"Dhyana Yoga"

Ashtanga Yoga, a method of mechanical meditation, controls the mind and senses and directs all attention to Paramatma (the Supersoul, the form of the Lord dwelling in the heart). The culmination of this process is samadhi, the full realization of the Almighty.
So, we begin to describe ashtanga yoga - an eight-step system that allows you to take control of your feelings, and most importantly - your mind. Unfortunately, I want to upset everyone, because this method is nowadays exceptional and unattainable for most people. It is given in this chapter so that we understand how simple the method of karma yoga described in the previous chapter, which allows you to immediately establish a connection with the Absolute Truth. Karma-yoga is the deliverance from self-interest, when I direct my every effort to achieve the perfection of life - communication with the Absolute, service to the Absolute. One who has learned to act not to satisfy his egoism, but to satisfy the Absolute, brings benefit not only to himself, but to all living beings of this world. Such a person is called a perfect yogi.
The yogi is not the one who closed his eyes, sat in the lotus position, went into the forest or took a vow of silence. A yogi is one who continues to fulfill his duties, but does this not out of selfish motives, but for the sake of universal spiritual development. This is a real national hero, however, right now, not great souls are accepted by society as heroes, but unbridled singers and singers who cannot even sing their own song, having drunk and smoked their voice in the process of “purification”.

TEXT 1


sri-bhagavan 
uvcha anashritah karma-phalam 
karyam karma karoti yah 
sa sannyasi cha yogi ca 
na niragnir on the chakriyas
sri-bhagavan uvaca - the Lord said; anasritah - one who does not seek refuge; karma-phalam - in the fruits of his labor; karyam - one that should be done; karma - labor; karoti - performs; yah - which; sah — he; sannyasi - living in renunciation of the world; ca — also; yogis - yogi; ca — also; na - not; without them; agnih - of fire; on - no; ca — also; akriyah - not doing his duty.
The Supreme Lord said: He who is not attached to the fruits of his labor, but who acts faithful to his duty, truly lives in renunciation of the world. He is the real yogi, and not the one who does not light a fire and does not fulfill his duties.


TEXT 2


yam sannyasam iti prahur yogam 
there viddhi pandava 
na hy asannyasta-sankalpo 
yoga bhavati kashchan
yam - which; sannyasam - renunciation; iti - like that; prahuh - they are called; yogam - reunion with the Supreme; there is that; viddhi - know; pandava - O son of Pandu; na - not; hi - unconditionally; asannyasta - not liberated; sankalpah - from the desire to satisfy one's own senses; yogis - mystic yogi; bhavati - becomes; kashchan - any.
Know, O son of Pandu: that which is called renunciation of the world, in essence, is yoga, or reunion with the Almighty, for you can become a yogi only by getting rid of the desire for sensual pleasures.


TEXT 3


arurukshor muner yogam 
karma karanam uchate 
yogarudhasya tasyaiva 
shamah karanam ukyate
aurukshoh - one who has just started doing yoga; muneh - the sage; yogam - eight-step yoga; karma - activity; karanam - means; ucyate - is called; yoga - eight-step yoga; arudhasya — of one who has attained; tasya — him; eva - unconditionally; shamah - the cessation of all material activities; karanam - means; ucyate - is called.
It is said that for one who has just begun to engage in eight-step yoga, activity is the means of achieving the goal, and for one who has achieved perfection, the complete cessation of material activity becomes the means.


TEXT 4


yada hi nendriyarthesu 
na karmasv anusajjate 
sarva-sankalpa-sannyasi 
yogarudhas tadochyate
yada - when; hi - unconditionally; na - not; indriya-arthesu - in sense gratification; na - not; karmasu - in fruitive activities; anusajjate - forcedly engaged; sarva-sankalpa - from all material desires; sannyasi - the renounced; yoga-arudhah — perfected in yoga; tada - then; ucyate - is called.
They also say that a yogi attains perfection when, having completely got rid of material desires, he ceases to search for sensual pleasures and engages in material activities.


