S'rîmad Bhâgavatam - Canto 11
Sanskrit, word-for-word and original translation of Swami Prabhupâda his pupils
(for the purports one will have to consult the books under the copyright of the BBT)

 

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Canto 11: 'General History'

 

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Chapter Fifteen: Lord Krishna's Description of Mystic Yoga Perfections

 

 

 

TEXT 1

s'rî-bhagavân uvâca

jitendriyasya yuktasya

jita-s'vâsasya yogînah

mayi dhârayatas' ceta

upatisthhanti siddhayah

s'rî-bhagavân uvâca - the Supreme Personality of Godhead said; jita-indriyasya - of one who has conquered his senses; yuktasya - who has steadied the mind; jita-s'vâsasya - and conquered his breathing system; yogînah - of such a yogî; mayi - in Me; dhârayatah - fixing; cetah - his consciousness; upatisthhanti - appear; siddhayah - the mystic perfections of yoga.

TRANSLATION

The Supreme Personality of Godhead said - My dear Uddhava, the mystic perfections of yoga are acquired by a yogî who has conquered his senses, steadied his mind, conquered the breathing process and fixed his mind on Me.

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TEXT 2

s'rî-uddhava uvâca

kayâ dhâranayâ kâ svit

katham vâ siddhir acyuta

kati vâ siddhayo brûhi

yogînâm siddhi-do bhavân

s'rî-uddhavah uvâca - S'rî Uddhava said; kayâ - by what; dhâranayâ - process of meditation; kâ svit - which indeed; katham - in what manner; vâ - or; siddhih - mystic perfection; acyuta - My dear Lord; kati - how many; vâ - or; siddhayah - perfections; brûhi - please speak; yogînâm - of all yogîs; siddhi-dah - the giver of mystic perfections; bhavân - You.

TRANSLATION

S'rî Uddhava said: My dear Lord Acyuta, by what process can mystic perfection be achieved, and what is the nature of such perfection? How many mystic perfections are there? Please explain these things to me. Indeed, You are the bestower of all mystic perfections.

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TEXT 3

s'rî-bhagavân uvâca

siddhayo 'sthâdas'a proktâ

dhâranâ yoga-pâra-gaih

tâsâm asthau mat-pradhânâ

das'aiva guna-hetavah

s'rî-bhagavân uvâca - the Supreme Personality of Godhead said; siddhayah - mystic perfections; asthâdas'a - eighteen; proktâh - are declared; dhâranâh - meditations; yoga - of yoga; pâra-gaih - by the masters; tâsâm - of the eighteen; asthau - eight; mat-pradhânâh - have their shelter in Me; das'a - ten; eva - indeed; guna-hetavah - are manifested from the material mode of goodness.

TRANSLATION

The Supreme Personality of Godhead said - The masters of the yoga system have declared that there are eighteen types of mystic perfection and meditation, of which eight are primary, having their shelter in Me, and ten are secondary, appearing from the material mode of goodness.

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TEXTS 4 - 5

animâ mahimâ mûrter

laghimâ prâptir indriyaih

prâkâmyam s'ruta-dristheshu

s'akti-preranam îs'itâ

 

guneshv asango vas'itâ

yat-kâmas tad avasyati

etâ me siddhayah saumya

asthâv autpattikâ matâh

animâ - the perfection of becoming smaller than the smallest; mahimâ - becoming greater than the greatest; mûrteh - of the body; laghimâ - becoming lighter than the lightest; prâptih - acquisition; indriyaih - by the senses; prâkâmyam - obtaining or performing whatever one desires; s'ruta - things invisible, about which one only hears; dristheshu - and things visible; s'akti-preranam - manipulating the subpotencies of mâyâ; îs'itâ - the perfection of controlling;

guneshu - in the modes of material nature; asangah - being unobstructed; vas'itâ - the power to bring others under control; yat - whatever; kâmah - desire (there may be); tat - that; avasyati - one can obtain; etâh - these; me - My (potencies); siddhayah - mystic perfections; saumya - O gentle Uddhava; asthau - eight; autpattikâh - natural and unexcelled; matâh - understood to be.

