Nirodha निरोध, meaning restraint, cessation, or control

Patanjali uses the term “Nirodha” (निरोध), meaning restraint, cessation, or control, multiple times in the Yoga Sutras, particularly in relation to the definition and goal of yoga.

One of the most fascinating ideas in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras is the subtle inner transformation that happens as the mind becomes still. This is the topic of Episode IS7 of The Kriya Yoga Podcast.

What Is Nirodha?

Here’s a breakdown of its main appearances in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, particularly within the first few sutras, and a count of the most direct references.

---

Key Sutras Where “Nirodha” Appears

YS 1.2 – योगश्चित्तवृत्तिनिरोधः (yogaś citta-vṛtti-nirodhaḥ) – “Yoga is the cessation (nirodha) of the fluctuations (vṛttis) of the mind (citta).”

➤ This is the foundational definition of yoga in the text.

YS 1.3 – तदा द्रष्टुः स्वरूपेऽवस्थानम् (tadā draṣṭuḥ svarūpe’vasthānam)
➤ While “nirodha” is not mentioned explicitly here, this verse explains the result of nirodha—when the seer rests in their own nature.

YS 1.4 – वृत्तिसारूप्यमितरत्र (vṛtti-sārūpyam-itaratra)
➤ Describes what happens in the absence of nirodha—identification with the vṛttis.

YS 1.12 – अभ्यासवैराग्याभ्यां तन्निरोधः (abhyāsa-vairāgyābhyāṁ tan-nirodhaḥ) – “That (nirodha) is achieved through practice and detachment.”

YS 1.18 – विरामप्रत्ययाभ्यासपूर्वः संस्कारशेषोऽन्यः (virāma-pratyaya-abhāsa-pūrvaḥ saṁskāra-śeṣo’nyaḥ)
➤ While “nirodha” is not used here directly, this sutra deals with the nirodha-samādhi—a deeper form of meditation where even the seeds of thought are stilled.

YS 3.9 – निर्विचारनिर्विचारसाक्षात्कारानुसारिनिर्विचारनिरोधः
(Note: depending on the version, the phrasing may slightly vary)

This sutra also uses the term nirodha in the context of transformation of mind toward samādhi.

---

Summary Table

Sutra	Term Used	Context
YS 1.2	nirodhaḥ	Definition of yoga
YS 1.12	tan-nirodhaḥ	Method of achieving nirodha
YS 3.9	nirodha	Transformation via restraint

---

1.2 योगश्चित्तवृत्तिनिरोधः

• Transliteration: yogaś citta-vṛtti-nirodhaḥ
• Translation:
  “Yoga is the cessation (nirodha) of the fluctuations (vṛttis) of the mind (citta).”

This is the central definition of yoga according to Patanjali.

1.12 अभ्यासवैराग्याभ्यां तन्निरोधः

• Transliteration: abhyāsa-vairāgyābhyāṁ tan-nirodhaḥ
• Translation:
  “That cessation (nirodha) is achieved through sustained practice (abhyāsa) and dispassion (vairāgya).”

This sutra explains how nirodha is attained.

3.9 व्युत्थाननिरोधसंस्कारयोः अभिभवप्रादुर्भावौ नियंत्रणाभ्यासः

• Transliteration: vyutthāna-nirodha-saṁskārayoḥ abhibhava-prādurbhāvau nirodhakṣaṇacittānvayaḥ nirodhapariṇāmaḥ
• Translation (common rendering):
  “The restraint (nirodha) transformation of the mind occurs when the arising of distracting tendencies is overcome by the appearance of restraint tendencies, leading to moments of absorption.”

This verse describes nirodha-pariṇāma, the transformation in the mind that occurs as it becomes restrained and moves toward deep absorption (samādhi).

Patanjali refers to nirodha-saṁskāra (निरोधसंस्कार) explicitly in Yoga Sutra 3.9. This is where he introduces the idea of the impression or latent tendency of restraint — a critical concept in understanding how the mind transforms through deep meditation.

Yoga Sutra 3.9 — व्युत्थाननिरोधसंस्कारयोः अभिभवप्रादुर्भावौ नियंत्रणाभ्यासः

Transliteration:

vyutthāna-nirodha-saṁskārayoḥ abhibhava-prādurbhāvau niyantraṇābhyāsaḥ

Translation:

“The transformation toward restraint (nirodha-pariṇāma) occurs when there is a weakening (abhibhava) of the mental impression of distraction (vyutthāna-saṁskāra) and a strengthening (prādurbhāva) of the mental impression of restraint (nirodha-saṁskāra) in the mind.”

This sutra describes the process of mental refinement during deep practice:

• Nirodha-saṁskāra: The latent impression or subtle tendency of restraint, which builds up in the mind through practice of stillness, becomes stronger.
• Vyutthāna-saṁskāra: The tendency toward distraction or mental activity, is gradually overcome.
• The transition of the mind from activity to stillness involves this tug-of-war between these two saṁskāras.

Eventually, when nirodha-saṁskāras dominate, the mind becomes effortlessly still — entering nirodha-pariṇāma, a transformation toward total cessation.

The dynamic between Vyutthāna Saṁskāra (tendencies toward distraction) and Nirodha Saṁskāra (tendencies toward restraint) change over time or depth of practice:

• The yellow curve shows distraction tendencies decreasing over time.
• The orange curve shows restraint tendencies increasing.
• The dashed line marks the transition point — where nirodha saṁskāras begin to dominate — known as nirodha-pariṇāma, the transformation of the mind toward deep stillness.

This visual represents the core of Yoga Sutra 3.9, highlighting the subtle battle within the mind as it becomes trained in samādhi.