FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.28.7

एतैरन्यैश्च पथिभिर्मनो दुष्टमसत्पथम् । बुद्ध्या युञ्जीत शनकैर्जितप्राणो ह्यतन्द्रित: ॥ ७ ॥
etair anyaiś ca pathibhir
[etair anyaish cha pathibhir]
mano duṣṭam asat-patham
[mano dushtam asat-patham]
buddhyā yuñjīta śanakair
[buddhyaa yunjeeta shanakair]
jita-prāṇo hy atandritaḥ
[jita-praano hy atandritah]
etaiḥ — by these anyaiḥ — by other ca — and pathibhiḥ — processes manaḥ — the mind duṣṭam — contaminated asat-patham — on the path of material enjoyment buddhyā — by the intelligence yuñjīta — one must control śanakaiḥ — gradually jita-prāṇaḥ — the life air being fixed hi — indeed atandritaḥ — alert.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
etair anyaiś ca pathibhir
etaiḥ
by these
anyaiḥ
by other
ca
and
pathibhiḥ
processes
mano duṣṭam asat-patham
manaḥ
the mind
duṣṭam
contaminated
asat-patham
on the path of material enjoyment
buddhyā yuñjīta śanakair
buddhyā
by the intelligence
yuñjīta
one must control
śanakaiḥ
gradually
jita-prāṇo hy atandritaḥ
jita-prāṇaḥ
the life air being fixed
hi
indeed
atandritaḥ
alert.
By these processes, or any other true process, one must control the contaminated, unbridled mind, which is always attracted by material enjoyment, and thus fix himself in thought of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Etair anyaiś ca. The general yoga process entails observing the rules and regulations, practicing the different sitting postures, concentrating the mind on the vital circulation of the air and then thinking of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in His Vaikuṇṭha pastimes. This is the general process of yoga. This same concentration can be achieved by other recommended processes, and therefore anyaiś ca, other methods, also can be applied. The essential point is that the mind, which is contaminated by material attraction, has to be bridled and concentrated on the Supreme Personality of Godhead. It cannot be fixed on something void or impersonal. For this reason, so-called yoga practices of voidism and impersonalism are not recommended in any standard yoga-śāstra. The real yogī is the devotee because his mind is always concentrated on the pastimes of Lord Kṛṣṇa. Therefore Kṛṣṇa consciousness is the topmost yoga system.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Also engaging in other methods with the intelligence, having controlled the prāṇas, with attention one gradually engages the wicked mind which leads one to material life in meditation Other processes are charity and vows. Yuñjīta means “engage in meditation.”
The Lord is named here as the actual proprietor of everything we manage. The verse asks us to relax our grip on what was never ours and let Him hold it again. Its centre of gravity is Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Reflection Questions
  • Whom do you actually address when you pray — a concept, or a person?
  • How does relating to a person, rather than a principle, change how you speak in prayer?
📝 My note

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