Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvitiya Skandha, Shloka 23
The First Step in God Realization: The Glory of Hearing and the Virāṭ-Rūpa Meditation
श्रीशुक उवाच जितासनो जितश्वासो जितसङ्गो जितेन्द्रिय: । स्थूले भगवतो रूपे मन: सन्धारयेद्धिया ॥ २३ ॥
śrī-śuka uvāca jitāsano jita-śvāso jita-saṅgo jitendriyaḥ sthūle bhagavato rūpe manaḥ sandhārayed dhiyā
श्रीशुक उवाच—जितासनो जितश्वासो जितसङ्गो जितेन्द्रियः। धिया मनः स्थूले भगवतो रूपे (विराड्रूपे) सन्धारयेत्॥
The materially absorbed mind of the conditioned soul does not allow him to transcend the limit of the bodily conception of self, and thus the yoga system for meditation (controlling the sitting posture and breathing process and fixing the mind upon the Supreme) is prescribed in order to mold the character of the gross materialist. Unless such materialists are able to cleanse the materially absorbed mind, it is impossible for them to concentrate upon thoughts of transcendence. And to do so one may fix one’s mind on the gross material or external feature of the Lord. The different parts of the gigantic form of the Lord are described in the following verses. The materialistic men are very anxious to have some mystic powers as a result of such a controlling process, but the real purpose of yogic regulations is to eradicate the accumulated dirty things like lust, anger, avarice and all such material contaminations. If the mystic yogī is diverted by the accompanying feats of mystic control, then his mission of yogic success is a failure, because the ultimate aim is God realization. He is therefore recommended to fix his gross materialistic mind by a different conception and thus realize the potency of the Lord. As soon as the potencies are understood to be instrumental manifestations of the transcendence, one automatically advances to the next step, and gradually the stage of full realization becomes possible for him.
FAQs
This verse instructs that after gaining control over posture, breath, attachments, and senses, one should concentrate the mind—through clear intelligence—on the manifest (sthūla) form of Bhagavān.
In Canto 2, Śukadeva guides Parīkṣit—who has only seven days to live—toward practical God-realization, beginning with steadying the mind by focusing on the Lord’s perceivable form.
Adopt a steady daily sitting practice, reduce distracting attachments, regulate breath, and then focus the mind on a sacred form of the Lord (such as Viṣṇu/Kṛṣṇa) to cultivate calm devotion and clarity.