Introduction a Introduction
austerities, charity or acceptance of sannyäsa can one satisfy Me as much as by developing
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austerities, charity or acceptance of sannyäsa can one satisfy Me as much as by developing unalloyed devotional service unto Me. COMMENTARY Devotional service is the only means by which one can satisfy the Supreme Lord. One may make Kĺńëa the goal of mystic yoga, Säěkhya philosophy, and so on, yet such
activities do not please the Lord as much as direct loving service, which one practices by hearing and chanting about the Lord and executing His mission. A devotee should simply depend on Kĺńëa and should not unnecessarily complicate his loving service with tendencies toward fruitive work or mental speculation.
Many people think that they can achieve great benefit by studying the Vedas, by performing austerities, by renouncing material enjoyment, by cultivating Säěkhya philosophy, and by study of Vedänta. However, all of these practices are not required for engagement in the service of the Supreme Lord. Only unalloyed devotional service is capable of satisfying the Supreme Personality of Godhead. TEXT 21 >a˘-yahMaek-YaaGa]aů>é[ÖYaaTMaaiPa[Ya>SaTaaMa( ) >ai˘->PauNaaiTaMaiŕďaěPaak-aNaiPaSaM>avaTa( ))21))
So that no one will have any doubt about the best process for attaining the goal of life, the Supreme Lord says, “I am only obtained by devotional service, and not by any other processes, such as yoga, etc.” Although the goal of Brahman, attained by means of jďäna, is found in the çästras, it is to be understood that such cultivation of knowledge must be mixed with devotional service. Pious activities, such as the cultivation of knowledge, cannot help one achieve the Supreme Lord. They can only destroy one’s sinful reactions. Devotional service destroys sinful reactions in a way that other processes, such as jďäna, cannot. In this regard, Çrédhara Svämé has concluded that devotional service to the Supreme Lord automatically destroys the fault of taking birth in a family of dog-eaters and completely purifies one.
262 UDDHAVA-GÉTÄ PURPORT The propensity for material enjoyment among those who are very fond of eating dogs is so strong that they have very little faith in the service of the Supreme Lord. Devotees of the Lord are not interested in eating abominable food. They give up all varieties of sense gratification and attract the attention of the Supreme Lord by remaining completely dependent upon Him. The devotees love the Supreme Lord as their most dear friend and as such, the Lord takes pleasure in their devotional activities. Simply by developing the propensity for rendering devotional service to the Lord, the people of this world who are now engaged in acts of sense gratification can become liberated from their material conception of life.
DaMaR>SaTYadYaaePaeTaaeivŰavaTaPaSaaiNvTaa ) Ma٢-yaPaeTaMaaTMaaNa&NaSaMYak( Pa[PauNaaiTa ih ))22))
Even though following religious principles and cultivating knowledge have the power of destroying one’s sinful reactions, this is to be understood as true when such activities are combined with devotional service to the Lord. Without devotional service, these activities have very little strength. The word vidyä in this verse refers to the cultivation of knowledge. PURPORT Truthfulness, trying to remove others’ distress, giving in charity, performing austerities, and practicing renunciation cannot thoroughly purify one’s existence. They purify one to some extent but the seed of material desires remains so that after some time, one will again return to a life of sense gratification. However, because service to the Supreme Lord is the ultimate religious principle, it is also the topmost purifying agent.
Lord Kĺńëa Explains the Yoga System to Çré Uddhava TEXT 23 k-Qa&ivNaaraeMahz|d]vTaaceTaSaaivNaa ) ivNaaNaNdaé[uk-l/YaaXauDYae٢-yaivNaaXaYa> ))23))
Without the manifestation of ecstatic symptoms of devotional service, such as the hairs standing on end, how can the heart melt? If the heart does not melt, how can tears of love flow from the eyes? Without the melting of the heart, and without tears flowing from the eyes, how can one render loving devotional service? Without devotional service, how can the consciousness be purified? COMMENTARY Devotional service, which produces symptoms of ecstasy, such as standing of the hair of the body on end, is the only means to completely purify the heart. Only devotional service is capable of melting the heart and not any other sädhana. How can the heart become purified without manifesting symptoms such as tears in the eyes, the hairs standing on end, and so on? Çré Kĺńëa Caitanya, who had incarnated to deliver the people of Kali-yuga, said, “Even after studying the science of the Absolute Truth, as described in the Upanińads, if one does not hear the glories of Lord Hari, then the transformations of love of God, indicating the melting of the heart, such as the shedding of tears, will not manifest.” Even as one continues to engage in the activities of Kĺńëa consciousness, if his heart does become purified, the tinge of impurity that does not allow him to directly see the Lord will remain. This impurity is burnt to ashes only by pure devotional service, and not by the small fire of the cultivation of knowledge.
