Yoga Sutra 1.33: maitrī-karuṇā-muditopekṣāṇāṁ sukha-duḥkha-puṇyāpuṇya-viṣayāṇāṁ bhāvanātaś citta-prasādanam
The Yoga Sutras of Patañjali beautifully balance technical practice with the realities of human life. Yoga Sutra 1.33 shifts our focus from pure concentration to the emotional and ethical qualities that shape mental clarity. In this verse, Patañjali offers timeless guidance: by cultivating friendliness, compassion, joy, and equanimity toward others—across both pleasant and challenging circumstances—we nurture citta-prasādanam, a mind that is calm, clear, and serene.
This sutra brings meditation off the mat and into everyday life. It reminds us that yoga is not only about internal stillness but also about the way we relate to the world around us. True practice is reflected in how we respond, interact, and show up—with openness, empathy, and steadiness—in every moment.
Sanskrit Text of Yoga Sutra 1.33
मैत्री-करुणा-मुदितोपेक्षाणां सुख-दुःख-पुण्यापुण्य-विषयानां भावनातश्चित्त-प्रसादनम्॥
“Maitrī-karuṇā-muditā-upekṣāṇāṁ sukha-duḥkha-puṇyāpuṇya-viṣayāṇāṁ bhāvanātaś citta-prasādanam.”
Word-for-Word Translation
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maitri – amiability, loving-kindness
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karuna – compassion
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mudita – sympathetic joy, gladness
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upeksa – equanimity, neutrality
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sukha – happiness
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duhkha – suffering
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punya – virtue, merit
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apuṇya – vice, demerit
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bhavanatah – by cultivating, reflecting, or practicing
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citta-prasādanam – clarity, serenity, and peace of mind
The Four Attitudes: A Yogic Compass
In this sutra, Patanjali presents four attitudes that can completely transform how we perceive and relate to others. Each one becomes a doorway to inner harmony and a steady, peaceful mind.
1. Maitrī — Friendliness or Loving-Kindness
While jealousy or comparison often arise naturally when we meet people who are happy or successful, Patañjali suggests a different response: maitrī.
It is warm, heartfelt friendliness—rejoicing in another’s joy as if it were our own. By practising maitrī, we dissolve rivalry, reduce envy, and expand our capacity to love.
2. Karuna — Compassion
When we encounter suffering, yoga encourages us not to withdraw but to respond with compassion.
Karuṇā means truly feeling with others and, where possible, easing their pain. It cultivates empathy, softens the ego’s self-centeredness, and nurtures a heart that cares deeply and sincerely.
3. Mudita — Joy for the Virtuous
When we witness virtue, integrity, or goodness in someone else, the ego may respond with cynicism or doubt.
Patañjali urges us instead to cultivate mudita—a warm, uplifting joy in another’s goodness.
This attitude dissolves negativity, strengthens our admiration for the good, and builds moral courage and community harmony.
4. Upeksa — Equanimity Toward the Non-Virtuous
When faced with harmful, unethical, or unpleasant behavior, anger or judgment easily arise. Yet reacting from these emotions disturbs our own mental balance.
Upekṣā is not indifference or passivity—it is a steady, clear, and non-reactive awareness. It recognizes that every person is on their own journey of growth and that meeting negativity with hostility only agitates the mind.
Through upekṣā, we protect our inner peace while responding with wisdom instead of reactivity.
Why Emotional Attitudes Matter in Yoga
At first glance, Yoga Sutra 1.33 may appear to be a simple moral teaching. However, Patañjali presents it as a practical method for achieving citta prasadanam—a state of mental clarity, balance, and serenity.
Internal conflict is often born from emotional turbulence: jealousy, anger, cynicism, frustration, or discontent. These emotions cloud the mind and obstruct meditation, concentration, and spiritual insight.
By cultivating friendliness, compassion, joy, and equanimity, the yogi nurtures healthy emotional patterns and protects the mind from disturbance. This emotional discipline becomes the foundation upon which deeper yogic practices can flourish.
The Link to Meditation
For meditation to deepen, the mind must be steady. But unresolved emotions simmer beneath the surface, creating restlessness, distraction, or agitation whenever one tries to sit still.
