तं विद्याद्दुःखसंयोगवियोगं योगसंज्ञितम् । स निश्चयेन योक्तव्यो योगोऽनिर्विण्णचेतसा ॥
taṃ vidyādduḥkhasaṃyogaviyogaṃ yogasaṃjñitam | sa niścayena yoktavyo yogo'nirviṇṇacetasā ||
Translation
Let that be known as yoga — the severance of the union with suffering. This yoga must be practiced with determination and with an undiscouraged mind.
Interpretation
A remarkable definition of yoga: the severance of the union with suffering (duhkha-samyoga-viyoga). We are 'joined' to suffering through our identification with the ego and its cravings. Yoga severs that join — not by ending experience, but by ending the false identification that makes suffering stick to us. And the means to achieve this: nishchayena (firm determination, unquestionable resolve) and anirvinna-chetasa (an undiscouraged mind — literally 'without a dispirited heart'). The path is long; the determined heart is the boat.