PURUSARTHA SUNYANAM GUNANAM PRATIPRASAVAH KAIVALYAM SVARUPAPRATISTHA VA CITISAKTIH ITI

Liberation comes to the yogi who has fulfilled the aims of life (purusarthas), and transcended the gunas. Consciousness is established in its purest form: freedom.

This sutra defines kaivalya through two processes: evolution and involution. We explore, through both means, the path to purusa's liberation. The process of evolution involves transcending the gunas. We use these tools in the external realm to deepen and grow toward enlightenment. The process of involution is the practice of fulfilling the individual purusa's aim in life.

According to Patanjali, there are four aims in life called the purusarthas: dharma (right, spiritual duty), artha (means to achieve these duties), kama (pleasures or the way we enjoy our lives), and moksha (freedom from the worldly pleasures).

In B.K.S. Iyengar's commentary, he believes that these fourfold aims of life correspond to the four padas of the yoga sutras. In the first pada, we are given practices to tap in to the state of yoga and find stillness. Dharma is divine duty, and we are pointed in that direction in  samadhi pada.

The second pada, sadhana, offers the means in which the practitioner works toward his divine duty. This is artha, the way in which we execute our duties within the world.

The third pada, vibhuti, explains the extraordinary psychic powers that are obtained through devoted practice. Patanjali reminds the yogi to remain steady so as not to be tempted to use these powers for joy rather than to deepen in spiritual discipline.

Kaivalya pada is about freedom. Moksha, or the fourth aim of life is the detachment from the worldly life. The focus is now on fully existing as an enlightened being.

Once the individual purusa has developed through each stage of life, through involution, and clears the need for the gunas, through evolution, kaivalya is established.

The word "iti" at the end of this sutra translates to "that is all."