Site menu(6) The Supreme Lord said: 'The three ways of yoga that I have described in My desire to grant the human being the perfection, are the path of philosophy [jñâna], the path of work [karma] and the path of devotion [bhakti]; outside of them there are no ways to be found [see also B.G. contents and tri-kânda]. (7) For the ones who disgusted with fruitive labor forsake that kind of activities, there is the yoga of spiritual knowledge and for those who consciously have not turned themselves away and do feel for material happiness there is the path of karma-yoga. (8) When it happens to be so that one developed belief in My narrations and everything thereto, will for such a person who is neither averse nor very attached, the path of bhakti-yoga be awarding the perfection. (9) As long as one is not fed up with profitminded labor and attaches no faith to My discourses or hearing etc. [7.5: 23-24], one will have to continue that way [see also 1.2: 7, 11.5: 41]. (10) Someone will not go to heaven, nor will he land in hell, Uddhava, if he doesn't do anything else but cling to his prescribed duties and, free from ulterior motives, worships with performing sacrifices [see also B.G. 8: 16]. (11) When one, existing in this world, free from sin clings to one's duties and is pure [in one's motives], one obtains transcendental knowledge and eventually, given the fortune, My bhakti [compare 1.5: 23-31]. (12) Just as the residents of hell, do even the residents of heaven desire for this planet earth which is so conducive to the spiritual knowledge and devotional service that in both positions appear to be of little value. (13) A human being should never desire to reach heaven or wish to go to hell, nor should a wise person desire this planet earth because based upon such an involvement with the body one becomes a fool.
(14)
Knowing this someone should, before he dies, dilligently
endeavor for transcendence being conscious of the fact that,
even though [the body is] subject to death, the
perfection of one's life purpose is within reach.
(15)
A bird giving up the nest it built in a tree that was cut down
by some messengers of death, achieves happiness on account of
not being attached. (16)
Knowing that with every day and night one's life span is
shortened, one, beset with fear, understands the transcendental
position, and reaches free from desire perfect peace.
(17)
The human body, which is the source of all blessings, is easily
obtained even though that rarely happens [considering the
enormous variety of life forms on this planet]. It is a
ship extremely well equipped for its duty, given a spiritual
teacher for its captain and the favorable winds that represent
Me to propel it. But when someone fails to cross the ocean of
material existence with it, he is a killer of his own soul.
(18)
A yogi, who fosters no hopes in material endeavors, is in full
control of his senses and is detached. He must concentrate to
steady the mind in the discipline he has with the soul.
(19)
Narrowed down to the spiritual platform the mind should, when
it upon an impulse is drawn away from its position, carefully,
according the rules of the game, be brought under the control
of the self [see also B.G. 6:
26].
(20)
One should, when one endowed with goodness conquers one's
breath and senses, not forget what the actual purpose of the
mind is. It should always with the help of one's intelligence
be brought back under the control of the soul [to be its
servant, see B.G. 3:
42].
(21)
This truly supreme yoga process entails that one carefully and
constantly observes the mind in order to achieve full control
over it. It should be treated inspiring with confidence the way
one tames a horse [see also B.G. 6:
33-34].
(22)
Through the analytic study of how the different elements and
principles of spiritual knowledge cohere and are in conflict,
how they originate and how they are lost, the mind should be
kept attentive until [spiritually] satisfied.
(23)
Of the person who sufficiently disgusted gave up on the
material interest, the mind, which guided by vedic precepts is
kept busy with the analysis of everything it was occupied with,
will give up to falsely identify itself with that subject
matter. (24)
To reach the goal of yoga one must direct one's mind by no
other means than the austerities and procedures of the
[eightfold] yoga method, with the logical analyses of
the spiritual vision or by means of the exercises of respect
for My form [karma, jñâna and
bhakti-yoga]. (25)
If a yogi out of negligence is of a reprehensible deed, he
should by the process of yoga only burn up that sin. In matters
like these he should never at any time operate differently
[compare B.G. 1.5:
17, 4:
19, 9:
30].
(26)
The steady practice that is maintained by each with his own
method constitutes a praiseworthy virtue, but because of the
karmic, fruitive nature of one's activities one is not engaged
in a pure way. In respect of this virtue and vice are the
disciplinary observances established [of niyama]
according the desire to relinquish the different kinds of
attachment. (27-28)
When in him the faith in my narrations has awakened and he is
disgusted with all karma he [the âtmânandi
bhakta] who
knows about the misery that is constituted by the lust should -
even though he's not fully in control of the process of
renouncing - by that insight strengthened in his conviction
engage in glorifying Me [bhajana]. Thus he
remains happy in his faith and repents thereto the sense
gratification that led to the unhappiness. (29)
All the lusts a sage has in his heart are destroyed when he,
constantly worshiping Me in the bhakti-yoga as described, has
firmly established his heart in Me [see sthita-prajña].
(30)
The knots in the heart are pierced, all misgivings are cut to
pieces and the chain of his fruitive actions has ended when I
am seen as the Supreme Soul of All. (31)
For that reason is for a yogi who, connected in My devotional
service, established his mind in Me, the path of knowledge nor
the path of detachment [from fruitive actions]
generally the way to become happy in this world.
(32-33)
When he somehow or other desires heaven, beatitude or My abode
is all that is obtained by fruitive action, penance, the
cultivation of knowledge and detachment, is indeed all that is
attained by mystic yoga, charity, religious observances,
auspicious actions or otherwise, easily by My devotee achieved
in loving service unto Me. (34)
The saintly who are sober, the devotees who are one of heart
unto Me, indeed never desire that I grant them enlightenment or
freedom from birth and death. (35)
It is said that it is best not to desire anything, so that with
him who does not seek any personal reward, who is desireless,
as the highest stage of liberation the bhakti unto Me may
manifest itself [see also 2.3:
10].
(36)
With Me unfavorable qualities sprouting from weaknesses cannot
[again] manifest in pure devotees, because they, free
from desire, under all circumstances are stable in their
consciousness. They now belong to those who moved beyond that
what can be understood with a materially motivated intelligence
[see also B.G. 9:
30].(37) Those who follow these methods I have now instructed, achieve the security of My abode in the direct perception of that what is the Absolute Truth.'
