Or through prātibha, everything is known.

Prātibha is spontaneous intuition, knowledge that arises without effort. Vā means “or.” Sarva is everything.

After enumerating many specific siddhis, Patañjali offers an alternative: intuitive knowledge that encompasses everything.

Prātibha is the light of the buddhi fully awakened. When the mind is completely purified, knowledge arises spontaneously as needed.

It does not require saṃyama on specific objects. It is the general capacity to know directly.

It is like the difference between learning languages one by one or having the gift of tongues. Prātibha is the gift of knowledge.

This is considered a higher level of siddhi. The specific ones are like branches; prātibha is like having access to the entire tree.

It arises naturally in the advanced stages of practice. It is a sign that the buddhi has been purified of the veils of avidyā.

Many masters operate from prātibha: they know what they need to know when they need to know it.