Shloka 20
Bhakti Yoga: The Three Modes of Devotion, Non-Envy, and Time as the Lord
यथा वातरथो घ्राणमावृङ्क्ते गन्ध आशयात् । एवं योगरतं चेत आत्मानमविकारि यत् ॥ २० ॥
yathā vāta-ratho ghrāṇam āvṛṅkte gandha āśayāt evaṁ yoga-rataṁ ceta ātmānam avikāri yat
As the chariot of the wind carries fragrance from its source and the sense of smell at once catches it, so the mind constantly engaged in bhakti-yoga can apprehend the Paramātmā—unchanging and equally present everywhere.
As a breeze carrying a pleasant fragrance from a garden of flowers at once captures the organ of smell, so one’s consciousness, saturated with devotion, can at once capture the transcendental existence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who, in His Paramātmā feature, is present everywhere, even in the heart of every living being. It is stated in Bhagavad-gītā that the Supreme Personality of Godhead is kṣetra-jña, present within this body, but He is also simultaneously present in every other body. Since the individual soul is present only in a particular body, he is altered when another individual soul does not cooperate with him. The Supersoul, however, is equally present everywhere. Individual souls may disagree, but the Supersoul, being equally present in every body, is called unchanging, or avikāri. The individual soul, when fully saturated with Kṛṣṇa consciousness, can understand the presence of the Supersoul. It is confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā that ( bhaktyā mām abhijānāti ) a person saturated with devotional service in full Kṛṣṇa consciousness can understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead, either as Supersoul or as the Supreme Person.
FAQs
This verse explains that when the mind is absorbed in yoga, it naturally draws toward the changeless Supreme Self—like wind carrying fragrance from its source.
Kapila is teaching Devahuti the inner mechanics of devotional-yogic absorption: how focused consciousness becomes connected to the avikāri (unchanging) Paramātmā.
Keep the mind steadily “scented” with spiritual impressions—regular japa, hearing Bhagavatam, and disciplined attention—so consciousness naturally moves toward the Divine rather than distractions.