1.43 – In samadhi beyond gross thought and reasoning, the filter of memory is cleansed, the mind is empty of all qualities, and the object of meditation alone shines forth.

स्मृतिपरिशुद्धौ स्वरूपशून्येवार्थमात्रनिर्भासा निर्वितर्का ॥४३॥

smriti pari-shuddhau svarupa shunya iva artha-matra nirbhasa nirvitarka

  • smriti – memory; recollection; remembrance
  • parishuddhau – purified; cleaned
  • svarupa – nature; quality; essence; appearance; original form
  • shunya – empty; void; vacant
  • iva – like; as
  • artha – purpose; meaning; an object
  • matra – only; alone
  • nirbhasa – illuminating; shining
  • nirvitarka – without gross thought

In savitarka samadhi, described in the previous sutra, the vrittis were calm but not fully neutralized. In this sutra, Patanjali describes a state in which they are tranquil. Consciousness has become fully absorbed in its object of meditation. And like the transparent gemstone or a pond on a windless day, it throws back a perfect picture of that object. Nothing but the object itself shines within its field.

This state of samadhi occurs during meditation on a gross object when all gross thoughts have subsided. It is called “nirvitarka samadhi.”