SYNONYMS

sucau–in a sanctified; dese–in the land; pratisthapya–placing; sthiram–firm; asanam–seat; atmanah–self-dependent; na–not; ati–too; ucchritam–high; na–nor; ati–too; nicam–low; caila-ajina–soft cloth and deerskin; kusottaram–kusa grass; tatra–thereupon; eka-agram–one attention; manah–mind; krtva–doing so; yata-citta–controlling the mind; indriya–senses; kriyah–activities; upavisya–sitting on; asane–on the seat; yunjyat–execute; yogam–yoga practice; atma–heart; visuddhaye–for clarifying.

TRANSLATION

To practice yoga, one should go to a secluded place and should lay kusa-grass on the ground and then cover it with a deerskin and a soft cloth. The seat should neither be too high nor too low and should be situated in a sacred place. The yogi should then sit on it very firmly and should practice yoga by controlling the mind and the senses, purifying the heart and fixing the mind on one point.

SYNONYMS

yogi–a transcendentalist; yunjita–must concentrate in Krsna consciousness; satatam–constantly; atmanam–himself (by the body, mind and self); rahasi–in a secluded place; sthitah–being so situated; ekaki–alone; yata-citta-atma–always careful in mind; nirasih–without being attracted by anything else; aparigrahah–free from the feeling of possessiveness.

TRANSLATION

A transcendentalist should always try to concentrate his mind on the Supreme Self; he should live alone in a secluded place and should always carefully control his mind. He should be free from desires and feelings of possessiveness.

SYNONYMS

su-hrt–by nature a well-wisher; mitra–benefactor with affection; ari–enemy; udasina–neutral between belligerents; madhya-stha–mediator between the belligerents; dvesya–envious; bandhusu–among relatives or well-wishers; sadhusu–unto the pious; api–as well as; ca–and; papesu–unto the sinners; sama-buddhih–having equal intelligence; visisyate–is far advanced.

TRANSLATION

A person is said to be still further advanced when he regards all–the honest well-wisher, friends and enemies, the envious, the pious, the sinner and those who are indifferent and impartial–with an equal mind.

SYNONYMS

jnana–acquired knowledge; vijnana–realized knowledge; trpta–satisfied; atma–living entity; kuta-sthah–spiritually situated; vijita-indriyah–sensually controlled; yuktah–competent for self-realization; iti–thus; ucyate–is said; yogi–the mystic; sama–equipoised; lostra–pebbles; asma–stone; kancanah–gold.

TRANSLATION

A person is said to be established in self-realization and is called a yogi [or mystic] when he is fully satisfied by virtue of acquired knowledge and realization. Such a person is situated in transcendence and is self-controlled. He sees everything–whether it be pebbles, stones or gold–as the same.

SYNONYMS

jita-atmanah–of one who has conquered his mind; prasantasya–of who has attained tranquility by such control over the mind; parama-atma–the Supersoul; samahitah–approached completely; sita–cold; usna–heat; sukha–in happiness; duhkhesu–in distress; tatha–also; mana–honor; apamanayoh–and dishonor.

TRANSLATION

For one who has conquered the mind, the Supersoul is already reached, for he has attained tranquility. To such a man happiness and distress, heat and cold, honor and dishonor are all the same.

SYNONYMS

bandhuh–friend; atma–mind; atmanah–of the living entity; tasya–of him; yena–by whom; atma–mind; eva–certainly; atmana–by the living entity; jitah–conquered; anatmanah–of one who has failed to control the mind; tu–but; satrutve–because of enmity; varteta–remains; atma eva–the very mind; satru-vat–as an enemy.

TRANSLATION

For him who has conquered the mind, the mind is the best of friends; but for one who has failed to do so, his very mind will be the greatest enemy.

SYNONYMS

uddharet–one must deliver; atmana–by the mind; atmanam–the conditioned soul; na–never; atmanam–the conditioned soul; avasadayet–put into degradation; atma–mind; eva–certainly; hi–indeed; atmanah–of the conditioned soul; bandhuh–friend; atma–mind; eva–certainly; ripuh–enemy; atmanah–of the conditioned soul.

TRANSLATION

A man must elevate himself by his own mind, not degrade himself. The mind is the friend of the conditioned soul, and his enemy as well.