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TEXT 28
sad-varga-samyamaikantah
sarva niyama-codanah
tad-anta yadi no yogan
avaheyuh sramavahah
SYNONYMS
sat-vargathe six elements, namely the five working senses and the mind; samyama-ekantahthe ultimate aim of subjugating; sarvahall such activities; niyama-codanahthe regulative principles further meant for controlling the senses and mind; tat-antahthe ultimate goal of such activities; yadiif; nonot; yoganthe positive link with the Supreme; avaheyuhdid lead to; srama-avahaha waste of time and labor.
TRANSLATION
Ritualistic ceremonies, regulative principles, austerities and the practice of yoga are all meant to control the senses and mind, but even after one is able to control the senses and mind, if he does not come to the point of meditation upon the Supreme Lord, all such activities are simply labor in frustration.
PURPORT
One may argue that one may achieve the ultimate goal of liferealization of the Supersoulby practicing the yoga system and ritualistic performances according to the Vedic principles, even without staunch devotion to the spiritual master. The actual fact, however, is that by practicing yoga one must come to the platform of meditating upon the Supreme Personality of Godhead. As stated in the scriptures, dhyanavasthita-tad-gatena manasa pasyanti yam yoginah: [SB 12.13.1] a person in meditation achieves the perfection of yoga practice when he can see the Supreme Personality of Godhead. By various practices, one may come to the point of controlling the senses, but simply controlling the senses does not bring one to a substantial conclusion. However, by staunch faith in the spiritual master and the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one not only controls the senses but also realizes the Supreme Lord.
Unto those great souls who have implicit faith in both the Lord and the spiritual master, all the imports of Vedic knowledge are automatically revealed. (Svetasvatara Upanisad 6.23)
No one can understand Krsna as He is by the blunt material senses. But He reveals Himself to the devotees, being pleased with them for their transcendental loving service unto Him. (Bhakti-rasamrta-sindhu 1.2.234)
One can understand the Supreme Personality as He is only by devotional service. And when one is in full consciousness of the Supreme Lord by such devotion, he can enter into the kingdom of God. (Bg. 18.55)
These are Vedic instructions. One must have full faith in the words of the spiritual master and similar faith in the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Then the real knowledge of atma and Paramatma and the distinction between matter and spirit will be automatically revealed. This atma-tattva, or spiritual knowledge, will be revealed within the core of a devotees heart because of his having taken shelter of the lotus feet of a mahajana such as Prahlada Maharaja.
Only unto those great souls who have implicit faith in both the Lord and the spiritual master are all the imports of the Vedic knowledge automatically revealed. (Svetasvatara Upanisad 6.23) It is further stated, tusyeyam sarva-bhutatma guru-susrusaya and taranty anjo bhavarnavam. Simply by rendering service to the spiritual master, one crosses the ocean of nescience and returns home, back to Godhead. Thus he gradually sees the Supreme Lord face to face and enjoys life in association with the Lord. The ultimate goal of yoga is to come in contact with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Unless this point is achieved, ones so-called yoga practice is simply labor without any benefit.
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