Shloka 44
Dhruva’s Humiliation, Sunīti’s Counsel, and Nārada’s Bhakti-Yoga Instruction
प्राणायामेन त्रिवृता प्राणेन्द्रियमनोमलम् । शनैर्व्युदस्याभिध्यायेन्मनसा गुरुणा गुरुम् ॥ ४४ ॥
prāṇāyāmena tri-vṛtā prāṇendriya-mano-malam śanair vyudasyābhidhyāyen manasā guruṇā gurum
Seated upon your seat, practice the threefold prāṇāyāma, and thus gradually bring the life-air, the mind, and the senses under control. Freed from all material taint, with great patience meditate within the heart upon Bhagavān, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
In this verse the entire yoga system is described in summary, and special stress is given to the breathing exercises for stopping the disturbing mind. The mind, by nature, is always oscillating, for it is very fickle, but the breathing exercise is meant to control it. This process of controlling the mind might have been very possible in those days millions of years ago when Dhruva Mahārāja took to it, but at the present moment the mind has to be fixed directly on the lotus feet of the Lord by the chanting process. By chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra one immediately concentrates on the sound vibration and thinks of the lotus feet of the Lord, and very quickly one is elevated to the position of samādhi, or trance. If one goes on chanting the holy names of the Lord, which are not different from the Supreme Personality of Godhead, naturally his mind becomes absorbed in thought of the Lord.
FAQs
This verse teaches that threefold prāṇāyāma can gradually remove impurities from the prāṇa, senses, and mind, preparing one for steady meditation on the Lord.
Dhruva had left home seeking the Lord; Nārada, as his guide, gave a disciplined method to purify Dhruva’s inner faculties so he could meditate effectively and attain direct realization.
Practice simple regulated breathing daily, reduce sensory distractions, and meditate on the Lord with guidance from a bona fide guru or authentic teachings—progressing gradually and consistently.