By applying the four attitudes of maitrī, karuṇā, muditā, and upekṣā in everyday interactions, the yogi reduces emotional “noise” and prevents it from seeping into meditation.
In this way, Yoga Sutra 1.33 acts as a companion to the earlier teachings on one-pointed focus (eka-tattva-abhyāsa). Emotional purification clears the inner environment, allowing meditation to unfold more naturally, while steady attention strengthens mental discipline.
Comparison to Other Yogic and Spiritual Texts
Patañjali’s teaching aligns with a broader principle found throughout Indian spirituality:
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Bhagavad Gitāa (12.13–15) describes the qualities of a devotee who is kind, compassionate, even-minded, and free from envy—mirroring the attitudes outlined in this sutra.
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Buddhist Brahmaviharas cultivate loving-kindness, compassion, sympathetic joy, and equanimity. The close resonance with Yoga Sutra 1.33 highlights their shared roots in the ancient Indian spiritual tradition.
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Yoga Vasistha emphasizes detachment and equanimity as essential conditions for liberation, reinforcing the significance of upekṣā.
These parallels show that Patañjali is not imposing rigid moral rules but offering a universal psychological method for inner harmony. By shaping our emotional responses, we shape the quality of our mind—and ultimately, the depth of our yoga practice.
Modern Uses of Sutra 1.33
Though thousands of years old, Sutra 1.33 offers timeless, practical guidance for navigating daily life:
At Work:
Practice maitrī by genuinely celebrating a colleague’s success rather than feeling resentful. This fosters cooperation instead of competition.
With Family and Friends:
Practice karuṇā in moments when someone you care about is hurting. True empathy deepens connection, trust, and emotional safety.
In Society:
Practice mudita when witnessing acts of integrity or goodness. This trains the mind to look toward hope rather than despair.
In Conflict:
Practice upekṣā when faced with hurtful or unfair behavior. Equanimity allows for a thoughtful response rather than an impulsive, angry reaction.
These four attitudes transform challenges into opportunities for growth. They turn yoga into a living philosophy—balancing personal inner peace with harmony in relationships and community.
Psychological Perspectives
Modern psychology echoes the wisdom of Patañjali:
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Positive psychology highlights kindness, empathy, and gratitude as foundational traits that support resilience and well-being.
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Neuroscience research shows that cultivating compassion and loving-kindness activates brain regions associated with emotional balance, joy, and increased well-being.
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Mindfulness-based practices, rooted in similar principles, reduce emotional reactivity, tension, and anxiety.
Scientific findings affirm what the sages understood long ago:
The attitudes taught in Sutra 1.33 not only support mental clarity and emotional health but also nurture spiritual well-being.
Yoga Sutra 1.33: How to Practice
These teachings become transformative when applied through simple, consistent exercises:
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Daily Reflection
Each evening, take a moment to recall situations where you practiced—or struggled to practice—upekṣā, muditā, karuṇā, and maitrī. Reflect gently and observe your patterns without judgment.
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Metta (Loving-Kindness) Meditation
Sit quietly and repeat the classic affirmations of loving-kindness:
“May all beings be happy. May all beings be free from suffering.”
This softens the heart and strengthens compassion.
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Gratitude for Virtue
Throughout the week, notice acts of goodness—large or small—performed by others. Write them down and, when possible, express your gratitude. Appreciating virtue cultivates muditā. -
Even-Minded Awareness
When faced with negativity or irritation, pause, take a deep breath, and remind yourself:
“I do not need to let this disturb my peace.”
This simple practice nurtures upekṣā, keeping the mind steady and clear.
Final Thoughts
Yoga Sutra 1.33 reminds us that yoga is not limited to postures or concentration techniques—it is about transforming the way we relate to others and to ourselves. By nurturing friendliness, compassion, joy, and equanimity, we create the inner environment where true peace can flourish. This is the essence of citta-prasādanam: a clear, calm, and pure mind capable of perceiving reality as it is.
Patanjali teaches that the clarity of our mind is shaped in the very moment we meet another person. Every interaction becomes an opportunity for practice. In this way, yoga is not merely something we “do,” but a way of being—an ongoing, lived expression of awareness, kindness, and presence.
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