One’s heart cannot be purified while one is constantly engaged in material enjoyment. Our desires can be purified only by dovetailing them in the service of the Supreme Lord. If we don’t engage ourselves in the Lord’s service, then the spirit of material enjoyment will keep us forever bound to the fruits of our actions. When the heart melts, one sheds tears of love and the hair of the body stands on end. Until that time, material enjoyment, which is always mixed with frustration, will continue to misguide us.
vaGGaÓdad]vTaeYaSYaicta&ĺdTYa>aq+ ivl/Â oÓaYaiTaNa*TYaTaecMaŮi˘-Yau˘-ae>auvNa&PauNaaiTa ))24))
264 UDDHAVA-GÉTÄ väg gadgadä dravate yasya cittaŕ rudaty abhékńëaŕ hasati kvacic ca vilajja udgäyati nĺtyate ca mad-bhakti-yukto bhuvanaŕ punäti A devotee who is fixed in loving service to Me, whose voice is sometimes choked up, whose heart melts, who sometimes weeps and sometimes laughs, and sometimes chants and dances without concern for others, purifies the three worlds. COMMENTARY One who has attained the platform of love of God can deliver the fallen conditioned souls. This is not at all surprising. Sometimes his voice becomes choked up so that he cannot speak coherently, and because his heart melts, he sometimes cries out in anxiety. The word “sometimes” should be applied to each of the ecstatic symptoms, but the heart remains melted in all situations. PURPORT Persons who are eternally engaged in the Lord’s service sometimes sing the Lord’s holy name loudly and dance in ecstasy, sometimes display the softness of their heart by speaking in a voice that is choked up, sometimes laugh, and sometimes cry, without caring for others. Only such devotees can purify the fourteen worlds.
YaQaaiGanNaaheMaMal&/JahaiTaDMaaTa&PauNa>Sv&>aJaTaecćPaMa( ) AaTMaack-MaaRNauXaYa&ivDaUYaMaŮi˘-YaaeGaeNa>aJaTYaQaaeMaaMa( ))25))
The Supreme Lord herein establishes the conclusion that only by devotional service can the heart be purified, and not by any other process. The example is given of gold. When gold is smelted in fire, all impurities are removed. This purification of gold cannot be obtained simply by washing it with soap and water. Similarly, a living entity can
Lord Kĺńëa Explains the Yoga System to Çré Uddhava 265 cleanse his heart of all contaminations by the fire of devotional service, and not by any superficial means. The result is that the devotee goes back home, back to Godhead, and there worships Lord Kĺńëa in his original spiritual body, which is compared to the original pure form of smelted gold.
When gold is smelted in fire, all of the impurities of base metals are removed. Similarly, when the conditioned souls, whose only engagements are those of sense gratification, put themselves in the fire of devotional service, then their aspirations for material enjoyment are reduced to nil so that they can easily traverse the path back home, back to Godhead. TEXT 26 YaQaaYaQaaTMaaPairMa*JYaTae_SaaEMaTPau TaQaaTaQaaPaXYaiTavSTauSaU+Ma&c+auYaRQaEvaĹNaSaMPa[Yau˘-Ma( ))26))
The Vedas assure us that we can directly see the Supreme Lord and His transcendental abode if we fully surrender unto Him and agree to obey His instructions. The Lord and His name are non-different and as soon as one sincerely hears and chants the holy names of the Lord, the wonderful effect will be felt. The example can be given that a person who has one eye is better off than one who is blind. A person who has both eyes is better situated than a person who has only one eye, and a person whose eyes are smeared with medicinal ointment may be able to see better than one who has not taken advantage of such treatment. Similarly, according to the intensity of one’s determination to achieve success in devotional service, he will be purified accordingly. 266 UDDHAVA-GÉTÄ PURPORT When one becomes too accustomed to a life of sense gratification, one loses sight of the ultimate goal of life, which is to regain the association of the Supreme Lord. By smearing medicinal ointment, diseased eyes may gradually revive their power to see. Similarly, by cultivating Kĺńëa consciousness, one can attain the eternal service of the Supreme Lord in transcendental love.
ivzYaaNDYaaYaTaięta&IvzYaezuivzÂTae ) MaaMaNauSMarTaięta&MaYYaevPa[ivl/IYaTae ))27))
One should never think that the worship of the Lord is a mechanical process that will automatically deliver the desired result. Such a mechanical approach to constantly remembering the Lord will never stand. Constant rememberance of the Lord’s transcendental name, form, qualities, and pastimes is only possible for one who has developed genuine attachment for the Lord. Just as materialists can remain absorbed in the thought of the objects of their desire, so devotees can remain in absorbed in thoughts of the Lord when they have developed transcendental attachment to His devotional service.
