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TEXT 11
pranayamair dahed dosan
dharanabhis ca kilbisan
pratyaharena samsargan
dhyanenanisvaran gunan
SYNONYMS
pranayamaihby practice of pranayama; dahetone can eradicate; dosancontaminations; dharanabhihby concentrating the mind; caand; kilbisansinful activities; pratyaharenaby restraining the senses; samsarganmaterial association; dhyanenaby meditating; anisvaran gunanthe modes of material nature.
TRANSLATION
By practicing the process of pranayama, one can eradicate the contamination of his physiological condition, and by concentrating the mind one can become free from all sinful activities. By restraining the senses one can free himself from material association, and by meditating on the Supreme Personality of Godhead one can become free from the three modes of material attachment.
PURPORT
According to Ayur-vedic medical science the three items kapha, pitta and vayu (phlegm, bile and air) maintain the physiological condition of the body. Modern medical science does not accept this physiological analysis as valid, but the ancient Ayur-vedic process of treatment is based upon these items. Ayur-vedic treatment concerns itself with the cause of these three elements, which are mentioned in many places in the Bhagavatam as the basic conditions of the body. Here it is recommended that by practicing the breathing process of pranayama one can be released from contamination created by the principal physiological elements, by concentrating the mind one can become free from sinful activities, and by withdrawing the senses one can free himself from material association.
Ultimately, one has to meditate on the Supreme Personality of Godhead in order to be elevated to the transcendental position where he is no longer affected by the three modes of material nature. It is also confirmed in Bhagavad-gita that one who engages himself in unalloyed devotional service at once becomes transcendental to the three modes of material nature and immediately realizes his identification with Brahman. Sa gunan samatityaitan brahma-bhuyaya kalpate [Bg. 14.26]. For every item in the yoga system there is a parallel activity in bhakti-yoga, but the practice of bhakti-yoga is easier for this age. What was introduced by Lord Caitanya is not a new interpretation. Bhakti-yoga is a feasible process that begins with chanting and hearing. Bhakti-yoga and other yogas have as their ultimate goal the same Personality of Godhead, but one is practical, and the others are difficult. One has to purify his physiological condition by concentration and by restraint of the senses; then he can fix his mind upon the Supreme Personality of Godhead. That is called samadhi.
Link to this page: https://prabhupadabooks.com/sb/3/28/11 Previous: SB 3.28.10 Next: SB 3.28.12
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