तदसङ्ख्येय वासनाभिः चित्रमपि परार्थम् संहत्यकारित्वात् ॥२४॥
tat-asaṃkhyeya-vāsanābhiḥ citram-api para-arthaṃ saṃhatya-kāritvāt ||24||
The mind through its innumerable desires acts for another (the Purusa), being combinations.
Though mind has been clouded with impressions (samskaras) throughout eternity, its aim is not only to satisfy the desires of the senses (bhoga) but also to further the emancipation of the soul.
Mind is tied by a hidden force both to the seer and to nature. It is well equipped to reach the seer, though it has no ambition of its own except to serve its Lord.
Mind has innumerable tendencies and impressions derived from memory, among which longing for pleasures and freedom from pleasures stand out. They are desired impressions. From this, it becomes clear that consciousness, being close to nature and spirit, feels that it does not exist for its own sake but for the sake of purusha and Prakriti;ti.
In the same way that a lover of God offers food, clothes and comforts as if they were essential to God, consciousness wants to satisfy its Lord with the pleasures of the world.
Once mind is cultured through yogic discipline, it becomes ripe and illumined. It realizes that the seer is not interested in objects of pleasure and opts to serve with detachment. Now that it understands its inner value, it realizes the triviality of nature's pleasures and turns towards the path of SelfRealization.
Thus transformed, it begins its journey towards emancipation.
If one's karmas are good, they awaken curiosity and guide it towards the path of kaivalya; they reward one's effort with the vision of the soul. Yogic practices speed up this process, beginning with the conquest of the body and ending in the vision of the soul. This is salvation.
PATANJALI YOGA SUTRAS