TRANSLATION

Among the eight primary mystic perfections, the three by which one transforms one's own body are animâ, becoming smaller than the smallest; mahimâ, becoming greater than the greatest; and laghimâ, becoming lighter than the lightest. Through the perfection of prâpti one acquires whatever one desires, and through prâkâmya-siddhi one experiences any enjoyable object, either in this world or the next. Through is'itâ-siddhi one can manipulate the subpotencies of mâyâ, and through the controlling potency called vas'itâ-siddhi one is unimpeded by the three modes of nature. One who has acquired kâmâvasâyitâ-siddhi can obtain anything from anywhere, to the highest possible limit. My dear gentle Uddhava, these eight mystic perfections are considered to be naturally existing and unexcelled within this world.

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TEXTS 6 - 7

anûrmimattvam dehe 'smin

dûra-s'ravana-dars'anam

mano-javah kâma-rûpam

para-kâya-praves'anam

 

svacchanda-mrityur devânâm

saha-krîdânudars'anam

yathâ-sankalpa-samsiddhir

âjñâpratihatâ gatih

anûrmi-mattvam - being undisturbed by hunger, thirst, etc.; dehe asmin - in this body; dûra - things very far away; s'ravana - hearing; dars'anam - and seeing; manah-javah - moving the body at the speed of the mind; kâma-rûpam - assuming any body that one desires; para-kâya - the bodies of others; praves'anam - entering;

sva-chanda - according to one's own desire; mrityuh - dying; devânâm - of the demigods; saha - together with (the celestial girls); krîdâ - the sporting pastimes; anudars'anam - witnessing; yathâ - according to; sankalpa - one's determination; samsiddhih - perfect accomplishment; âjñâ - order; apratihatâ - unimpeded; gatih - whose progress.

TRANSLATION

The ten secondary mystic perfections arising from the modes of nature are the powers of freeing oneself from hunger and thirst and other bodily disturbances, hearing and seeing things far away, moving the body at the speed of the mind, assuming any form one desires, entering the bodies of others, dying when one desires, witnessing the pastimes between the demigods and the celestial girls called Apsarâs, completely executing one's determination and giving orders whose fulfillment is unimpeded.

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TEXTS 8 - 9

tri-kâla-jñatvam advandvam

para-cittâdy-abhijñatâ

agny-arkâmbu-vishâdînâm

pratisthambho 'parâjayah

 

etâs' coddes'atah proktâ

yoga-dhârana-siddhayah

yayâ dhâranayâ yâ syâd

yathâ vâ syân nibodha me

tri-kâla-jñatvam - the perfection of knowing past, present and future; advandvam - being unaffected by dualities such as heat and cold; para - of others; citta - the mind; âdi - and so on; abhijñatâ - knowing; agni - of fire; arka - the sun; ambu - water; visha - of poison; âdînâm - and so on; pratisthambhah - checking the potency; aparâjayah - not being conquered by others;

etâh - these; ca - also; uddes'atah - merely by mentioning their names and characteristics; proktâh - are described; yoga - of the yoga system; dhârana - of meditation; siddhayah - perfections; yayâ - by which; dhâranayâ - meditation; yâ - which (perfection); syât - may occur; yathâ - by which means; vâ - or; syât - may occur; nibodha - please learn; me - from Me.

TRANSLATION

The power to know past, present and future; tolerance of heat, cold and other dualities; knowing the minds of others; checking the influence of fire, sun, water, poison, and so on; and remaining unconquered by others - these constitute five perfections of the mystic process of yoga and meditation. I am simply listing these here according to their names and characteristics. Now please learn from Me how specific mystic perfections arise from specific meditations and also of the particular processes involved.

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TEXT 10

bhûta-sûkshmâtmani mayi

tan-mâtram dhârayen manah

animânam avâpnoti

tan-mâtropâsako mama

bhûta-sûkshma - of the subtle elements; âtmani - in the soul; mayi - in Me; tat-mâtram - on the subtle, elemental forms of perception; dhârayet - one should concentrate; manah - the mind; animânam - the mystic perfection called animâ; avâpnoti - obtains; tat-mâtra - in the subtle elements; upâsakah - the worshiper; mama - My.

