Anyone who does not have a basic knowledge of sanskrit is at a disadvantage when studying a translation. This is because the reader is at the mercy of the translator and is liable to be exploited. Texts like the Bhagavad-gita and the Yoga Sūtras were and are being translated by many writers. Each translator has a motive. If the reader is naieve, he can hardly sort between the intentions of the original writer and the agenda of the translator. I was prompted to attempt this translation by Sir Paul Castagna, but I did have some schooling in the practice of this yoga by Srila Yogeshwarananda, one of my yoga.
