FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.27.30

यदा न योगोपचितासु चेतो मायासु सिद्धस्य विषज्जतेऽङ्ग । अनन्यहेतुष्वथ मे गति: स्याद् आत्यन्तिकी यत्र न मृत्युहास: ॥ ३० ॥
yadā na yogopacitāsu ceto
[yadaa na yogopachitaasu cheto]
māyāsu siddhasya viṣajjate ’ṅga
[maayaasu siddhasya vishajjate ’nga]
ananya-hetuṣv atha me gatiḥ syād
[ananya-hetushv atha me gatih syaad]
ātyantikī yatra na mṛtyu-hāsaḥ
[aatyantikee yatra na mrityu-haasah]
yadā — when na — not yoga-upacitāsu — to powers developed by yoga cetaḥ — the attention māyāsu — manifestations of māyā siddhasya — of a perfect yogī viṣajjate — is attracted aṅga — My dear mother ananya-hetuṣu — having no other cause atha — then me — to Me gatiḥ — his progress syāt — becomes ātyantikī — unlimited yatra — where na — not mṛtyu-hāsaḥ — power of death.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
yadā na yogopacitāsu ceto
yadā
when
na
not
yoga-upacitāsu
to powers developed by yoga
cetaḥ
the attention
māyāsu siddhasya viṣajjate ’ṅga
māyāsu
manifestations of māyā
siddhasya
of a perfect yogī
viṣajjate
is attracted
ananya-hetuṣv atha me gatiḥ syād
aṅga
My dear mother
ananya-hetuṣu
having no other cause
atha
then
me
to Me
gatiḥ
his progress
syāt
becomes
ātyantikī yatra na mṛtyu-hāsaḥ
ātyantikī
unlimited
yatra
where
na
not
mṛtyu-hāsaḥ
power of death.
When a perfect yogī’s attention is no longer attracted to the by-products of mystic powers, which are manifestations of the external energy, his progress towards Me becomes unlimited, and thus the power of death cannot overcome him.

Yogīs are generally attracted to the by-products of mystic yogic power, for they can become smaller than the smallest or greater than the greatest, achieve anything they desire, have power even to create a planet, or bring anyone they like under their subjection. Yogīs who have incomplete information of the result of devotional service are attracted by these powers, but these powers are material; they have nothing to do with spiritual progress. As other material powers are created by the material energy, mystic yogic powers are also material. A perfect yogī’s mind is not attracted by any material power, but is simply attracted by unalloyed service to the Supreme Lord. For a devotee, the process of merging into the Brahman effulgence is considered to be hellish, and yogic power or the preliminary perfection of yogic power, to be able to control the senses, is automatically achieved. As for elevation to higher planets, a devotee considers this to be simply hallucinatory. A devotee’s attention is concentrated only upon the eternal loving service of the Lord, and therefore the power of death has no influence over him. In such a devotional state, a perfect yogī can attain the status of immortal knowledge and bliss.

Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Third Canto, Twenty-seventh Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “Understanding Material Nature.”

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
When the yogī’s heart is no longer attracted to the abundant enjoyments available only through yoga, he can attain final liberation, where death can show no pride. There are many secondary effects in the form of various enjoyments including the siddhis. The yogī should not be attracted to these. When the yogī does not fix his mind on various abundant (upacitāsu) enjoyments (māyāsu), which are only due to yoga (ananya-hetuṣu), final liberation will take place, in which death’s pride does not exist. Death has pride in the fact that even the perfect yogī is under his control, if the yogī has material attachments. Thus ends the commentary on Twenty-seventh Chapter of the Third Canto of the Bhāgavatam for the pleasure of the devotees, in accordance with the previous ācāryas. Chapter Twenty-eight Kapila Describes Aṣṭāṅga Yoga
Devotion in this verse is not a feeling to wait for but a practice to take up. The heart catches up to the hands once we begin acting on the Lord's behalf instead of our own. Its centre of gravity is material energy.
Reflection Questions
  • What ordinary activity could you re-aim today so it becomes an offering rather than a transaction?
  • Where in your life are you still 'enjoying' the fruits of work you call devotional?
📝 My note

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