चित्तवृत्तिनिरोधः
Citta Vṛtti Nirodhaḥ
CHIT-tah VRIT-tee ni-RO-dhah (the 'ch' is an unaspirated palatal stop, 'ṛ' is a retroflex syllabic vowel, 'dh' is an aspirated dental stop)
Level 3Etymology
Root: A compound of three words: citta (from √cit, 'to perceive, to be conscious') — the mind-field or consciousness-stuff; vṛtti (from √vṛt, 'to turn, to revolve') with suffix -ti — a modification or fluctuation; nirodha (from ni- + √rudh, 'to restrain, to stop, to contain') with suffix -a — cessation, restraint, or dissolution. Together: 'the cessation of the modifications of the mind-field.'
Literal meaning: The cessation (nirodha) of the turnings or fluctuations (vṛtti) of the mind-stuff (citta).
Definition
Chitta Vritti Nirodha is the practical aim of all yogic discipline: learning to quiet the restless chatter of the mind. In everyday terms, it is the capacity to still the constant stream of thoughts, reactions, memories, and fantasies that normally dominate awareness. When achieved even partially, it manifests as deep focus, inner calm, and freedom from compulsive mental noise.
This phrase constitutes Yoga Sūtra 1.2 — yogaś citta-vṛtti-nirodhaḥ — Patañjali's definition of Yoga itself. It is not merely relaxation but a systematic dissolution of the five categories of mental modification (pramāṇa, viparyaya, vikalpa, nidrā, smṛti) through the twin practices of abhyāsa (sustained effort) and vairāgya (non-attachment). When nirodha is attained, the seer (draṣṭṛ) abides in its own essential nature.
From the absolute perspective, citta-vṛtti-nirodha reveals that the mind and its modifications were never the true Self. When every vṛtti — including the subtlest impression of 'I am meditating' — dissolves, what remains is Purusha: pure, self-luminous awareness that was never actually obscured. Nirodha is not the creation of a new state but the uncovering of what has always been — kaivalya, the aloneness of pure consciousness prior to all phenomenal superimposition.
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Common Misconception
The most widespread misconception is that citta-vṛtti-nirodha means 'stopping all thoughts' — forcibly making the mind blank. This misreading leads to frustrated practitioners straining to suppress thinking. Nirodha actually means a natural cessation through mastery, not violent suppression. Patañjali prescribes abhyāsa (consistent practice) and vairāgya (dispassion) as the means — the vrittis dissolve organically as identification with them loosens, much as waves settle when wind stops, not when you push the water down.
Modern Application
Chitta Vritti Nirodha speaks directly to the modern crisis of attention. Our minds are bombarded by notifications, media, and information overload — an unprecedented vritti storm. Neuroscience now confirms what Patañjali taught: a mind caught in constant reactivity generates cortisol, fragments working memory, and erodes well-being. Practices derived from this principle — meditation, breathwork, mindful pauses — are now prescribed by psychologists for anxiety, ADHD, and burnout. The concept reframes mental health not as adding coping mechanisms but as removing the turbulence that obscures an already-present clarity. Every time someone puts down their phone to sit in silence, they are practicing nirodha.
Quick Quiz
What does Patañjali's sūtra 'yogaś citta-vṛtti-nirodhaḥ' define?