TRANSLATION

One who worships Me in My atomic form pervading all subtle elements, fixing his mind on that alone, obtains the mystic perfection called animâ.

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TEXT 11

mahat-tattvâtmani mayi

yathâ-samstham mano dadhat

mahimânam avâpnoti

bhûtânâm ca prithak prithak

mahat-tattva - of the total material energy; âtmani - in the Soul; mayi - in Me; yathâ - according to; samstham - the particular situation; manah - the mind; dadhat - fixing; mahimânam - the mystic perfection called mahimâ; avâpnoti - one achieves; bhûtânâm - of the material elements; ca - also; prithak prithak - each one individually.

TRANSLATION

One who absorbs his mind in the particular form of the mahat-tattva and thus meditates upon Me as the Supreme Soul of the total material existence achieves the mystic perfection called mahimâ. By further absorbing the mind in the situation of each individual element such as the sky, air, fire, and so on, one progressively acquires the greatness of each material element.

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TEXT 12

paramânu-maye cittam

bhûtânâm mayi rañjayan

kâla-sûkshmârthatâm yogî

laghimânam avâpnuyât

parama-anu-maye - in the form of atoms; cittam - his consciousness; bhûtânâm - of the material elements; mayi - in Me; rañjayan - attaching; kâla - of time; sûkshma - subtle; arthatâm - being the substance; yogî - the yogî; laghimânam - the mystic perfection laghimâ; avâpnuyât - may obtain.

TRANSLATION

I exist within everything, and I am therefore the essence of the atomic constituents of material elements. By attaching his mind to Me in this form, the yogî may achieve the perfection called laghimâ, by which he realizes the subtle atomic substance of time.

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TEXT 13

dhârayan mayy aham-tattve

mano vaikârike 'khilam

sarvendriyânâm âtmatvam

prâptim prâpnoti man-manâh

dhârayan - concentrating; mayi - in Me; aham-tattve - within the element of false ego; manah - the mind; vaikârike - in that which is produced from the mode of goodness; akhilam - completely; sarva - of all living entities; indriyânâm - of the senses; âtmatvam - proprietorship; prâptim - the mystic perfection of acquisition; prâpnoti - obtains; mat-manâh - the yogî whose mind is fixed in Me.

TRANSLATION

Fixing his mind completely in Me within the element of false ego generated from the mode of goodness, the yogî obtains the power of mystic acquisition, by which he becomes the proprietor of the senses of all living entities. He obtains such perfection because his mind is absorbed in Me.

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TEXT 14

mahaty âtmani yah sûtre

dhârayen mayi mânasam

prâkâmyam pâramesthhyam me

vindate 'vyakta-janmanah

mahati - in the mahat-tattva; âtmani - in the Supersoul; yah - one who; sûtre - characterized by the chain of fruitive activities; dhârayet - should concentrate; mayi - in Me; mânasam - the mental activities; prâkâmyam - the mystic perfection called prâkâmya; pâramesthhyam - most excellent; me - from Me; vindate - obtains or enjoys; avyakta-janmanah - from Him whose appearance in this world cannot be materially perceived.

TRANSLATION

One who concentrates all mental activities in Me as the Supersoul of that phase of the mahat-tattva which manifests the chain of fruitive activities obtains from Me, whose appearance is beyond material perception, the most excellent mystic perfection called prâkâmya.

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TEXT 15

vishnau try-adhîs'vare cittam

dhârayet kâla-vigrahe

sa îs'itvam avâpnoti

kshetrajña-kshetra-codanâm

vishnau - in Lord Vishnu, the Supersoul; tri-adhîs'vare - the supreme controller of mâyâ, which consists of three modes of nature; cittam - the consciousness; dhârayet - one concentrates; kâla - of time, the prime mover; vigrahe - in the form; sah - he, the yogî; îs'itvam - the mystic perfection of controlling; avâpnoti - obtains; kshetra-jña - the conscious living entity; kshetra - and the body with its designations; codanâm - impelling.