TEXT 5


uddhared atmanatmanam 
natmanam avasadayet 
atmaiva hi atmano 
bandhur atmaiva ripur atmanah
uddharet — let him free; atmana - by the mind; atmanam - the conditioned soul; na - not; atmanam - the conditioned soul; avasadayet - forces degradation; atma - mind; eva - after all; hi — verily; atmanah - of the conditioned soul; bandhuh — friend; atma - mind; eva - unconditionally; ripuh — the enemy; atmanah - of the conditioned soul.
With the help of the mind, a person should be freed from material captivity, and not degrade, descending into lower forms of life. The mind can be both a friend of the conditioned soul and its enemy.


TEXT 6


bandhur atmatmanas tasya yenatmaivatmana 
jitah anatmanas 
tu satruthe 
vartetatmaiva satru-wat
bandhuh — friend; atma - mind; atmanah - of the living entity; tasya — him; yena - by whom; atma - mind; eva - unconditionally; atmana - by the living entity; jitah - restrained; anatmanah - for one who has not been able to control his mind; tu - but; satrutve - because of hostility; varteta - will remain; atma eva - the same mind; satru-wat - like the enemy.
For the one who restrained the mind, he becomes the best friend, and for the one who failed, the mind remains the worst enemy.


TEXT 7


jitatmanah prasantasya 
paramatma samahitah 
sitosna-sukha-duhkhesu 
tatha manapamanayoh
jita-atmanah - of one whose mind is defeated; prasantasya - of one who, having restrained his mind, attained peace; parama-atma - the Supersoul; samahitah - achieved; sita - in the cold; usna - heat; sukha — in happiness; duhkhesu - and in sorrow; tatha - also; mana - in high esteem; apamanayoh - and dishonor.
One who has restrained the mind has already realized the Supersoul, for he has found peace. For such a person, there is no difference between happiness and grief, heat and cold, honor and dishonor.


TEXT 8


jnana-vijnana-tryptatma 
kuta-stho vijitendriyah 
yukta ity ucyate yoga 
sama-loshtrashma-kanchanah
jnana - by knowledge; vijnana - and spiritual experience; tripta - satisfied; atma — the living entity; kuta-sthahE <$!> has reached the peak (self-awareness); vijita-indriyah - one whose senses are restrained; yuktah - ready to realize his true “I”; iti - in this way; ucyate - it is said; yogis - mystic yogi; sama - equally (related); loshtra - to pebbles; ashma - to the stone; kanchanah - to gold.
A person who has mastered true knowledge and, applying it in practice, has found complete satisfaction, is considered to have realized his “I” and is called a yogi or mystic. Such a person is on a spiritual level and always remains calm. He does not see the difference between cobblestone, pebbles and gold.


TEXT 9


suhrin-mitrari-udasina-madhyastha-dvesya-bandhusu 
sadhushw api ca papesu 
sama-buddhir visisyate
su-hrt - to those who, by their nature, wish others good; mitra — to sympathetic benefactors; ari - to the enemies; udasina - to outside observers; madhya-stha - to the intermediaries; dvesya - to envious persons; bandhusu - to relatives or well-wishers; sadhusu - to the righteous; api - even; ca - i; papesu - to sinners; sama-buddhih - one who treats everyone the same way; visisyate - transcends.
He is surpassed by one who treats everyone equally, whether sincere well-wishers, sympathetic benefactors, outside observers, intermediaries between him and his enemies, envious, friends or enemies, the righteous or sinners.

