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TEXT 33 arjuna uvaca
SYNONYMS  arjunah uvaca--Arjuna
said; yah--the system; ayam--this; yogah--mysticism;
tvaya--by You; proktah--described; samyena--generally;
madhu-sudana--O killer of the demon Madhu; etasya--of this;
aham--I; na--do not; pasyami--see; cancalatvat--due
to being restless; sthitim--situation; sthiram--stable.
TRANSLATION Arjuna said:
O Madhusudana, the system of yoga which You have summarized appears impractical
and unendurable to me, for the mind is restless and unsteady.
PURPORT The system of
mysticism described by Lord Krsna to Arjuna beginning with the words sucau
dese and ending with yogi paramah is here being rejected by
Arjuna out of a feeling of inability. It is not possible for an ordinary
man to leave home and go to a secluded place in the mountains or jungles
to practice yoga in this age of Kali. The present age is characterized
by a bitter struggle for a life of short duration. People are not serious
about self-realization even by simple, practical means, and what to speak
of this difficult yoga system, which regulates the mode of living,
the manner of sitting, selection of place, and detachment of the mind from
material engagements. As a practical man, Arjuna thought it was impossible
to follow this system of yoga, even though he was favorably endowed
in many ways. He belonged to the royal family and was highly elevated in
terms of numerous qualities; he was a great warrior, he had great longevity,
and, above all, he was the most intimate friend of Lord Krsna, the Supreme
Personality of Godhead. Five thousand years ago, Arjuna had much better
facilities than we do now, yet he refused to accept this system of yoga.
In fact, we do not find any record in history of his practicing it at any
time. Therefore this system must be considered generally impossible in
this age of Kali. Of course it may be possible for some very few, rare
men, but for the people in general it is an impossible proposal. If this
were so five thousand years ago, then what of the present day? Those who
are imitating this yoga system in different so-called schools and
societies, although complacent, are certainly wasting their time. They
are completely in ignorance of the desired goal.
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