FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.31.3

तान्निर्जितप्राणमनोवचोद‍ृशो जितासनान् शान्तसमानविग्रहान् । परेऽमले ब्रह्मणि योजितात्मन: सुरासुरेड्यो दद‍ृशे स्म नारद: ॥ ३ ॥
tān nirjita-prāṇa-mano-vaco-dṛśo
[taan nirjita-praana-mano-vacho-drisho]
jitāsanān śānta-samāna-vigrahān
[jitaasanaan shaanta-samaana-vigrahaan]
pare ’male brahmaṇi yojitātmanaḥ
[pare ’male brahmani yojitaatmanah]
surāsureḍyo dadṛśe sma nāradaḥ
[suraasuredyo dadrishe sma naaradah]
tān — all of them nirjita — completely controlled prāṇa — the life air (by the prāṇāyāma process) manaḥ — mind vacaḥ — words dṛśaḥ — and vision jita-āsanān — who conquered the yogic āsana, or sitting posture śānta — pacified samāna — straight vigrahān — whose bodies pare — transcendental amale — free from all material contamination brahmaṇi — in the Supreme yojita — engaged ātmanaḥ — whose minds sura-asura-īḍyaḥ — worshiped by the demons and by the demigods dadṛśe — saw sma — in the past nāradaḥ — the great sage Nārada.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
tān nirjita-prāṇa-mano-vaco-dṛśo
tān
all of them
nirjita
completely controlled
prāṇa
the life air (by the prāṇāyāma process)
manaḥ
mind
vacaḥ
words
dṛśaḥ
and vision
jitāsanān śānta-samāna-vigrahān
jita-āsanān
who conquered the yogic āsana, or sitting posture
śānta
pacified
samāna
straight
vigrahān
whose bodies
pare ’male brahmaṇi yojitātmanaḥ
pare
transcendental
amale
free from all material contamination
brahmaṇi
in the Supreme
yojita
engaged
ātmanaḥ
whose minds
surāsureḍyo dadṛśe sma nāradaḥ
sura-asura-īḍyaḥ
worshiped by the demons and by the demigods
dadṛśe
saw
sma
in the past
nāradaḥ
the great sage Nārada.
After practicing the yogāsana for mystic yoga, the Pracetās managed to control their life air, mind, words and external vision. Thus by the prāṇāyāma process they were completely relieved of material attachment. By remaining perpendicular, they could concentrate their minds on the uppermost Brahman. While they were practicing this prāṇāyāma, the great sage Nārada, who is worshiped both by demons and by demigods, came to see them.

In this verse the words pare amale are significant. The realization of Brahman is explained in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. The Absolute Truth is realized in three phases: impersonal effulgence (Brahman), localized Paramātmā and the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Bhagavān. In his prayers, Lord Śiva concentrated upon the personal features of Parabrahman, described in personal terms as snigdha-prāvṛḍ-ghana-śyāmam ( Bhāg. 4.24.45). Following the instructions of Lord Śiva, the Pracetās also concentrated their minds on the Śyāmasundara form of the Supreme Brahman. Although impersonal Brahman, Paramātmā Brahman and Brahman as the Supreme Person are all on the same transcendental platform, the personal feature of the Supreme Brahman is the ultimate goal and last word in transcendence.

The great sage Nārada travels everywhere. He goes to the demons and the demigods and is equally respected. He is consequently described herein as surāsureḍya, worshiped both by demons and by demigods. For Nārada Muni, the door of every house is open. Although there is perpetual animosity between the demons and demigods, Nārada Muni is welcomed everywhere. Nārada is considered one of the demigods, of course, and the word devarṣi means “the saintly person among the demigods.” But not even the demons envy Nārada Muni; therefore he is equally worshiped both by demons and by demigods. A perfect Vaiṣṇava’s position should be just like Nārada Muni’s, completely independent and unbiased.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Nārada, who is worshipped by the devatās and demons, saw them. They had controlled their life airs, mind, speech and sight, had perfected the yoga postures, and were sitting peacefully with straight posture, concentrating their minds on the pure Supreme Lord. The Lord was described in Śiva’s song as having a dark complexion like a rain cloud. Dadṛśe should be dadarśa
Related verses
Practicing yogāsana, prāṇāyāma, controlling life-air, mind, words, vision; standing perpendicular, fixing on Para Brahman. Specific technical practices yield specific transcendental results; the recipe is detailed.
Reflection Questions
  • Which technical detail of practice am I lazy about that the scripture treats as essential?
  • Where would precision in technique surprise me with results?
📝 My note

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