TRANSLATION

One who places his consciousness on Vishnu, the Supersoul, the prime mover and Supreme Lord of the external energy consisting of three modes, obtains the mystic perfection of controlling other conditioned souls, their material bodies and their bodily designations.

PURPORT

We should remember that mystic perfection never enables a living entity to challenge the supremacy of the Personality of Godhead. In fact, one cannot obtain such perfections without the mercy of the Supreme Lord; thus one's controlling power can never disturb the plan of Lord Krishna. One is allowed to exhibit mystic control only within the confines of the law of God, and even a great yogî who transgresses the law of God by his so-called mystic opulences will be severely punished, as revealed in the story of Durvâsâ Muni cursing Ambarîsha Mahârâja.

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TEXT 16

nârâyane turîyâkhye

bhagavac-chabda-s'abdite

mano mayy âdadhad yogî

mad-dharmâ vas'itâm iyât

nârâyane - in the Supreme Lord, Nârâyana; turîya-âkhye - known as the fourth, beyond the three modes of material nature; bhagavat - full of all opulences; s'abda-s'abdite - known by the word; manah - the mind; mayi - in Me; âdadhat - placing; yogî - the yogî; mat-dharmâ - being endowed with My nature; vas'itâm - the mystic opulence called vas'itâ; iyât - may obtain.

TRANSLATION

The yogî who places his mind in My form of Nârâyana, known as the fourth factor, full of all opulences, becomes endowed with My nature and thus obtains the mystic perfection called vas'itâ.

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TEXT 17

nirgune brahmani mayi

dhârayan vis'adam manah

paramânandam âpnoti

yatra kâmo 'vasîyate

nirgune - without qualities; brahmani - in Brahman; mayi - in Me; dhârayan - concentrating; vis'adam - pure; manah - the mind; parama-ânandam - the greatest happiness; âpnoti - obtains; yatra - wherein; kâmah - desire; avasîyate - is completely fulfilled.

TRANSLATION

One who fixes his pure mind on Me in My manifestation as the impersonal Brahman obtains the greatest happiness, wherein all his desires are completely fulfilled.

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TEXT 18

s'vetadvîpa-patau cittam

s'uddhe dharma-maye mayi

dhârayan' chvetatâm yâti

shad-ûrmi-rahito narah

s'veta-dvîpa - of the white island, the abode of Kshîrodakas'âyî Vishnu; patau - in the Lord; cittam - consciousness; s'uddhe - in the personification of goodness; dharma-maye - in He who is always situated in piety; mayi - in Me; dhârayan - concentrating; s'vetatâm - pure existence; yâti - obtains; shath-ûrmi - the six waves of material disturbance; rahitah - freed from; narah - a person.

TRANSLATION

A human being who concentrates on Me as the upholder of religious principles, the personification of purity and the Lord of S'vetadvîpa obtains the pure existence in which he is freed from the six waves of material disturbance, namely hunger, thirst, decay, death, grief and illusion.

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TEXT 19

mayy âkâs'âtmani prâne

manasâ ghosham udvahan

tatropalabdhâ bhûtânâm

hamso vâcah s'rinoty asau

mayi - in Me; âkâs'a-âtmani - in the personification of the sky; prâne - in the life air; manasâ - with the mind; ghosham - the transcendental sound; udvahan - concentrating on; tatra - there in the sky; upalabdhâh - perceived; bhûtânâm - of all living entities; hamsah - the purified living entity; vâcah - words or speaking; s'rinoti - hears; asau - he.

TRANSLATION

That purified living entity who fixes his mind on the extraordinary sound vibrations occurring within Me as the personified sky and total life air is then able to perceive within the sky the speaking of all living entities.

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TEXT 20

cakshus tvasthari samyojya

tvasthâram api cakshushi

mâm tatra manasâ dhyâyan

vis'vam pas'yati dûratah

cakshuh - the eyes; tvasthari - in the sun; samyojya - merging; tvasthâram - the sun; api - also; cakshushi - in one's eyes; mâm - Me; tatra - there, in the mutual merging of sun and eye; manasâ - with the mind; dhyâyan - meditating; vis'vam - everything; pas'yati - he sees; dûratah - far away.

