Introduction a Introduction

TEXT 25

ivhirZYaNa(Saura§-I@eMaTSQa&Satv&iv>aavYaeTa( )

ivMaaNaeNaaePaiTaďiNTaSatvv*taq>SaurińYa> ))25))

viharińyan suräkréňe mat-sthaŕ sattvaŕ vibhävayet

vimänenopatińöhanti sattva-vĺttéů sura-striyaů
One who desires to enjoy life in the celestial gardens of the demigods should meditate

upon the mode of purified goodness, which is situated within Me. When he becomes

Lord Kĺńëa’s Description of Mystic Yoga Perfections

293

fixed in this meditation, heavenly damsels that are generated from the mode of goodness

will approach him, riding in their celestial chariots.
COMMENTARY

One of the mystic perfections available to the yogi enables him to enjoy with the

celestial damsels in heaven.
PURPORT

In order to remain aloof from the propensity of imitating the spirit of sense

enjoyment after seeing sensual activities in a movie or among the lower animals, one’s

heart must become captivated by the Supreme Lord’s räsa-lélä pastimes. Even the spirit

of enjoyment that celestial women can arouse in the heart of a yogi can be transformed

in this way. Anugrahäya bhaktänäŕ mänuńaŕ deham ästhitaů bhajate tädĺçéů kréňa

yäů çrutvä tat-paro bhavet (Çrémad-Bhägavatam 10.33.36): When the Lord assumes a

humanlike body to show mercy to His devotees, He engages in such pastimes as will

attract those who hear about them to become dedicated to Him.

This transformation is only possible when one has come to an advanced stage of

yogic perfection. In that advanced stage, there is no question of imitating the Lord for

one’s personal sense gratification. Rather, the perfected yogi’s only desire is to serve the

Supreme Lord Çré Kĺńëa. This is an example of an eternal siddhi.

TEXT 26

YaQaaSaŞLPaYaeŘuÖyaYadavaMaTPar>PauMaaNa( )

MaiYaSaTYaeMaNaaeYauĹ&STaQaaTaTSaMauPaaénuTae ))26))

yathä saěkalpayed buddhyä yadä vä mat-paraů pumän

mayi satye mano yuďjaŕs tathä tat samupäçnute
One who has implicit faith in Me and thus concentrates his mind upon Me, knowing

that My determination is never frustrated, will have his desires fulfilled by the very

means he has adopted.
COMMENTARY

If one resolves with determination to attain some particular object, then he should

meditate upon the Supreme Lord, whose determination is never foiled. This will enable

one to achieve his desired goal. This mystic perfection is called saěkalpa siddhi.

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UDDHAVA-GÉTÄ

PURPORT

One should make up his mind to revive his forgotten relationship with the Supreme

Personality of Godhead by means of devotional service, which can be executed anywhere

by anyone. There are many scriptures that guide one back to home, back to Godhead.

Among them are Saěkalpa kalpa-druma by Çréla Jéva Gosvämé, Çré Govinda-lélämĺta

by Çréla Kĺńëadäsa Kaviräja Gosvämé, Çré Kĺńëa-bhävanämĺta and Saěkalpa kalpa-

druma by Çréla Viçvanätha Cakravarté, and Çré Gauräěga-smaraëa-maëgala by Çréla

Bhaktivinoda Öhäkura. By carefully studying the subjects presented in books like Bhakti-

rasämĺta-sindhu and Ujjvala-nélamaëi, one’s eternal perfection can be awakened, saving

one from the attractions of this illusory material existence, which only end in misery.

TEXT 27

YaaevEMaŮavMaaPaŕ wRiXaTauvRiXaTau>PauMaaNa( )

ku-TaięNa(NaivhNYaeTaTaSYacajaYaQaaMaMa ))27))

yo vai mad-bhävam äpanna éçitur vaçituů pumän

kutaçcin na vihanyeta tasya cäjďä yathä mama
One who perfects his meditatioin upon Me can imbibe My controlling power. His

order, just like Mine, can never be thwarted at any time.
COMMENTARY

If a yogi perfects his meditation upon the Supersoul, he can receive from the Lord

the mystic power of being able to control others so well that, like the Lord, his order can

never prove futile.

