Chapter 4.7c - Satpravṛtti (detached performance of actions)

Haribhadrasūri has said in the starting of the prabhā dṛṣṭi that it is the one which brings the position namely satpravṛtti. During the course of description Haribhadrasūri claims that the position namely satpravṛtti is known as the detached performance of actions (asaṅgānuṣṭhāna) in the arena of spirituality^[1] . It is designated as praśāntavāhitā by Sāṅkhya school, visabhāgaparikṣaya by Buddhists, Śivavartma by Śaivaites and dhruvādhvā by Mahāvratikas^[2] .

It is understood that whenever we refer to the detached performance of actions we mean the position namely satpravṛtti. Haribhadrasūri says that the detached performance of action is to march on the great path of liberation. It causes the obtainment of that state reaching were a soul never returns^[3] .

Haribhadrasūri has defined the state of detached performance of actions in his composition Ṣoḍaśaka.

He says that,

“yattvabhyāsātiśayāt sātmībhūtamiva ceṣṭyetasadbhiḥ|
tadasaṃgānuṣṭhānaṃ, bhavatitvetattadāvedhāt || 10.7 || 
cakrabhramaṇaṃ daṃḍāttadabhāेvacaiva yatparaṃ bhavati |
vacanāsaṃgānuṣṭhānayostu tajjhāpakaṃ jeyam || 10.8 || ”

In 18th verse of Yogaviṃśikā Haribhadrasūri has stated that the one who owns the state of detached performance of actions, is in possession of the last type of yoga namely anālaṃbanayoga^[4] .

The same is explained, by Upādhyāya Yaśovijaya in his commentary on Yogaviṃśikā, as follow:

“........| eteṣvanuṣṭhānabhedeṣu “ eṣaḥ ”–etadaḥ samīpataravṛttivācakatvātsamīpābhihitā'saṅgānuṣṭhānātmā caramo yogo'nālambanayogo bhavati, saṅgatyāgasyaiva| nālambanalakṣaṇatvaditi bhāvaḥ || 18 || ^[5] ”

In his commentary on Yogaviṃśikā of Haribhadrasūri Upādhyāya Yaśovijaya very precisely defines the state of detached performance of actions.

He says that–

vyavahārakāle vacanapratisaṃdhānanirapekṣaṃ dṛḍhatarasaṃskāraccandanagandhanyāyenātmasādbhūtaṃ jinakalpikādīnāṃ kriyāsevanamasaṃgānuṣṭhānam,................ || 18 || ^[6]

Upādhyāya Yaśovijaya in his twenty fourth dvātriṃśikā mentions how the state of satpravṛtti, which is known as the state of detached performance of actions, becomes the cause of liberation.

The verse of the twenty fourth dvātriṃśikā is quoted here with its auto-commentary.

satpravṛttipadaṃ cehā'saṅgā'nuṣṭhānasañjitam |
saṃskārataḥsvarasataḥ pravatृtyā mokṣakāraṇam || 24.21 ||

saditi| satpravṛttipadaṃ cehaprabhāyāṃ asaṅgānuṣṭhānasaṃjñitaṃ bhavati, saṃskārataḥ prācyaprayatnajāt svarasataḥ = icchānairapekṣyeṇa taivṛttyā = prakṛṣṭavṛttyā mokṣakāraṇam |................ || 24.21 || ^[7]

The beholder of the state of satpravṛtti performs spiritual activities with deep rooted true interest for them. Since he owns strong impressions of previously done efforts, he does not have to prepare himself for performing spiritual activities. He performs them out of obvious inner interest. In his auto-commentary on twenty fourth dvātriṃśikā Upādhyāya Yaśovijaya defines the state of detached performance of actions.

He says,

yathā dṛḍhadaṇḍanodanā'nantaramuttaraścakrabhramisanatānastatsaṃskārā'nuvedhādeva bhavati, tathā prathamā'bhyāsād dhyānā'nantaraṃ tatsaṃskāra'nuvedhādeva bhavan | tatsadṛśapariṇāma pravāho'saṅgānuṣṭhānasañjāṃ labhata iti bhāvārthaḥ || 24.21 || ^[8]

The usage of the word pada in the term satpravṛtti pada indicates that state of a soul which lasts for a longer period of time instead of for some hours or some days.^[9]

To conclude the explanation of seventh yogadṛṣṭi Haribhadrasūri states that it is the beholder of prabhā dṛṣṭi who obtains the state in question very soon. The experts on the matter maintain that the seventh yogadṛṣṭi is alone competent to bring about the state in question^[10] .

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

satpravṛttipadaṃ cehā-'saṅgānuṣṭhānasaṃjñitam |
...................,........................ || 175 ||

satpravṛttipadaṃ ceha-tattvamārge, kimityāha-asaṅgānuṣṭhānasaṃjñitaṃ vartate, tathāsvarasapravṛtteḥ |... || 175 ||

   –Auto-commentary on Yogadṛṣṭisamuccaya

216

[2]:

praśāntavāhitāsaṃjñaṃ, visabhāgaparikṣayaḥ |
śivavatrmadhruvādhveti, yogibhirgīyetahayadaḥ || 176 ||

praśāntavāhitāsaṃjñaṃ sāṅkhyānāṃ, visabhāgaparikṣayo bauddhānāṃ, śivavatrmaśaivānāṃ, dhruvādhvā mahāvratikānāṃ, iti-evaṃ yogibhirgīyetahayado'saṅgānuṣṭhānamiti || 176 ||

   –ibid.

[3]:

|
mahāpathaprayāṇaṃ ya-danāgāmipadāvaham || 175 ||

... | mahāpathaprayāṇaṃ yadasaṅgānuṣṭhānam, anāgāmipadāvahaṃ-nityapadaprāpakamityatharḥ || 175 ||

   –ibid.

[4]:

eyaṃ ca pīḍbhattāgamāṇugaṃ taha asaṃgayājuttaṃ |
neyaṃ cauvvihaṃ khalu, eso caramo havai jogo || 18 ||
   -Yogviṃśikā

[5]:

Pg: 17, Hāribhadrayogabhāratī, 2nd edn. 1998.

[6]:

Pg: 16-17, -ibid.

[7]:

Part: 6, Pg: 1670.

[8]:

Part: 6, Pg: 1671

[9]:

See pg: 1671, line: 27-29, Part: 6, Gujarati explanation given on verse 24.21.

[10]:

etat prasādhayatyāśa,ु yad yogyasyāṃvyavasthitaḥ |
etatpadāvahaiṣaiva, tat tatraitadvidāṃ matā || 177 ||
   -Yogadṛṣṭisamuccaya