As the material senses run after sense objects, thinking them to be most desirable, by the cultivation of Kĺńëa consciousness, one becomes fully absorbed in hearing and chanting glorification of the Lord’s transcendental name, form, qualities, and pastimes. TEXT 28 ASMaadSadi>aDYaaNa&YaQaaSvPanMaNaaerQaMa( ihTvaMaiYaSaMaaDaTSvMaNaaeMaŮav>aaivTaMa(
Lord Kĺńëa Explains the Yoga System to Çré Uddhava tasmäd asad-abhidhyänaŕ yathä svapna-manoratham hitvä mayi samädhatsva mano mad-bhäva-bhävitam 267 One should give up all paths for material elevation, which are no better than the creations of a dream. One should rather absorb his mind in always thinking of Me, for this will completely purify him of all material contamination. COMMENTARY Because other processes and their results are as illusory as things seen in a dream, the Lord instructs Uddhava to concentrate his mind on Him by engagement in pure devotional service. One should give up all other methods for making advancement in life and simply fix his mind in the thought of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
The ultimate goal of life for the conditioned souls is to engage in the unalloyed devotional service of the Lord by surpassing the three stages of consciousness— wakefulness, dreaming, and deep sleep. TEXT 29 ńq +aeMaeiviv˘- AaSaqNaięNTaYaeNMaaMaTaiNd]Ta> ))29))
One should particularly give up studying the Käma-çästra written by Vätsäyana Muni. If a peaceful person associates with such literature, he will lose his patience and
become agitated. Therefore, one should fearlessly reside in a secluded place. One should carefully give up the association of women, as well as those who are attached to women, and should fearlessly and enthusiastically cultivate Kĺńëa
consciousness in a secluded place. Simply by thinking of a woman, one increases the 268 UDDHAVA-GÉTÄ desire for material life, causing one to forget the Supreme Lord. Therefore, one should completely disassociate himself from women and the desire to enjoy in their company. This is possible only by surrendering oneself to the Supreme Lord. TEXT 30 NaTaQaaSYa>aveT©e-XaaebNDaęaNYaPa[Sa®Ta> ) YaaeizTSa®aŰQaaPau&SaaeYaQaaTaTSai®Sa®Ta> ))30))
One who desires to be delivered from material existence should renounce all intimate contact with women, as well as those who are attached to women. Any respectable gentleman will become guarded if he comes in close contact with a lusty woman. The difficulty is, however, that if one intimately associates with lusty men, their loose talk will infect one all the same. Indeed, the association of lusty men can be even more dangerous than association with women, and thus it should be avoided by all means.
There are innumerable verses in the Bhägavatam describing the intoxication of material lust. Being forgetful of the Supreme Lord, the conditioned souls consider themselves to be the enjoyers of all they survey and thus they become bound by the three modes of material nature. This is the cause of their suffering. Because the living entities are pleasure-seeking by nature, in conditional life, they naturally endeavor to reach the peak of material happiness by enjoying the association of women. Therefore, devotees should carefully avoid the intimate association of women, as well as men who are attached to women.
é[qoÖv ovac YaQaaTvaMarivNda+aYaad*Xa&vaYadaTMak-Ma( ) DYaaYaeNMauMau+aureTaNMaeDYaaNa&Tv&v˘u-MahRiSa ))31)) Lord Kĺńëa Explains the Yoga System to Çré Uddhava çré-uddhava uväca yathä tväm aravindäkńa yädĺçaŕ vä yad-ätmakam dhyäyen mumukńur etan me dhyänaŕ tvaŕ vaktum arhasi 269 Çré Uddhava said: My dear lotus-eyed Çré Kĺńëa, please describe to me how one who desires liberation should meditate upon You. Upon which form should he meditate, and what should be the nature of his meditation? COMMENTARY Çré Uddhava is already on the platform of pure devotional service. Still, he is inquiring about the process of meditation, not so much for his own benefit, but for the benefit of those who are not situated in devotional service. Uddhava said: “O lotus-eyed Lord, kindly tell me how one who desires liberation should meditate on You? Upon which form should he meditate?” One may argue: “What is the need for a pure devotee like Uddhava to inquire about the process of meditation, which is to be performed by those who desire liberation?” It should simply be understood that Uddhava asked such a question not for his personal benefit, but for those who have not yet come to the platform of pure love of God. TEXTS 32-33 é[q>aGavaNauvac SaMaAaSaNaAaSaqNa>SaMak-aYaaeYaQaaSau%Ma( ) hSTaavuTSa®AaDaaYaSvNaaSaaGa]k*-Tae+a ))32)) Pa[a ivPaYaRYae çré-bhagavän uväca sama äsana äsénaů sama-käyo yathä-sukham hastäv utsaěga ädhäya sva-näsägra-kĺtekńaëaů präëasya çodhayen märgaŕ püra-kumbhaka-recakaiů viparyayeëäpi çanair abhyasen nirjitendriyaů The Supreme Personality of Godhead said: While seated on a level seat that is not too high or too low, keeping the body straight and yet comfortable, placing the hands on one’s lap, and focusing the eyes on the tip of the nose, one should purify the pathways of 270 UDDHAVA-GÉTÄ breathing by practicing the mechanical exercises of püraka, kumbhaka and recaka, and then reverse the procedure. Having fully controlled the senses, one should thus practice präëäyäma. COMMENTARY To concentrate the mind, one should fix his gaze on the tip of the nose. As stated in the yoga-çästra, antar-lakńyo bahir-dĺńöiů sthira-cittaů susaěgataů: “The eyes, which generally see externally, must be turned inward, and thus the mind is steadied and fully controlled.”
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