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Chapter 6. Sankhya-yoga
TEXT 24
sa niscayena yoktavyo
yogo 'nirvinna-cetasa
sankalpa-prabhavan kamams
tyaktva sarvan asesatah
manasaivendriya-gramam
viniyamya samantatah
SYNONYMS
 sah--that
yoga system; niscayena--with firm determination; yoktavyah--must
be practiced; yogah--in such practice; anirvinna-cetasa--without
deviation; sankalpa--material desires; prabhavan--born of;
kaman--sense gratification; tyaktva--giving up; sarvan--all;
asesatah--completely; manasa--by the mind; eva--certainly;
indriya-gramam--the full set of senses; viniyamya--regulating;
samantatah--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 perseverance, not becoming discouraged if there
is any delay in the attainment of success. Success is sure for the rigid
practitioner. Regarding bhakti-yoga, Rupa Gosvami says:
utsahan niscayad dhairyat tat-tat-karma-pravartanat
sanga-tyagat sato vrtteh sadbhir bhaktih 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 Garuda, the
gigantic bird carrier of Lord Visnu, heard it. He became compassionate
toward his small sister bird, and so he came to see the sparrow. Garuda
was very pleased by the determination of the small sparrow, and he promised
to help. Thus Garuda 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 Garuda.
Similarly,
the practice of yoga, especially bhakti-yoga in Krsna 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.
  
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