Pratyahara The Step that Yogis Jump Over

Mastering the senses is a forgotten skill

- Shri Suren Rao

By drawing our senses of perception inwards, we are able to experience the control, silence, and quietness of the mind." -BKS Iyengar Since my childhood, stories from the epic Mahabharata, narrated by grandparents, parents, relatives and teachers, written in hundreds of books and aired on national radio and television channels, have intrigued me and they continue to puzzle me, even today.

Of these, the stories of Karna fascinate me the most from a Sadhaka's point of view. To recapitulate, Karna was the spiritual son of Surya (the Sun deity) and princess Kunti (later King Pandu's queen). He was raised by foster parents named Radha and Adhiratha. Adhiratha was a charioteer by profession, working for king Dhritarashtra.

Karna announced himself as a Brahmin and learned archery under the tutelage of the great saint, warrior and teacher, Parashuram. One afternoon, when the teacher was having a nap with his head resting on Karna's thigh, under the shade of a tree in the thick forest, a deadly scorpion crawled up on Karna's leg and stung him. Karna was in acute pain but sat like a statue so that the teacher's sleep was not disturbed.