PURPORT

The material nature is working under the direction of the Supreme Lord. Pure

devotees are never diverted from the service of the Supreme Lord, being tempted by

the temporary objects of sense gratification. The orders of such devotees can never be

frustrated, just as the orders of the Supreme Lord are never counteracted.
TEXT 28

Ma٢-yaXauÖSatvSYaYaaeiGaNaaeDaar )

TaSYa}aEk-ail/k-IbuiÖJaRNMaMa*TYaUPab*&ihTaa ))28))

Lord Kĺńëa’s Description of Mystic Yoga Perfections


mad-bhaktyä çuddha-sattvasya yogino dhäraëä-vidaů

tasya trai-käliké buddhir janma-mĺtyüpabĺŕhitä

295

One who has become purified as a result of rendering devotional service to Me, and

thus has carefully controlled his mind by the practice of meditation, becomes cognizant

of past, present, and future. With this understanding, he can witness the appearance and

disappearance of all living beings.
COMMENTARY

The Supreme Lord knows past, present and future and so a yogi who meditates on

the Lord can receive that mystic opulence from the Lord. This is the perfection known

as trikälajďatä siddhi, which also enables one to know about the birth and death of all

people.

PURPORT

The impersonalists imagine that they have become one with the Lord but it is the

devotees who actually share the Lord’s transcendental qualities. Being fully devoted to

the Lord, the pure devotees are situated on the same platform as the Lord, a platform

that is above the influence of time in terms of past, present, and future. Thus, the pure

devotees who are liberated due to being absorbed in the service of the Lord are knowers

of past, present, and future, as is the Lord.
TEXT 29

AGanyaidi>aNaRhNYaeTaMauNaeYaaeRGaMaYa&vPau> )

MaŰaeGaXaaNTaictaSYaYaadSaaMaudk&-YaQaa ))29))

agny-ädibhir na hanyeta muner yoga-mayaŕ vapuů

mad-yoga-çänta-cittasya yädasäm udakaŕ yathä
Just as the body of an aquatic cannot be injured by water, the body of a peaceful and

devoted sage whose spiritual realization has matured by the practice of yoga, cannot be

injured by fire, the sun, water, poison, and so forth.
COMMENTARY

By meditating on the Supreme Lord in pure devotional service, the heart of a peaceful

sage becomes saturated with transcendental experience. In that stage of perfection, one

attains the siddhi by which his body cannot be injured by the material elements in the

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UDDHAVA-GÉTÄ

form of fire, the sun, water, poison, and so forth. The example of an aquatic is given

here. Water cannot harm the body of aquatics—rather they enjoy life in their natural

element. Similarly, the perfect yogi can easily fend off all attacks from the material

elements.

PURPORT

Although the material elements cause transformations of gross objects and can effect

the nature of subtle existence, the spiritually blissful body of the Lord’s devotees are

never affected by material conditions. Devotees are never tempted to enjoy the objects

of this world in a way that is not related to the service of the Supreme Lord. Materialists

condemn their misfortune when they cannot make material advancement, whereas

devotees of the Lord remain joyfully engaged in the devotional service of the Lord,

having given up all desires for material advancement. The example is given that aquatics

enjoy living in the water, whereas terrestrials in the bodily concept of life would bring

about their destruction if they tried to live in the same way. Like the aquatics in water,

as long as the Lord’s devotees remain situated in their natural element of devotional

service, they will not become overwhelmed by the currents of material thoughts, like

the conditioned souls.