TRANSLATION

Merging one's sight into the sun planet and then the sun planet into one's eyes, one should meditate on Me as existing within the combination of sun and vision; thus one acquires the power to see any distant thing.

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TEXT 21

mano mayi su-samyojya

deham tad-anuvâyunâ

mad-dhâranânubhâvena

tatrâtmâ yatra vai manah

manah - the mind; mayi - in Me; su-samyojya - completely absorbing; deham - the material body; tat - the mind; anu-vâyunâ - by the wind that follows; mat-dhâranâ - of meditation in Me; anubhâvena - by the potency; tatra - there; âtmâ - the material body (goes); yatra - wherever; vai - certainly; manah - the mind (goes).

TRANSLATION

The yogî who completely absorbs his mind in Me, and who then makes use of the wind that follows the mind to absorb the material body in Me, obtains through the potency of meditation on Me the mystic perfection by which his body immediately follows his mind wherever it goes.

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TEXT 22

yadâ mana upâdâya

yad yad rûpam bubhûshati

tat tad bhaven mano-rûpam

mad-yoga-balam âs'rayah

yadâ - when; manah - the mind; upâdâya - applying; yat yat - whatever; rûpam - form; bubhûshati - one desires to assume; tat tat - that very form; bhavet - may appear; manah-rûpam - the form desired by the mind; mat-yoga-balam - My inconceivable mystic potency, by which I manifest innumerable forms; âs'rayah - being the shelter.

TRANSLATION

When the yogî, applying his mind in a certain way, desires to assume a particular form, that very form immediately appears. Such perfection is possible by absorbing the mind in the shelter of My inconceivable mystic potency, by which I assume innumerable forms.

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TEXT 23

para-kâyam vis'an siddha

âtmânam tatra bhâvayet

pindam hitvâ vis'et prâno

vâyu-bhûtah shadanghri-vat

para - of another; kâyam - the body; vis'an - desiring to enter; siddhah - one perfected in yoga practice; âtmânam - oneself; tatra - in that body; bhâvayet - imagines; pindam - one's own gross body; hitvâ - giving up; vis'et - one should enter; prânah - in the subtle body; vâyu-bhûtah - becoming just like the wind; shath-anghri-vat - like the bee, who easily moves from one flower to another.

TRANSLATION

When a perfect yogî desires to enter another's body, he should meditate upon himself within the other body, and then, giving up his own gross body, he should enter the other's body through the pathways of air, as easily as a bee leaves one flower and flies into another.

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TEXT 24

pârshnyâpîdya gudam prânam

hrid-urah-kanthha-mûrdhasu

âropya brahma-randhrena

brahma nîtvotsrijet tanum

pârshnyâ - with the heel of the foot; âpîdya - blocking; gudam - the anus; prânam - the vital air carrying the living entity; hrit - from the heart; urah - to the chest; kanthha - to the neck; mûrdhasu - and to the head; âropya - placing; brahma-randhrena - by the spiritual seat at the top of the head; brahma - to the spiritual world or impersonal Brahman (or any other destination one has selected); nîtvâ - leading (the soul); utsrijet - one should give up; tanum - the material body.

TRANSLATION

The yogî who has achieved the mystic perfection called svacchanda-mrityu blocks the anus with the heel of the foot and then lifts the soul from the heart to the chest, to the neck and finally to the head. Situated within the brahma-randhra, the yogî then gives up his material body and guides the spirit soul to the selected destination.

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TEXT 25

viharishyan surâkrîde

mat-stham sattvam vibhâvayet

vimânenopatisthhanti

sattva-vrittîh sura-striyah

viharishyan - desiring to enjoy; sura - of the demigods; âkrîde - in the pleasure gardens; mat - in Me; stham - situated; sattvam - the mode of goodness; vibhâvayet - one should meditate on; vimânena - by airplane; upatisthhanti - they arrive; sattva - in the mode of goodness; vrittîh - appearing; sura - of the demigods; striyah - the women.