TEXT 10


yogi yunjita satatam 
atmanam rahasi sthitah 
ekaki yata-cittatma 
nirashir aparigrahah
yogis - yogi; yundjita - let him act in Krsna consciousness; satatam - constantly; atmanam - himself (with his body, mind and soul); rahasi - in a secluded place; sthitah - situated; ekaki - alone; yata-chitta-atma — one who has the mind under control; nirashi - not attracted to anything else; aparigrahah - freed from possessive feelings.
The body, mind and soul of a yogi should always be engaged in activities related to the Supreme. He should live alone, in a secluded place, constantly keep his mind in obedience and be free from desires and possessive feelings.


TEXTS 11 - 12


succau deshe pratisthapya 
sthiram asanam atmanah 
naty-uchchrtam nati-nicam 
caiilajina-kusottaram
tatraikagram manah kritva 
yata-chittendriya-kriyah 
upavisyasane yunjyad yogam 
atma-visuddhaye
busau - in the pure; deshe - the place; pratisthapya - having established; sthiram - hard; asanam - the seat; atmanah - his own; na - not; ati - too much; uchhrtam - high; na - not; ati - too much; nicam - the low; caila-ajina - with a soft cloth and a deer skin; kusha - and kusha grass; uttaram - covered; tatra - there; eka-agram - concentrated; manah - the mind; kritva - having done; yata-chitta — controlled mind; indriya — feelings; kriyah - one whose activities; upavisya - sitting down; asane - in the seat; yunjyat - let him engage; yogam - yoga; atma — the heart; visuddhaye - for purification.
For yoga, you need to find a clean secluded place, lay on the ground a mat of kush grass, covering it with deer skin and soft cloth. The seat should not be too high or, conversely, too low. Having sat down properly, you can begin to practice yoga. By curbing the mind and feelings, controlling the activity of the body and concentrating the mental gaze at one point, the yogi must clear his heart of material contamination.


TEXTS 13 - 14


samam kaya-shiro-mane 
dharayann acalam sthirah 
sampreksya nasikagram svam 
disash canavalokayan
Prashantatma vigata-bhir 
brahmachari-vrate sthitah manah 
samyamya mach-chitto 
yukta asita mat-parah
samam - directly; kaya — corpus; sirah - the head; mane - and the neck; dharayan - holding; achalam - motionless; sthirah - steady; sampreksya - with fixed eyes; nasika — of the nose; agram - at the tip; svam — mine; desah - on the sides; ca — also; anavalokayan - not looking; prasanta - calm; atma — one whose mind; vigata-bhih - devoid of fear; brahmacari-vrate - in the vow of celibacy; sthitah - abiding; manah - the mind; samyamya - by curbing; mat - (focused) on Me (Krishna); chitta - - one whose mind; yuktah - a true yogi; asita - let him sit; mat - I; parah - one whose ultimate goal.
Keeping the body, neck and head in line, the yogi should focus on the tip of the nose. Having calmed down and restrained the mind, getting rid of fear and completely abandoning sexual activity, he must fix his mental eye on My image in the heart and make Me his highest goal.


TEXT 15


yundzhann evam sadatmanam 
yoga niyata-manasah 
santim nirvana-paramam 
mat-samstham adhigaccati
yunjan - occupying; evam - so (as described above); sada - constantly; atmanam - the body, mind and soul; yogis - mystic yogi; niyata-manasah - one whose mind is restrained; shantim - state of rest; nirvana-paramam - the cessation of material existence; mat-samstham - the spiritual sky (the kingdom of God); adhigaccati - gains.
Keeping under constant control the activities of his body and mind, the mystic yogi finally submits the mind to his power and, having ceased material existence, reaches the kingdom of God.


TEXT 16


nati-ashnatas tu yogi sti 
on chaikantam anasnati 
on chati-svapna-silasya 
jagrato naiva charjuna
na - not; ati - excessively; asnatah - of one who eats; tu - but; yogah — reunion with the Supreme; asti - is; na - not; ca — also; ekantam - exclusively; anasnatah - abstaining from food; na - not; ca — also; ati - too much; svapna-silasya - of one who is sleeping; jagratah - awake at night; na - not; eva - of course; ca - i; arjuna - O Arjuna.
O Arjuna, a person will never become a yogi if he eats too much or too little, sleeps too much or sleeps insufficiently.


TEXT 17


yuktahara-viharasya 
yukta-cheshtasya karmasu 
yukta-svapnavabodhasya 
yogo bhavati duhkha ha
yukta — orderly; ahara - eating; viharasya - of one whose rest; yukta - in moderation; chestasya - one who works to feed himself; karmasu - in the performance of duties; yukta — orderly; svapna-avabodhasya - of one whose sleep and wakefulness; yogah - doing yoga; bhavati - becomes; duhkha-ha - destroying suffering.
One who is moderate in food, sleep, work and rest can, by doing yoga, get rid of all material suffering.


TEXT 18


yada vinyatam cittam 
atmany evavatisthate 
nisprihah sarva-kamebhyo 
yukta ity ucyate tada
yada - when; viniyatam - subordinate; chittam - the mind; atmani - on the spiritual level; eva - unconditionally; avatisthate - rises; nisprihah - not willing; sarva — of all; kamebhyah - material enjoyment; yuktah - established in yoga; iti - like that; ucyate - it is said; tada - then.
When a yogi arranges the activities of the mind and, freed from material desires, attains spiritual existence, he is called established in the practice of yoga.


TEXT 19


yatha dipo nivata-sto 
nengate sopama smrta 
yogino yata-cittasya 
yunjato yogam atmanah
yatha - how; deepah - a lamp; nivata-sthah - situated in a calm place; na - not; ingate - hesitates; sa is that; upama - comparison; smrita - is considered; yoginas - yoga; yata-cittasya - one whose mind is restrained; yunjatah - constantly performing; yogam - meditation; atmanah - of the spiritual "I".
Just as the flame of a lamp burns exactly in a quiet place, the yogi who has restrained the mind always remains immersed in meditation, directing his inner gaze to his true "I".


TEXTS 20 - 23




yatroparamate chittam 
niruddham yoga-sevaya 
yatra caiatvatmanatmanam 
pasyann atmani tusyati
sukham atyantikam yat tad 
buddhi-grahyam atindriyam 
vetti yatra na cayvayam 
sthitas chalati tattvatah
yam labdhva chaparam labham 
manyate nadhikam tatah 
yasmin sthito na duhkhena 
gurunapi vichalyate
there vidyad duhkha-samyoga-viyogam yoga-samjnitam
yatra - (at that level) where; uparamate - ceases (because he experiences spiritual bliss); chittam - the activity of the mind; niruddham - detached from the material; yoga-sevaya - by the practice of yoga; yatra - where; ca — also; eva - unconditionally; atmana - by pure mind; atmanam - the soul; pasyan - aware (position); atmani - in the soul; tusyati - experiences; sukham - happiness; atyantikam - the highest; yat - which; tat - that; buddhi - by the mind; grahyam - available; atindriyam - transcendental; vetti - knows; yatra - where; na - not; ca — also; eva - unconditionally; ayam - he; sthitah - situated; chalati - moving; tattvatah - from the truth; yam - which; labdhva - by understanding; ca — also; aparam - other; labham - achievement; manyate - considers; na - not; adhikam - more; tatah - of that; yasmin - on which; sthitah - situated; na - not; duhkhena - by suffering; guruna api - even very grave; vichalyate - hesitates; there is that; vidyat - let him know; duhkha-samyoga - suffering arising from contact with matter; viyogam - annihilation; yoga-samjnitam - called yogic trance.
When a yogi reaches this stage of perfection, called trance, or samadhi, his mind is completely detached from material activities. Thanks to the purity of the mind, he gains the ability to see his true "I", and it becomes for him a source of joy and happiness. Finding satisfaction, the yogi experiences unlimited spiritual bliss with his spiritual feelings. Having understood the truth, he never forgets it and believes that there is nothing above it. Such a person does not lose his temper, even when faced with the greatest difficulties. Here is true freedom from suffering arising from contact with the material world.


TEXT 24


sa niscayena yoktavyo 
yogo 'nirvinn-cetasa 
sankalpa-prabhavan kamams 
tyaktva sarvan asesatah 
manasivendriya-gramam 
vinyamya samantatah
sah - that; niscayena - with determination; yoktavyah - that which follows; yogah - yoga; anirvinn-cetasa - steadily; sankalpa - by reflection; prabhavan - generated by; kaman - material desires; tyaktva - outlived; sarvan — everything; asesatah - completely; manasa - with the mind; eva - unconditionally; indriya-gramam — all senses; viniyamya - subjugating; samantatah - from all sides.
Yoga must be done with determination and faith, never leaving the chosen path. It is necessary to get rid of all, without exception, material desires that arise in the mind, and with the help of the mind to subjugate all the senses.


TEXT 25


shanaikh shanair uparamed 
buddhya dhrti-grhitaya 
atma-samstham manah kritva 
na kincid api chintayet
shanaih - gradually; shanaih - gradually; uparamet - let him restrain; buddhya - by reason; dhrti-grhitaya - based on conviction; atma-samstham - situated on the spiritual platform; manah - the mind; kritva - having done; na - not; kincit - about something; api - even; chintayet - let him think.
Gradually, step by step, with the help of the mind, based on a firm conviction, the yogi should plunge into a trance and completely concentrate the mind on the soul, without thinking of anything else.

TEXT 26


yato yato nishchalati 
manash chanchalam asthiram 
tatas tato niyamyaitad 
atmaniy eva vasham nayet
yatah yatah - wherever; niscalati - is overly excited; manah - the mind; chanchalam - changeable; asthiram - unstable; tatah tatah - from there; niyamya - by suppressing; etat is; atmani - in his "I"; eva - unconditionally; vasam - under control; Nayet - let him bring
No matter where the mind, changeable and restless in nature, rises, the yogi must always return it to the power of his true "I".


TEXT 27


prasanta-manasam hu enam 
yogin sukham uttamam 
payi santa-rajasam 
brahma-bhutam akalmasham
prasanta - calm, focused on the lotus feet of Krsna; manasam - to one whose mind; hi - unconditionally; enam - to that; yogins - to yoga; sukham - happiness; uttamam - the highest; upaiti — comes; shanta-rajasam - free from passion; brahma-bhutam - liberation by realizing one's identity with the Absolute; akalmasham - devoid of all the consequences of sin.
The yogi who has concentrated his mind on Me reaches the peak of spiritual bliss. Having come out of the influence of the mode of passion, he is aware of his qualitative identity with the Absolute and is thus freed from all the consequences of his past actions.

TEXT 28


yundjann evam sadatmanam 
yoga vigata-kalmasah 
sukhena brahma-samsparsam 
atyantam sukham asnute
yunjan - practicing yoga; evam - like that; sada - always; atmanam - the soul; yogis - one who is associated with the Supreme Soul; vigata - eliminated; kalmasah - one in whom material contamination is; sukhena - with spiritual happiness; brahma-samsparsam - arising from constant contact with the Supreme; atyantam - the highest; sukham - happiness; asnute - gains.
Thus, having restrained the mind and feelings and constantly engaged in the practice of yoga, a person is completely cleansed of material contamination and attains the highest, perfect happiness in the transcendental loving service of the Almighty.


TEXT 29


sarva-bhuta-stham atmanam 
sarva-bhutani chatmani 
iksate yoga-yuktatma 
sarvatra sama-darsanah
sarva-bhuta-stham - abiding in all living entities; atmanam - the Supersoul; sarva — everything; bhutani - living entities; ca — also; atmani - in the Supersoul; iksate - sees; yoga-yukta-atma — one who is Krsna conscious; sarvatra - everywhere; sama-darsanah - he who sees alike.
The perfect yogi sees Me abiding in all living beings, and all living beings abiding in Me. Truly, a self-realized soul sees Me, the one Supreme Lord, everywhere.


TEXT 30


yo mam pasyati sarvatra 
sarvam ca mayi pasyati 
tasyaham na pranashyami 
sa ca me me na pranashyati
yah - which; mam - Me; pasyati - sees; sarvatra - everywhere; sarvam - everything; ca - i; mayi - in Me; pasyati - sees; tasya — for him; aham - I; na - not; pranasyami - I will be lost; sah — he; ca — also; me - for me; na - not; pranasyati - will be lost.
For the one who sees Me in everything and everything in Me, I will never be lost, and he will never be lost to Me.

TEXT 31


sarva-bhuta-sthitam yo mam 
bhajati ekatvam asthitah 
sarvatha vartamano 'pi 
sa yoga mayi vartate
sarva-bhuta-sthitam - situated within everyone's heart; yah - one who; mam - to me; bhajati - serves with love and devotion; ekatvam - in unity; asthitah - is; sarvatha - in every way; varta-manah - remaining; api - despite; sah — he; yogis - yogi; mayi - in Me; vartate - abides.
He worships and serves the Supersoul, knowing that the Supersoul and I are one. Such a yogi always, under any circumstances, remains in Me.


TEXT 32


atmaupamyena sarvatra samam 
pashyati yo 'rjuna 
sukham wa yadi wa duhkham 
sa yoga paramo matah
atma - with oneself; aupamyena - by comparison; sarvatra - everywhere; samam - equally; pasyati - sees; yah - which; arjuna - O Arjuna; sukham - happiness; va - or; yadi - if; va - or; duhkham - grief; sah — that; yogis - yogi; paramah - perfect; matah - considered.
A perfect yogi, O Arjuna, is one who, comparing each with himself, sees the true equality of all beings, regardless of whether they are happy or not.


TEXT 33


arjuna uvcha 
yo 'yam yogas tvaya proktah 
samyena madhusudana 
etasyaham na pasyami 
changchanatvat sthitim sthiram
arjunah uvaca - Arjuna said; yah ayam - one who is; yogah - the method of mystic yoga; tvaya - by you; proktah - described; samyena - in general terms; madhu-sudana - O conqueror of the demon Madhu; etasya - of this; aham - I; na - not; pasyami - I see; canalatvat - from anxiety; sthitim — state; sthiram - sustainable.
Arjuna said: O Madhusudana, the practice of yoga that you have described seems unbearable to me, for my mind is restless and unstable.


TEXT 34


chanchalam hi manah krishna 
pramatha balavad dryham 
tasyaham nigraham manye 
vaior iva su-dushkaram
chanchalam - unstable; hi - of course; manah - the mind; krsna — O Krsna; pramatha - restless; bala-vat - strong; dryhamE <$!> stubborn; tasya — him; aham - I; nigraham - taming; Manye - I think; vayoh — of the wind; willow - how; su-dushkaram - difficult.
The mind is restless, violent, stubborn and unusually strong, O Krishna, and it seems to me that it is harder to tame it than to stop the wind.


TEXT 35


sri-bhagavan 
uvcha asamsayam maha-baho 
mano durnigraham chalam 
abhyasena tu kaunteya 
vairagyena ca grhyate
sri-bhagavan uvaca - the Supreme Lord said; asamsayam - certainly; maha-baho - O mighty-armed; manah - the mind; durnigraham - one that is difficult to curb; chalam - restless; abhyasena - by practice; tu - however; kaunteya - O son of Kunti; vairagyena - by renunciation; ca — also; grhyate - obeys.
Lord Sri Krishna said: O mighty-armed son of Kunti, it is extremely difficult to curb a restless mind. However, this can be done with the help of certain practices and the rejection of worldly pleasures.


TEXT 36


asamyatatmana yogo 
dushprap iti me matih 
vashyatmana tu yatata 
sakyo 'vaptum upayatah
asamyata - with unbridled; atmana - by the mind; yogah - self-realization; dusprapah - is elusive; iti - like that; me - Mine; matih - opinion; vasyya - subjugated; atmana - by the mind; tu - but; yatata - to those who are trying; sakyah - possibly; avaptum - to achieve; upayatah - by appropriate means.
For one whose mind is unbridled, self-awareness is an overwhelming labor. But the one who has conquered the mind and goes to the goal in the right way will certainly succeed. That is my opinion.


TEXT 37


arjuna uvcha 
ayatih sraddhayopeto 
yogach chalita-manasah 
aprapya yoga-samsiddhim 
kam gatim krsna kaccati
arjunah uvaca - Arjuna said; ayatih - unlucky yogi; sraddhaya - with faith; upetah - busy; yogat - from the path of mystic yoga; calita - come down; manasah - one whose mind; aprapya - not reaching; yoga-samsiddhim - the highest level of perfection in yoga; kam - to which; gatim — goals; krsna — O Krsna; gaccchati - comes.
Arjuna asked: O Krishna, what is the fate of the unfortunate yogi who faithfully followed the path of spiritual self-knowledge, but then left him, seduced by worldly pleasures, and did not achieve perfection?

TEXT 38


Kachchin nobhaya-vibhrastas chhinnabhram 
iva nashyati 
apratistho maha-baho 
vimudho brahmanah pathi
kaccit - unless; na - not; ubhaya - from both; vibhrastah - deviated; chinna - torn; abhram - the cloud; willow - how; nasyati - disappears; apratisthah - without support; maha-baho - O mighty-armed Krishna; vimudhah - bewildered; brahmanah - the spiritual; pathi - on the way.
O mighty-armed Krishna, does not a person who has left the path of yoga not lose all spiritual and material gains and does not disappear like a torn cloud without finding refuge anywhere?

TEXT 39


ethan me samsayam krsna 
chhettum arhasas asesatah 
tvad-anyah samsayasyasya 
chhetta na hy upapadyate
etat is; me - mine; samsayam - doubt; krsna — O Krsna; chhettum - to dispel; arhasi - you deserve it; asesatah - completely; tvat - except for You; anyah - another; samsayasya - doubts; asya - of this; chhetta - the deliverer; na - not; hi - unconditionally; upapadyate - situated.
This doubt torments me, O Krishna, therefore I ask You to dispel it. Only You can save me from such doubts.


TEXT 40


sri-bhagavan 
uvcha partha naiveha namutra 
vinasas tasya vidyate 
na hi kalyana- 
krit kascid durgatim tata gaccati
sri-bhagavan uvaca - the Supreme Lord said; partha - O son of Prtha; na eva - definitely not; iha - here (in this life); na - not; amutra - there (in the next life); vinasah - death; tasya — him; vidyate - exists; na - not; hi - unconditionally; kalyana-krt - one who is engaged in good activities; kaschet - anyone; durgatim - in distress; tata - My friend; gaccchati - it gets.
The Supreme Lord said: O son of Prtha, a yoga who does good deeds does not face death in this life or the next. O My friend, evil will never prevail against the one who does good.

TEXT 41


prapya punya-krtam lokan 
usitva shashvatih samah 
succin srimatam gehe 
yoga-bhrashto 'bhijayate
prapya - having achieved; punya-krtam - populated by those who have committed pious activities; lokan — of the planets; ushitva - having lived; sasvatih - many; samah - years; sucinam - of the righteous; sri-matam - of the rich; hehe - in the house; yoga-bhrastah - one who has descended from the spiritual path; abhijayate - is born.
A yogi who has not been able to achieve perfection, after death, enjoys life for many years on the planets where pious beings live, and then is born into a family of the righteous or rich and noble people.


TEXT 42


atha wa yoginam eva 
kule bhavati dhimatam 
etad dhi durlabhataram loke 
janma yad idrisham
atha va - or; yogis - yogis (comprehending spiritual science); eva - even; kule - in the family; bhavati - is born; dhi-matam — those who are endowed with great wisdom; etat is; hi - unconditionally; durlabha-taram - the rarest; loke - in (this) world; janma — birth; yat - which; idrisam - that is.
Or [if a yogi has gone off the spiritual path, having passed most of it] he is born into a family of people who have deeply understood spiritual science. It’s rare for anyone in this world to have such luck.

TEXT 43


tatra tam buddhi-samyogam 
labhate paurva-dehikam 
yatate ca tato bhuyah 
samsiddhau kuru-nandana
tatra - there; there is that; buddhi-samyogam - the awakening of consciousness; labhate - gains; paurva-dehikam - of that which he possessed in the previous body; yatate - is trying; ca — also; tatah - then; bhuyah - again; samsiddhau - in perfection; kuru-nandana - O descendant of the kuru.
Then, about a descendant of the Kuru, the divine consciousness awakens in him, which he developed in previous lives, and he again begins to do yoga, trying to achieve perfection.


TEXT 44


purvabhyasena tenaiva hriyate 
hi avasho 'pi 
sa jijnasur api yogasya 
sabda-brahmatamartate
purva - by the same; abhyasena - by occupation; tena - by that; eva - unconditionally; hriyate - is attracted; hi - certainly; avasah - without compulsion; api - also; sah — he; jijnasuh - who wants to know; api - even; yogasya — yoga; sabda-brahma — the rituals prescribed by the Vedas; ativartate - transcends.
Thanks to this divine consciousness, an attraction to the practice of yoga wakes up in it by itself. Such a yoga aspiring to spiritual knowledge is not attracted to Vedic rites and rituals.

TEXT 45


prayatnad yatamanas tu 
yoga samsuddha-kilbishah 
aneka-janma-samsiddhas 
tato yati param gatim
prayatnat - by persistent pursuits; yatamanah - making efforts; tu - and; yogis - yogi; samsuddha - purified; kilbisah - from all sins; aneka - after a great many; janma - of lives; samsiddhah - perfected; tatah - then; yati - comes; param - to the highest; gatim - the goal.
He sincerely practices yoga and, in the end, after many lives, he is completely cleansed of material contamination, attains spiritual perfection and reaches a higher goal.


TEXT 46


tapasvibhyo 'dhiko yoga 
jnanibhyo' pi mato 'dhikah 
karmibhyash cadhiko yoga 
tasmad yoga bhavardjuna
tapasvibhyah - than ascetics; adhikah - the greater; yogis - yogi; jnanibhyah - than the sages; api - also; matah - considered; adhikah - the greater; karmibhyah - than those who engage in fruitive activities; ca — also; adhikah - the greater; yogis - yogi; tasmat - therefore; yogis - by a yogi; bhava - become; arjuna - O Arjuna.
The Yogi is far superior to the ascetic, philosopher, and man, striving for the fruits of his labor. Therefore, O Arjuna, no matter what, become a yogi.

TEXT 47


yoginam api sarvesham 
mad-gatenantar- 
atmana sraddhavan bhajate yo mam 
sa me yuktatamo matah
yogis - yogis; api - also; sarvesam - of all; mat-gatena — by abiding in Me, by constant thoughts of Me; antah-atmana - in the depths of his heart; sraddha-van - possessing unshakable faith; bhajate - engaged in transcendental loving service; yah - which; mam - to Me (the Supreme Lord); sah — he; me - with Me; yukta-tamah - the greatest yogi; matah - considered.

And of all yogis, one who is always immersed in thoughts of Me abiding in his heart, and, full of unshakable faith, worships and serves Me with love, is connected with Me by the closest ties and has reached the highest level of perfection. That is my opinion.