Here are seven ways to explain this sūtra from seven different, respected, and renowned authorities known for their work with Patañjali’s Yoga Sūtras.

T.K.V. Desikachar: There are five activities of the mind. Each of them can be beneficial and each can cause problems.

B.K.S. Iyengar: The movements of consciousness are fivefold. They may be cognizable or non-cognizable, painful or non-painful.

Sri Swami Satchidananda: There are five kinds of mental modifications which are either painful or painless.

Chip Hartranft: There are five types of patterns, including both hurtful and benign.

Gregor Maehle: There are five types of mind waves, which can be troublesome or untroublesome.

Swāmi Hariharānanda Āranya: They fall into five varieties of which some are ‘klista’ and the rest are ‘aklista’ 

I.K. Taimni: The modifications of the mind are five-fold and are painful or not-painful.