Shloka 35
Nārada’s Past Life, the Lord’s Brief Vision, and the Power of Kīrtana
यमादिभिर्योगपथै: कामलोभहतो मुहु: । मुकुन्दसेवया यद्वत्तथात्माद्धा न शाम्यति ॥ ३५ ॥
yamādibhir yoga-pathaiḥ kāma-lobha-hato muhuḥ mukunda-sevayā yadvat tathātmāddhā na śāmyati
Zwar kann man durch die Pfade des Yoga—yama und dergleichen—die Störungen von Begierde und Gier zeitweilig lindern; doch das genügt nicht, um die Seele zu erfüllen, denn wahre Zufriedenheit entspringt allein dem hingebungsvollen Dienst an Mukunda.
Yoga aims at controlling the senses. By practice of the mystic process of bodily exercise in sitting, thinking, feeling, willing, concentrating, meditating and at last being merged into transcendence, one can control the senses. The senses are considered like venomous serpents, and the yoga system is just to control them. On the other hand, Nārada Muni recommends another method for controlling the senses in the transcendental loving service of Mukunda, the Personality of Godhead. By his experience he says that devotional service to the Lord is more effective and practical than the system of artificially controlling the senses. In the service of the Lord Mukunda, the senses are transcendentally engaged. Thus there is no chance of their being engaged in sense satisfaction. The senses want some engagement. To check them artificially is no check at all because as soon as there is some opportunity for enjoyment, the serpentlike senses will certainly take advantage of it. There are many such instances in history, just like Viśvāmitra Muni’s falling a victim to the beauty of Menakā. But Ṭhākura Haridāsa was allured at midnight by the well-dressed Māyā, and still she could not induce that great devotee into her trap.
FAQs
This verse teaches that lust and greed may not be fully pacified merely by yogic disciplines like yama, but they subside effectively through devotional service to Mukunda (Kṛṣṇa).
Nārada instructs Vyāsa that spiritual dissatisfaction and inner agitation are resolved when literature and practice are centered on pure bhakti to the Lord, not merely on indirect disciplines.
Engage daily in bhakti practices—hearing and chanting Kṛṣṇa’s names, reading Bhāgavatam, offering work and food to the Lord, and serving devotees—so the mind gains higher taste and becomes steady.