Shloka 20
Parīkṣit’s Comprehensive Inquiries and the Bhāgavata as Śabda-avatāra
योगेश्वरैश्वर्यगतिर्लिङ्गभङ्गस्तु योगिनाम् । वेदोपवेदधर्माणामितिहासपुराणयो: ॥ २० ॥
yogeśvaraiśvarya-gatir liṅga-bhaṅgas tu yoginām vedopaveda-dharmāṇām itihāsa-purāṇayoḥ
യോഗേശ്വരന്മാരുടെ ഐശ്വര്യങ്ങളും അവരുടെ പരമഗതിയും എന്ത്; യോഗികളുടെ ലിംഗം (സൂക്ഷ്മദേഹം) എങ്ങനെ ഭംഗപ്പെടുന്നു; കൂടാതെ വേദ-ഉപവേദ ധർമ്മങ്ങളുടെയും ഇതിഹാസ-പുരാണങ്ങളുടെയും അടിസ്ഥാനജ്ഞാനം എന്തെന്ന് പറയൂ।
The yogeśvara, or the master of mystic powers, can exhibit eight kinds of wonders of perfection by becoming smaller than the atom or lighter than a feather, getting anything and everything he desires, going anywhere and everywhere he likes, creating even a planet in the sky, etc. There are many yogeśvaras having different proficiencies in these wonderful powers, and the topmost of all of them is Lord Śiva. Lord Śiva is the greatest yogī, and he can perform such wonderful things, far beyond the ordinary living beings. The devotees of the Lord, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, do not directly practice the process of mystic powers, but, by the grace of the Lord, His devotee can defeat even a great yogeśvara like Durvāsā Muni, who picked a quarrel with Mahārāja Ambarīṣa and wanted to show the wonderful achievements of his mystic powers. Mahārāja Ambarīṣa was a pure devotee of the Lord, and thus without any effort on his part the Lord saved him from the wrath of Yogeśvara Durvāsā Muni, and the latter was obliged to beg pardon from the King. Similarly, at the time of Draupadī’s precarious position, when she was attacked by the Kurus who wanted to see her naked in the open assembly of the royal order, the Lord saved her from being stripped by supplying an unlimited length of sari to cover her. And Draupadī knew nothing of mystic powers. Therefore the devotees are also yogeśvaras by the unlimited power of the Lord, just as a child is powerful by the strength of the parents. They do not try to protect themselves by any artificial means, but are saved by the mercy of the parents.
FAQs
This verse states that the Supreme Lord is the final destination (gati) and highest opulence for the greatest yogīs—yoga is meant to culminate in Him.
Liṅga-bhaṅga indicates the breaking of material identification—dissolving the subtle designation of “I” and “mine” rooted in the material mind and ego—by realizing the Lord.
Use spiritual practice (bhakti, meditation, study) to shift identity from temporary roles to service and remembrance of the Lord, and treat Vedic study as guidance toward that realization rather than mere information.