattvavaiśāradī by Vācaspatimiśra]

Of the notions, the knowledge of other minds.

Because the mind of the other only becomes directly known, the notion only is known.

As the direct knowledge of the potencies brings about the knowledge of the previous life-states also, by causing the direct knowledge of the environments, so also it follows that when the mind of another is known, the object which is responsible for the existence of any particular state of the mind should also become known. This being the suggestion, the Commentator says:—‘But not along with its object.’ The former Saṃyama was with reference to all the environments: this is with reference to the mind of the other only. This is the meaning.