TEXT 30

MaiÜ>aUTaqri>aDYaaYaNa(é[qvTSaańiv>aUizTaa> )

ßJaaTaPa}aVYaJaNaE>Sa>avedParaiJaTa> ))30))

mad-vibhütér abhidhyäyan çrévatsästra-vibhüńitäů

Dhvajätapatra-vyajanaiů sa bhaved aparäjitaů
A devotee who constantly meditates on My incarnations, which are decorated with

the mark of Çrévatsa and hold various weapons in Their hands, and which are always

appear with royal grandeur, cannot be conquered by anyone.
COMMENTARY

By meditating on the various incarnations of the Lord, one becomes unconquerable

in all respects. This mystic perfection is called aparäjaya siddhi.

PURPORT

The Lord’s flag, umbrella, cämara, Kaustubha gem, and weapons indicate His

omnipotency. Those who meditate on the Supreme Personality of Godhead in this

feature attain the mystic perfection known as aparäjita.

Lord Kĺńëa’s Description of Mystic Yoga Perfections

297

All of the mystic perfections obediently come to serve the devotee of the Lord. This

is confirmed by Bilvamaëgala Öhäkura in his book, Kĺńëa-karëämĺta (107):
bhaktis tvayi sthiratarä bhagavan yadi syäd

daivena naů phalati divya-kiçora-mürtiů

muktiů svayaŕ mukulitäďjali sevate ’smän

dharmärtha-käma-gatayaů samaya-pratékńäů
If I am engaged in devotional service unto You, my dear Lord, then very

easily can I perceive Your presence everywhere. And as far as liberation is

concerned, I think that liberation stands at my door with folded hands, waiting to

serve me—and all material conveniences of dharma (religiosity), artha (economic

development), and käma (sense gratification) stand with her.
TEXT 31

oPaaSak-SYaMaaMaev&YaaeGaDaar )

iSaÖYa>PaUvRk-iQaTaa oPaiTaďNTYaXaezTa> ))31))

upäsakasya mäm evaŕ yoga-dhäraëayä muneů

siddhayaů pürva-kathitä upatińöhanty açeńataů
A learned sage who worships Me through yoga meditation certainly attains the siddhis

that have been described by Me.
COMMENTARY

Here, the Lord concludes His explanation of the mystic powers obtained by the

practice of yoga.The word yoga-dhäraëayä indicates that one obtains the particular

yoga-siddha he endeavored for.

TEXT 32

iJaTaeiNd]YaSYadaNTaSYaiJaTaěaSaaTMaNaaeMauNae> )

MaÖark-aSaaiSaiÖ>Saudul/R>aa ))32))

jitendriyasya däntasya jita-çväsätmano muneů

mad-dhäraëäŕ dhärayataů kä sä siddhiů su-durlabhä

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UDDHAVA-GÉTÄ

For one who has learned to control his senses, breathing, and mind, by being

constantly engaged in meditation on Me, what mystic power would be very difficult for

him to obtain?

COMMENTARY

The Lord herein says that anyone who can control his breathing and fix his mind

on Him can achieve any mystic perfection he desires.
TEXT 33

ANTaraYaaNa(vdNTYaeTaaYauĹTaaeYaaeGaMautaMaMa( )

MaYaaSaMPaŰMaaNaSYak-al/+aPa ))33))

antaräyän vadanty etä yuďjato yogam uttamam

mayä sampadyamänasya käla-kńapaëa-hetavaů
It has been stated by learned experts in devotional service that for he who desires

to achieve the wealth of My association by means of his execution of pure devotional

service, the mystic perfections that I have described are actually impediments and a waste

of time.
COMMENTARY

These mystic perfections can attract and excite only small boys and not mature

men. These siddhis are actually impediments on the path of attaining shelter at the

lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. One who has the association of Lord

Kĺńëa dwells within an unlimited ocean of mystic opulence and so he should not waste

his precious time pursuing mystic perfections independently of the Lord’s service.

