In a 2015 workshop with Kquvien Deweese, we opened the weekend with a chant of this sutra. She essentially translated it as ‘And now, yoga begins’ while also describing the difference between singing and chanting.
Singing is something you do to please others,
Chanting is something you do to please yourself.
Succinctly well put.
With prayers for divine blessings, now begins an exposition of the sacred art of yoga.
Sorry BKS, this sounds a little church-y to me.