FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.28.38

तपसा विद्यया पक्‍वकषायो नियमैर्यमै: । युयुजे ब्रह्मण्यात्मानं विजिताक्षानिलाशय: ॥ ३८ ॥
tapasā vidyayā pakva-
[tapasaa vidyayaa pakva-]
kaṣāyo niyamair yamaiḥ
[kashaayo niyamair yamaih]
yuyuje brahmaṇy ātmānaṁ
[yuyuje brahmany aatmaanam]
vijitākṣānilāśayaḥ
[vijitaakshaanilaashayah]
tapasā — by austerity vidyayā — by education pakva — burned up kaṣāyaḥ — all dirty things niyamaiḥ — by regulative principles yamaiḥ — by self-control yuyuje — he fixed brahmaṇi — in spiritual realization ātmānam — his self vijita — completely controlled akṣa — senses anila — life āśayaḥ — consciousness.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
tapasā vidyayā pakva-
tapasā
by austerity
vidyayā
by education
pakva
burned up
kaṣāyo niyamair yamaiḥ
kaṣāyaḥ
all dirty things
niyamaiḥ
by regulative principles
yamaiḥ
by self-control
yuyuje brahmaṇy ātmānaṁ
yuyuje
he fixed
brahmaṇi
in spiritual realization
ātmānam
his self
vijitākṣānilāśayaḥ
vijita
completely controlled
akṣa
senses
anila
life
āśayaḥ
consciousness.
By worshiping, executing austerities and following the regulative principles, King Malayadhvaja conquered his senses, his life and his consciousness. Thus he fixed everything on the central point of the Supreme Brahman [Kṛṣṇa].

Whenever the word brahman appears, the impersonalists take this to mean the impersonal effulgence, the brahmajyoti. Actually, however, Parabrahman, the Supreme Brahman, is Kṛṣṇa, Vāsudeva. As stated in Bhagavad-gītā (7.19) , vāsudevaḥ sarvam iti: Vāsudeva extends everywhere as the impersonal Brahman. One cannot fix one’s mind upon an impersonal “something.” Bhagavad-gītā (12.5) therefore says, kleśo ’dhikataras teṣām avyaktāsakta-cetasām: “For those whose minds are attached to the unmanifested, impersonal feature of the Supreme, advancement is very troublesome.” Consequently, when it is said herein that King Malayadhvaja fixed his mind on Brahman, “Brahman” means the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Vāsudeva.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Burning all impurities by austerity, knowledge, niyama and yama, and conquering his senses, life air and mind, he fixed his mind on Vāsudeva. Brahmaṇi means Vāsudeva by the context of the following verses. Ātmanam is the mind.
By worship, austerity and rules, he conquered senses, life, consciousness; fixed everything on Kṛṣṇa. Many practices converging on one focal point; that's the design of a successful spiritual life.
Reflection Questions
  • What is the focal point of my many practices, and is it sharp enough?
  • Where do my practices scatter rather than converge?
📝 My note

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