PURPORT

Inferior yogas like haöha-yoga or räja-yoga certainly waste the practitioner’s valuable

time. The devotees of the Lord consider such yoga practice to be a hindrance on the

path of pure devotional service. In this regard, one should study the verse of the Çrémad-

Bhägavatam that begins with yamädibhir yogapathiů.
TEXT 34

JaNMaaEziDaTaPaaeMaN}aEYaaRvTaqirhiSaÖYa> )

YaaeGaeNaaPanaeiTaTaa>SavaRNaaNYaEYaaeRGaGaiTa&v]JaeTa( ))34))

Lord Kĺńëa’s Description of Mystic Yoga Perfections


janmauńadhi-tapo-mantrair yävatér iha siddhayaů

yogenäpnoti täů sarvä nänyair yoga-gatiŕ vrajet

299

Whatever mystic perfections can be achieved as a result of good birth, herbs, austerities,

and mantras can be achieved by engagement in My devotional service. In fact, one cannot

attain the actual perfection of yoga by any other means.

COMMENTARY

Some siddhis are naturally acquired from the time of one’s birth. By taking birth as

a demigod, one is automatically endowed with many mystic perfections. Simply by being

born on Siddhaloka, one automatically acquires all of the eight principal perfections of

yoga. Similarly, by being born as a fish one becomes invulnerable to water, by being born

as a bird one gets the mystic perfection of flying, and by becoming a ghost one gets the

mystic perfection of disappearing and entering the bodies of others. It is stated in the

Pätaějala çästra that mystic perfections can be achieved by good birth, medicinal herbs,

austerities, mantras, and yoga.

PURPORT

Those who reject the devotional service of the Lord and endeavor for perfection by

some other means cannot be considered very intelligent. The devotees reject all other

processes to engage in the unalloyed devotional service of the Lord. So-called yogis who

are interested in their personal sense enjoyment cannot understand the importance of

pleasing the senses of Lord Kĺńëa. Any process other than the service of the Supreme

Lord, which is the ultimate goal of yoga, will certainly award one only frustration.

TEXT 35

SavaRSaaMaiPaiSaÖqNaa&heTau>PaiTarh&Pa[>au> )

Ah&YaaeGaSYaSaa&:YaSYaDaMaRSYab]řvaidNaaMa( ))35))

sarväsäm api siddhénäŕ hetuů patir ahaŕ prabhuů

ahaŕ yogasya säěkhyasya dharmasya brahma-vädinäm
O Uddhava, I alone am the cause, maintainer, and Lord of all mystic perfections, all

yoga processes, Säěkhya philosophy, devotional service, and brahmavädés.
COMMENTARY

All mystic perfections are accomplished simply by meditating on the Supreme Lord.

Therefore, He is the cause of all kinds of mystic perfections. He is also the maintainer

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UDDHAVA-GÉTÄ

of the mystic perfections, and the Lord of those perfections as well. He is the object

of the yogis’ meditation, by which they achieve mystic perfections. The Lord is also

the objective of the cultivation of spiritual knowledge, and the performance of pious

activities.

PURPORT

The Supreme Lord alone is the object of the various abhidheyas, or paths of

perfection, which are followed by all classes of human beings. The so-called perfection

attained by those who have become bewildered by self-centered egoistic conceptions

of life and have thus given up the service of the Supreme Lord is temporary and most

insignificant. The Supreme Lord is present everywhere and He is the ultimate goal of

all processes for attaining perfection in life.

TEXT 36

AhMaaTMaaNTaraebaůae_Naav*Ta>SavRdeihNaaMa( )

YaQaa>aUTaaiNa>aUTaezubihrNTa>SvYa&TaQaa ))36))

aham ätmäntaro bähyo ‘nävĺtaů sarva-dehinäm

yathä bhütäni bhüteńu bahir antaů svayaŕ tathä
Just as the material elements are situated within and outside all material bodies, in the

same way, I am also present within everything as the Supersoul and outside of everything

in My all-pervading feature.

