Patanjali's Yoga Sutras

Grammatical Curiosity: The word aparāmṛṣṭaḥ, “not touched” or “not contaminated,” comes from a-para (अपर), meaning “not, without,” and āmṛṣṭa (आमृष्ट), which means “touched, contaminated.”

Thus, aparāmṛṣṭaḥ suggests that Īśvara is a consciousness that has never been contaminated. It is not merely “non-contamination” in the sense of purification, but an original purity, never altered, even when the experiences of the world generate the illusion of contamination. A useful example is that of a glass of water mixed with mud: although it appears cloudy, the pure water is always present, ready to rise again when the mud settles at the bottom.

Sanskrit Terms Āśaya and Saṃskāra: You may have already heard of saṃskāra and wondered what the difference is between it and āśaya. The distinction is subtle but significant within the context of the Yoga Sūtras and Indian philosophy.

Āśaya (आशय) translates as “latent impression” or “mental tendency.” It refers to the traces left by actions, thoughts, and experiences that accumulate in the subconscious, creating a reservoir of potential tendencies. It can be thought of as a storage that holds the seeds of our karma.
Saṃskāra (संस्कार), on the other hand, translates as “imprint” or “mental impression.” It arises from those latent impressions, shaping our habits and automatic reactions. While āśaya is the container, saṃskāra is the concrete form that what is inside the container can take.

In other words, āśaya is the karmic deposit, while saṃskāra is what takes shape from that deposit, influencing our recurring mental patterns.