Shloka 24
The Lord in the Heart and the Discipline of Yoga-Bhakti
वैश्वानरं याति विहायसा गत: सुषुम्णया ब्रह्मपथेन शोचिषा । विधूतकल्कोऽथ हरेरुदस्तात् प्रयाति चक्रं नृप शैशुमारम् ॥ २४ ॥
vaiśvānaraṁ yāti vihāyasā gataḥ suṣumṇayā brahma-pathena śociṣā vidhūta-kalko ’tha harer udastāt prayāti cakraṁ nṛpa śaiśumāram
हे नृप, यदा योगी सुषुम्णया शोचिषा ब्रह्मपथेन क्षीरसागरमतिक्रम्य ब्रह्मलोकं प्रति याति, तदा स प्रथमं वैश्वानरं वह्निदेवस्य लोकं गत्वा सर्वकल्मषैर्विधूतः, ततः परं हरेः सन्निधये शैशुमारचक्रं प्रति प्रयाति।
The polar star of the universe and the circle thereof is called the Śiśumāra circle, and therein the local residential planet of the Personality of Godhead (Kṣīrodakaśāyī Viṣṇu) is situated. Before reaching there, the mystic passes over the Milky Way to reach Brahmaloka, and while going there he first reaches Vaiśvānara-loka, where the demigod controls fire. On Vaiśvānara-loka the yogī becomes completely cleansed of all dirty sins acquired while in contact with the material world. The Milky Way in the sky is indicated herein as the way leading to Brahmaloka, the highest planet of the universe.
FAQs
This verse describes an upward journey through the suṣumṇā, called the blazing Brahma-path, by which a purified being ascends toward higher realms beyond ordinary planetary systems.
Parīkṣit is preparing for death and seeking the highest good; Śukadeva explains the soul’s upward course and purification, ultimately directing attention beyond cosmic regions to the Lord (Hari).
Live in a way that “shakes off impurity”—through devotion, self-discipline, and remembrance of Hari—so that consciousness becomes fit to move upward, beyond fear and attachment, toward liberation.