COMMENTARY

It is said that the Lord is situated within the hearts of all living beings. While

consideringthis,onemightimaginethat theLord hasseparatedHimselfinto innumerable

different identities. In this verse, however, the Lord explains that His existence cannot

be infringed upon by some mere material conditions. He remains unchanging in spite

of displaying so many manifestations. Just as the material elements are situated both

within and without all material bodies, so the Lord is all-pervading.

Thus ends the translation of the ninth chapter of the Uddhava-géta entitled “Lord

Kĺńëa’s Description of Mystic Yoga Perfections,” with the commentaries of Çréla Viçvanätha

Cakravarté Öhäkura and purports by Çréla Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Öhäkura.

CHAPTER 10
THE LORD’S OPULENCE

CHAPTER SUMMARY
In this chapter, the Supreme Lord describes His opulence in terms of His specific

potencies of knowledge, prowess, influence, and so on.

Çré Uddhava glorified Lord Çré Kĺńëa by saying, “The Supreme Lord has no beginning

nor end and He is the cause of all living entities’ creation, maintenance, and destruction.

He is the Supersoul of all living entities and thus He witnesses all the activities of those

in material existence by remaining within their hearts. Still, being bewildered by the

Lord’s external energy, the conditioned souls cannot see Him.”

After offering these prayers at the lotus feet of Lord Kĺńëa, Çré Uddhava expressed

his desire to know about the Lord’s various opulences, as exhibited in heaven, on earth, in

hell, and in all directions. Lord Çré Kĺńëa then described all these opulences in detail and

concluded by saying that all prowess, beauty, fame, opulence, modesty, charity, wonder,

good fortune, heroism, forgiveness, and wisdom that are manifest in the material world

are simply portions of His splendor. It therefore cannot be truthfully said that material

objects possess these opulences. Such conceptions arise from mentally combining two

ideas to produce an object that exists only in the imagination, like a flower in the sky.

Material objects are not essentially real, and so one should not concentrate his mind on

them. By regulating their speech, mind, and vital life air, with the help of intelligence,

devotees of the Lord perfect their existence in Kĺńëa consciousness.

301



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UDDHAVA-GÉTÄ

TEXT 1

é[qoÖv ovac

Tv&b]řParMa&Saa+aadNaaŰNTaMaPaav*TaMa( )

SaveRzaMaiPa>aavaNaa&}aa ))1))

çré-uddhava uväca

tvaŕ brahma paramaŕ säkńäd anädy-antam apävĺtam

sarveńäm api bhävänäŕ träëa-sthity-apyayodbhavaů

Çré Uddhava said: My dear Lord, You are beginningless and without end, the Absolute

Truth Himself, uncovered by anything else. You are the protector and life-giver, as well as

the destruction and creation of all things that exist.

COMMENTARY

This chapter describes the Lord’s principal opulences, as well as the extent of His

influence and knowledge.

The previous chapter concluded with the statement that the lotus feet of the Supreme

Lord are the original cause of all mystic perfections. After hearing this, Uddhava

expressed his desire to know more about Kĺńëa’s material and spiritual opulence. Çré

Uddhava glorified Lord Kĺńëa as the supreme shelter of all. He said, “O Lord, You are

the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Your form is eternal, You are without beginning,

and Your existence is not covered by anyone or anything. Although You appear to be

limited when You descend in Your human-like form, You are all-pervading. The original

creator of the cosmic manifestation, Lord Vińëu, is Your plenary portion. You are the

protector of everyone, You sustain everyone, and You maintain all living entities.”

PURPORT

The Supreme Brahman, who is the ultimate cause of the creation, maintenance,

and annihilation of the visible material universe is Himself free of all kinds of material

designations. He is not under the control of material time because time is one of His

countless manifestations.

TEXT 2

oŔavcezu>aUTaezudujeRYaMak*-TaaTMai>a> )

oPaaSaTaeTva&>aGavNYaaQaaTaQYaeNab]ař ))2))

uccävaceńu bhüteńu durjďeyam akĺtätmabhiů

upäsate tväŕ bhagavan yäthä-tathyena brähmaëäů

The Lord’s Opulence