Shloka 14
Kṛṣṇa’s Impending Departure; Uddhava’s Surrender; King Yadu and the Avadhūta’s Twenty-Four Gurus
Beginnings
श्रीउद्धव उवाच योगेश योगविन्यास योगात्मन् योगसम्भव । नि:श्रेयसाय मे प्रोक्तस्त्याग: सन्न्यासलक्षण: ॥ १४ ॥
śrī-uddhava uvāca yogeśa yoga-vinyāsa yogātman yoga-sambhava niḥśreyasāya me proktas tyāgaḥ sannyāsa-lakṣaṇaḥ
శ్రీఉద్ధవుడు పలికెను—ఓ యోగేశ్వరా! యోగవిన్యాసాధిపతీ, యోగాత్మా, యోగసంభవా! నా పరమ శ్రేయస్సుకోసం మీరు సన్న్యాసలక్షణమైన త్యాగమార్గాన్ని ఉపదేశించారు।
The word yogeśa here indicates that the Supreme Personality of Godhead awards the results of all yoga practices. Since all of the material and spiritual worlds emanate from the transcendental body of Kṛṣṇa, there is nothing to be achieved by any yoga process except Kṛṣṇa and His potencies. And since the Lord remains eternally the master of His potencies, no one can achieve anything through yoga, or any other spiritual or material process, except by the sanction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The word yoga means “linking up,” and unless we link ourselves with the Absolute Truth, we remain covered by the darkness of ignorance. Thus, Kṛṣṇa is the goal of yoga.
FAQs
In this verse Uddhava asks Kṛṣṇa to define the renunciation (tyāga) that is specifically characterized as sannyāsa, seeking niḥśreyasa—the highest spiritual good.
Uddhava, desiring ultimate liberation and clarity on the path, approaches Kṛṣṇa—whom he addresses as the master and source of yoga—to hear the authentic definition and principles of true renunciation.
Keep the goal of life as inner freedom and God-realization, and practice renunciation as detachment from ego and possessiveness while performing one’s duties with spiritual purpose.