Copyright © r The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International, Inc.His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, Founder Ācārya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness
| Canto 4: Creation of the Fourth Order | Chapter 8: Dhruva Mahārāja Leaves Home for the Forest |
Bhaktivedanta VedaBase: Śrīmad Bhāgavatam 4.8.43
snātvānusavanam tasmin
kritvocitāni nivasann
ātmanah kalpitāsanah
SYNONYMS
snātvā — after taking bath; anusavanam — three times; tasmin — in that; kālindyāh — in the River Kālindī (the Yamunā); salile — in the water; śive — which is very auspicious; kritvā — performing; ucitāni — suitable; nivasan — sitting; ātmanah — of the self; kalpita-āsanah — having prepared a sitting place.
TRANSLATION
Nārada Muni instructed: My dear boy, in the waters of the Yamunā River, which is known as Kālindī, you should take three baths daily because the water is very auspicious, sacred and clear. After bathing, you should perform the necessary regulative principles for ashtāńga-yoga and then sit down on your āsana [sitting place] in a calm and quiet position.
PURPORT
It appears from this statement that Dhruva Mahārāja had already been instructed how to practice the eightfold yoga system, which is known as ashtāńga-yoga. This system is explained in our Bhagavad-gītā As It Is, in the chapter entitled, "Dhyāna-yoga." It is understood that in ashtāńga-yoga one practices settling the mind and then concentrating it on the form of Lord Vishnu, as will be described in the following verses. It is clearly stated here that ashtāńga-yoga is not a bodily gymnastic exercise, but a practice to concentrate the mind on the form of Vishnu. Before sitting on his āsana, which is also described in Bhagavad-gītā, one has to cleanse himself very nicely in clear or sacred water thrice daily. The water of the Yamunā is naturally very clear and pure, and thus if anyone bathes there three times, undoubtedly he will be very greatly purified externally. Nārada Muni, therefore, instructed Dhruva Mahārāja to go to the bank of the Yamunā and thus become externally purified. This is part of the gradual process of practicing mystic yoga.
Copyright © r The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International, Inc.
His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, Founder Ācārya of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness