BHAGAVAD-GITA 6:33

[Guest guest]

BHAGAVAD-GITA 6:33

 

arjuna uvaca

yo 'yam yogas tvaya proktah

samyena madhusudana

etasyaham na pasyami

cancalatvat sthitim sthiram

 

WORD FOR WORD

 

arjunah uvaca--Arjuna said; yah ayam--this system; 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.

 

Copyright 1983 The Bhaktivedanta Book Trust International. Used with

permission.