TRANSLATION

The yogî who desires to enjoy in the pleasure gardens of the demigods should meditate on the purified mode of goodness, which is situated within Me, and then the heavenly women, generated from the mode of goodness, will approach him in airplanes.

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TEXT 26

yathâ sankalpayed buddhyâ

yadâ vâ mat-parah pumân

mayi satye mano yuñjams

tathâ tat samupâs'nute

yathâ - by which means; sankalpayet - one may determine or resolve; buddhyâ - by the mind; yadâ - when; vâ - or; mat-parah - having faith in Me; pumân - the yogî; mayi - in Me; satye - whose desire always becomes truth; manah - the mind; yuñjan - absorbing; tathâ - by that means; tat - that very purpose; samupâs'nute - he obtains.

TRANSLATION

A yogî who has faith in Me, absorbing his mind in Me and knowing that My purpose is always fulfilled, will always achieve his purpose by the very means he has determined to follow.

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TEXT 27

yo vai mad-bhâvam âpanna

îs'itur vas'ituh pumân

kutas'cin na vihanyeta

tasya câjñâ yathâ mama

yah - one who (a yogî); vai - indeed; mat - from Me; bhâvam - nature; âpannah - achieved; îs'ituh - from the supreme ruler; vas'ituh - the supreme controller; pumân - a person (yogî); kutas'cit - in any way; na vihanyeta - cannot be frustrated; tasya - his; ca - also; âjñâ - order, command; yathâ - just as; mama - Mine.

TRANSLATION

A person who perfectly meditates on Me acquires My nature of being the supreme ruler and controller. His order, like Mine, can never be frustrated by any means.

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TEXT 28

mad-bhaktyâ s'uddha-sattvasya

yogîno dhâranâ-vidah

tasya trai-kâlikî buddhir

janma-mrityûpabrimhitâ

mat-bhaktyâ - by devotion to Me; s'uddha-sattvasya - of one whose existence is purified; yogînah - of a yogî; dhâranâ-viduh - who knows the process of meditation; tasya - of him; trai-kâlikî - functioning in three phases of time, namely past, present and future; buddhih - intelligence; janma-mrityu - birth and death; upabrimhitâ - including.

TRANSLATION

A yogî who has purified his existence by devotion to Me and who thus expertly knows the process of meditation obtains knowledge of past, present and future. He can therefore see the birth and death of himself and others.

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TEXT 29

agny-âdibhir na hanyeta

muner yoga-mayam vapuh

mad-yoga-s'ânta-cittasya

yâdasâm udakam yathâ

agni - by fire; âdibhih - and so on (sun, water, poison, etc.); na - not; hanyeta - can be injured; muneh - of a wise yogî; yoga-mayam - fully cultivated in yoga science; vapuh - the body; mat-yoga - by devotional connection with Me; s'ânta - pacified; cittasya - whose consciousness; yâdasâm - of the aquatics; udakam - water; yathâ - just as.

TRANSLATION

Just as the bodies of aquatics cannot be injured by water, similarly, the body of a yogî whose consciousness is pacified by devotion to Me and who is fully developed in yoga science cannot be injured by fire, sun, water, poison, and so forth.

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TEXT 30

mad-vibhûtîr abhidhyâyan

s'rîvatsâstra-vibhûshitâh

dhvajâtapatra-vyajanaih

sa bhaved aparâjitah

mat - My; vibhûtîh - opulent incarnations; abhidhyâyan - meditating upon; s'rîvatsa - with the Lord's S'rîvatsa opulence; astra - and weapons; vibhûshitâh - decorated; dhvaja - with flags; âtapatra - with ceremonial umbrellas; vyajanaih - and different types of fans; sah - he, the devotee-yogî; bhavet - becomes; aparâjitah - unconquerable by others.

TRANSLATION

My devotee becomes unconquerable by meditating on My opulent incarnations, which are decorated with S'rîvatsa and various weapons and are endowed with imperial paraphernalia such as flags, ornamental umbrellas and fans.

