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TEXT 47 yoginam api sarvesam
SYNONYMS  yoginam--of
all yogis; api--also; sarvesam--all types of; mat-gatena--abiding
in Me; antah-atmana--always thinking of Me within; sraddha-van--in
full faith; bhajate--renders transcendental loving service; yah--one
who; mam--Me (the Supreme Lord); sah--he; me--Mine;
yukta-tamah--the greatest yogi; matah--is considered.
TRANSLATION And of all
yogis, he who always abides in Me with great faith, worshiping Me in transcendental
loving service, is most intimately united with Me in yoga and is the highest
of all.
PURPORT The word bhajate
is significant here. Bhajate has its root in the verb bhaj,
which is used when there is need of service. The English word "worship"
cannot be used in the same sense as bhaj. Worship means to adore,
or to show respect and honor to the worthy one. But service with love and
faith is especially meant for the Supreme Personality of Godhead. One can
avoid worshiping a respectable man or a demigod and may be called discourteous,
but one cannot avoid serving the Supreme Lord without being thoroughly
condemned. Every living entity is part and parcel of the Supreme Personality
of Godhead, and thus every living entity is intended to serve the Supreme
Lord by his own constitution. Failing to do this, he falls down. The Bhagavatam
confirms this as follows:
ya esam purusam saksad
"Anyone who
does not render service and neglects his duty unto the primeval Lord, who
is the source of all living entities, will certainly fall down from his
constitutional position."
In this
verse also the word bhajanti is used. Therefore, bhajanti
is applicable to the Supreme Lord only, whereas the word "worship" can
be applied to demigods or to any other common living entity. The word avajananti,
used in this verse of Srimad-Bhagavatam, is also found in the Bhagavad-gita:
avajananti mam mudhah: "Only the fools and rascals deride the Supreme
Personality of Godhead Lord Krsna." Such fools take it upon themselves
to write commentaries on the Bhagavad-gita without an attitude of
service to the Lord. Consequently they cannot properly distinguish between
the word bhajanti and the word "worship."
The culmination
of all kinds of yoga practices lies in bhakti-yoga. All other
yogas are but means to come to the point of bhakti in bhakti-yoga.
Yoga actually means bhakti-yoga; all other yogas are
progressions toward the destination of bhakti-yoga. From the beginning
of karma-yoga to the end of bhakti-yoga is a long way to
self-realization. Karma-yoga, without fruitive results, is the beginning
of this path. When karma-yoga increases in knowledge and renunciation,
the stage is called jnana-yoga. When jnana-yoga increases
in meditation on the Supersoul by different physical processes, and the
mind is on Him, it is called astanga-yoga. And, when one surpasses
the astanga-yoga and comes to the point of the Supreme Personality
of Godhead Krsna, it is called bhakti yoga, the culmination. Factually,
bhakti-yoga is the ultimate goal, but to analyze bhakti-yoga
minutely one has to understand these other yogas. The yogi
who is progressive is therefore on the true path of eternal good fortune.
One who sticks to a particular point and does not make further progress
is called by that particular name: karma-yogi, jnana-yogi or dhyana-yogi,
raja-yogi, hatha-yogi, etc. If one is fortunate enough to come to the
point of bhakti-yoga, it is to be understood that he has surpassed
all the other yogas. Therefore, to become Krsna conscious is the
highest stage of yoga, just as, when we speak of Himalayan, we refer
to the world's highest mountains, of which the highest peak, Mount Everest,
is considered to be the culmination.
It is by
great fortune that one comes to Krsna consciousness on the path of bhakti-yoga
to become well situated according to the Vedic direction. The ideal yogi
concentrates his attention on Krsna, who is called Syamasundara, who is
as beautifully colored as a cloud, whose lotus-like face is as effulgent
as the sun, whose dress is brilliant with jewels and whose body is flower
garlanded. Illuminating all sides is His gorgeous luster, which is called
the brahmajyoti. He incarnates in different forms such as Rama,
Nrsimha, Varaha and Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and He descends
like a human being, as the son of mother Yasoda, and He is known as Krsna,
Govinda and Vasudeva. He is the perfect child, husband, friend and master,
and He is full with all opulences and transcendental qualities. If one
remains fully conscious of these features of the Lord, he is called the
highest yogi.
This stage
of highest perfection in yoga can be attained only by bhakti-yoga,
as is confirmed in all Vedic literature:
yasya deve para bhaktir yatha deve tatha gurau
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