Invocation to Patanjali
Yogena cittasya padena vacam
(yo-gay-nuh chi-tah-syuh pah-day-nuh vah-chahm)
Malam sarirasyaca vaidyakena
(mah-lahm shah-ree-rah-syuh chuh vy-dyuh-kay-nuh)
Yopakarottam pravaram muninam
(yo-pah kar-oh-tahm prah-vah-rahm moo-nee-nahm)
Patanjalim pranjaliranato’smi
(pah-tahn-jah-lim prahn-jah-leer ah-nah-to-smee)
Abahu purusakaram
(ah-bah-hoo poo-roo-shah-kar-ahm)
Sankha cakrasi dharinam
(shahn-kah chah-krah-see dar-ee-nahm)
Sahasra sirasam svetam
(sha-hah-srah sheer-ah-sahm shvay-tahm)
Pranamami Patanjalim
(prah-nuh-mah-mee pah-tahn-jah-lim)
Hari Aum
Translation
Translation from Light on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali by B.K.S. Iyengar:
Let us bow before the noblest of sages, Patanjali, who gave yoga for serenity and sanctaity of mind, grammar for clarity and purity of speech, and medicine for perfection of health.
Let us prostrate before Patanjali, an incarnation of Adisesa, whose upper body has a human form, whose arms hold a conch and a disc, and who is crowned by a thousand-headed cobra.