Disease, dullness, doubt, carelessness, laziness, incontinence, false perception, non-attainment of stages, and instability are the distractions of the mind; these are the obstacles.

The nine antarāyas (obstacles):

1. Vyādhi — Physical illness
2. Styāna — Mental dullness, stagnation
3. Saṃśaya — Doubt about the path
4. Pramāda — Carelessness, negligence
5. Ālasya — Laziness, inertia
6. Avirati — Incontinence, lack of self-control
7. Bhrānti-darśana — False perception, illusion
8. Alabdha-bhūmikatva — Non-attainment of stages of progress
9. Anavasthitatva — Instability, inability to maintain attainment

Patañjali recognizes that the path is not linear. These obstacles are universal; knowing them is the first step to overcoming them.