BG 6.24 (1972)
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
TEXT 24
- स निश्चयेन योक्तव्यो योगोऽनिर्विण्णचेतसा ।
- सङ्कल्पप्रभवान्कामांस्त्यक्त्वा सर्वानशेषतः ।
- मनसैवेन्द्रियग्रामं विनियम्य समन्ततः ॥२४॥
- sa niścayena yoktavyo
- yogo 'nirviṇṇa-cetasā
- saṅkalpa-prabhavān kāmāṁs
- tyaktvā sarvān aśeṣataḥ
- manasaivendriya-grāmaṁ
- viniyamya samantataḥ
SYNONYMS
saḥ—that yoga system; niścayena—with firm determination; yoktavyaḥ—must be practiced; yogaḥ—in such practice; anirviṇṇa-cetasā—without deviation; saṅkalpa—material desires; prabhavān—born of; kāmān—sense gratification; tyaktvā—giving up; sarvān—all; aśeṣatah—completely; manasā—by the mind; eva—certainly; indriya-grāmam—the full set of senses; viniyamya—regulating; samantataḥ—from all sides.
TRANSLATION
One should engage oneself in the practice of yoga with undeviating determination and faith. One should abandon, without exception, all material desires born of false ego and thus control all the senses on all sides by the mind.
PURPORT
The yoga practitioner should be determined and should patiently prosecute the practice without deviation. One should be sure of success at the end and pursue this course with great perserverance, not becoming discouraged if there is any delay in the attainment of success. Success is sure for the rigid practitioner. Regarding bhakti-yoga, Rupa Gosvāmī says:
- utsāhān niścayād dhairyāt tat tat karma-pravartanāt
- saṅga-tyāgāt satovṛtteḥ ṣaḍbhir bhaktiḥ prasidhyati
"The process of bhakti-yoga can be executed successfully with full-hearted enthusiasm, perseverance, and determination by following the prescribed duties in the association of devotees and by engaging completely in activities of goodness."
As for determination, one should follow the example of the sparrow who lost her eggs in the waves of the ocean. A sparrow laid her eggs on the shore of the ocean, but the big ocean carried away the eggs on its waves. The sparrow became very upset and asked the ocean to return her eggs. The ocean did not even consider her appeal. So the sparrow decided to dry up the ocean. She began to pick out the water in her small beak, and everyone laughed at her for her impossible determination. The news of her activity spread, and at last Garuḍa, the gigantic bird carrier of Lord Viṣṇu, heard it. He became compassionate toward his small sister bird, and so he came to see the sparrow. Garuḍa was very pleased by the determination of the small sparrow, and he promised to help. Thus Garuḍa at once asked the ocean to return her eggs lest he himself take up the work of the sparrow. The ocean was frightened at this, and returned the eggs. Thus the sparrow became happy by the grace of Garuḍa.
Similarly, the practice of yoga, especially bhakti-yoga in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, may appear to be a very difficult job. But if anyone follows the principles with great determination, the Lord will surely help, for God helps those who help themselves.