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TEXT 31

upâsakasya mâm evam

yoga-dhâranayâ muneh

siddhayah pûrva-kathitâ

upatisthhanty as'eshatah

upâsakasya - of one who is worshiping; mâm - Me; evam - thus; yoga-dhâranayâ - by the process of mystic meditation; muneh - of a learned person; siddhayah - the mystic perfections; pûrva - previously; kathitâh - described; upatisthhanti - approach; as'eshatah - in all respects.

TRANSLATION

A learned devotee who worships Me through yoga meditation certainly obtains in all respects the mystic perfections that I have described.

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TEXT 32

jitendriyasya dântasya

jita-s'vâsâtmano muneh

mad-dhâranâm dhârayatah

kâ sâ siddhih su-durlabhâ

jita-indriyasya - of one who has conquered his senses; dântasya - who is disciplined and self-controlled; jita-s'vâsa - who has conquered his breathing; âtmanah - and conquered the mind; muneh - of such a sage; mat - in Me; dhâranâm - meditation; dhârayatah - who is conducting; kâ - what is; sâ - that; siddhih - perfection; su-durlabhâ - which is very difficult to achieve.

TRANSLATION

For a sage who has conquered his senses, breathing and mind, who is self-controlled and always absorbed in meditation on Me, what mystic perfection could possibly be difficult to achieve?

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TEXT 33

antarâyân vadanty etâ

yuñjato yogam uttamam

mayâ sampadyamânasya

kâla-kshapana-hetavah

antarâyân - impediments; vadanti - they say; etâh - these mystic perfections; yuñjatah - of one engaging in; yogam - connection with the Absolute; uttamam - the supreme stage; mayâ - with Me; sampadyamânasya - of one who is becoming completely opulent; kâla - of time; kshapana - of the interruption, waste; hetavah - causes.

TRANSLATION

Learned experts in devotional service state that the mystic perfections of yoga that I have mentioned are actually impediments and are a waste of time for one who is practicing the supreme yoga, by which one achieves all perfection in life directly from Me.

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TEXT 34

janmaushadhi-tapo-mantrair

yâvatîr iha siddhayah

yogenâpnoti tâh sarvâ

nânyair yoga-gatim vrajet

janma - by birth; aushadhi - herbs; tapah - austerities; mantraih - and by mantras; yâvatîh - as many as there are; iha - in this world; siddhayah - perfections; yogena - by devotional service to Me; âpnoti - one obtains; tâh - those; sarvâh - all of them; na - not; anyaih - by other methods; yoga-gatim - the actual perfection of yoga; vrajet - one can achieve.

TRANSLATION

Whatever mystic perfections can be achieved by good birth, herbs, austerities and mantras can all be achieved by devotional service to Me; indeed, one cannot achieve the actual perfection of yoga by any other means.

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TEXT 35

sarvâsâm api siddhînâm

hetuh patir aham prabhuh

aham yogasya sânkhyasya

dharmasya brahma-vâdinâm

sarvâsâm - of all of them; api - indeed; siddhînâm - of the mystic perfections; hetuh - the cause; patih - the protector; aham - I am; prabhuh - the Lord; aham - I; yogasya - of unalloyed meditation on Me; sânkhyasya - of analytic knowledge; dharmasya - of work executed without personal desire; brahma-vâdinâm - of the learned community of Vedic teachers.

TRANSLATION

My dear Uddhava, I am the cause, the protector and the Lord of all mystic perfections, of the yoga system, of analytic knowledge, of pure activity and of the community of learned Vedic teachers.

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TEXT 36

aham âtmântaro bâhyo

'nâvritah sarva-dehinâm

yathâ bhûtâni bhûteshu

bahir antah svayam tathâ

aham - I; âtmâ - the Supreme Lord; ântarah - existing within as the Supersoul; bâhyah - existing externally in My all-pervading feature; anâvritah - uncovered; sarva-dehinâm - of all living entities; yathâ - just as; bhûtâni - the material elements; bhûteshu - among living entities; bahih - externally; antah - internally; svayam - Myself; tathâ - in the same way.

TRANSLATION

Just as the same material elements exist within and outside of all material bodies, similarly, I cannot be covered by anything else. I exist within everything as the Supersoul and outside of everything in My all-pervading feature.

 

 

 

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