That is an excellent and insightful question. The verse you're referencing, and its associated commentary, is a cornerstone of understanding how karma and latent tendencies work in the mind according to Patanjali.
The specific concept comes from the commentary on Yoga Sutra 4.9:
Jāti āyuḥ bhogāḥ alambanāni teṣām avasthānāni tadvipākāḥ.
"Birth, lifespan, and experience are their (the vasanas') supported objects, and their manifestations are the results of these."
The classic commentary, especially by Vyasa, unpacks this by stating that these latent impressions (samskaras) or vasanas are held together by four pillars:
- Cause (Hetu): The original action or experience.
- Effect (Phala): The potential future result or fruit.
- Basis/Grasping Object (Ālambana): The content or "subject matter" of the impression.
- Support/Substratum (Āśraya or Adhiṣṭhāna): The container where the impression resides.
Let's break down the two you asked about: Basis (Ālambana) and Support (Āśraya/Adhiṣṭhāna). While they might sound similar, they refer to two fundamentally different aspects of a vasana's existence.
1. Basis / Grasping Object (Ālambana)
Meaning: Ālambana literally means "that which is taken hold of" or "support/grasp." In this context, it is the mental object or the content of the impression. It is the what the impression is about.
Think of a vasana as a memory packet. The Ālambana is the data inside the packet—the image, the sound, the feeling, the idea that forms its core identity.
Example:
Imagine you have a strong vasana, or latent craving, for chocolate.
- The Basis (Ālambana) of this vasana is not the chocolate bar itself, but the mental representation of "chocolate": its image in your mind, the memory of its taste, the feeling of pleasure it gave. When the latent desire rises to the surface of your consciousness, it takes hold of this specific "chocolate" mental object.
All your cravings, aversions, fears, and desires have an Ālambana. For a vasana of fear of spiders, the Ālambana is the mental image and concept of a spider. Without this specific mental content, the vasana would be a vague, directionless energy. The Ālambana gives the latent tendency its specific shape and direction.
In short: Ālambana is the "What" — the specific mental content of the impression.
2. Support / Substratum (Āśraya or Adhiṣṭhāna)
Meaning: Āśraya means "substrate," "abode," or "ground." Adhiṣṭhāna means "support," "basis," or "location." In this context, they both refer to the container that holds the impression—the Mind-Field, or Citta.
The Citta is the universal, cosmic lake of consciousness for an individual. Every single one of your experiences, thoughts, and emotions creates a ripple (a vritti or mental fluctuation) and leaves a subtle trace (a vasana). These vasanas don't just float around in a void; they are supported by and stored within the very fabric of your mind-field.
Example:
Let's use the chocolate craving again.
- The Support (Āśraya) of this vasana is your own individual mind (Citta). The latent impression of "chocolate desire" resides in your subconscious mind-field. It cannot exist without this mental ground. The Citta is the soil in which the seeds of vasanas are stored and from which they can later sprout.
This is why yoga practice is aimed at calming, purifying, and eventually dissolving the Citta. By changing the nature of the support—making it sattvic (pure, clear, and stable)—you change the nature of what it supports. An agitated, tamasic mind is fertile ground for all vasanas to sprout chaotically. A clear, sattvic mind is less hospitable, allowing the practitioner to see the vasanas for what they are and detach from them.
In short: Āśraya is the "Where" — the mind-field (Citta) that houses all impressions.
An Analogy to Clarify: The Cloud in the Sky
Think of the Citta (mind-field) as the sky * Āśraya (Support). The sky is the vast space that allows all weather phenomena to happen.
Think of a specific cloud as a vasana. This cloud is held together by its properties.
- The Ālambana (Basis) of the cloud is its water content and specific shape. This gives it its identity—it's a "fluffy, white, cumulus cloud," not a "thin, wispy cirrus cloud." The water molecules are its content.
- The Āśraya (Support) is the sky itself. The cloud cannot exist without the atmosphere and space of the sky to exist in.
The goal of yoga (Kaivalya) is to realize that You are the Sky (Purusha, pure consciousness), not the Cloud (Citta and its contents). By understanding that the clouds (vasanas) are simply temporary formations held within the sky of the mind, you can stop identifying with them and find lasting freedom from their influence.
In summary:
| Term | Sanskrit | Role in the Impression | Example (Vasana of a past argument) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cause | Hetu | The original event. | The argument itself. |
| Effect | Phala | The latent potential for future feelings/bhabits. | The seeds of anger or defensiveness that will sprout later. |
| Basis | Ālambana | The content—the mental object it's about. | The memory of the other person's face, the sound of their voice, the specific words spoken. |
| Support | Āśraya | The container—the mind where it's stored. | Your own subconscious mind-field (Citta). |