Shloka 13
Kapila’s Devotional Sāṅkhya: Sādhu-saṅga, Bhakti-yoga, and Fearlessness in the Supreme Shelter
श्रीभगवानुवाच योग आध्यात्मिक: पुंसां मतो नि:श्रेयसाय मे । अत्यन्तोपरतिर्यत्र दु:खस्य च सुखस्य च ॥ १३ ॥
śrī-bhagavān uvāca yoga ādhyātmikaḥ puṁsāṁ mato niḥśreyasāya me atyantoparatir yatra duḥkhasya ca sukhasya ca
Sumagot ang Kataas-taasang Panginoon: Ang sistemang yoga na ukol sa Panginoon at sa indibidwal na kaluluwa, na para sa sukdulang kapakinabangan ng nilalang, ay ang pinakamataas na yoga ayon sa Akin; sapagkat dito nagkakaroon ng ganap na paglayo sa kapwa ligaya at dalamhati ng mundong materyal.
In the material world, everyone is trying to get some material happiness, but as soon as we get some material happiness, there is also material distress. In the material world one cannot have unadulterated happiness. Any kind of happiness one has is contaminated by distress also. For example, if we want to drink milk then we have to bother to maintain a cow and keep her fit to supply milk. Drinking milk is very nice; it is also pleasure. But for the sake of drinking milk one has to accept so much trouble. The yoga system, as here stated by the Lord, is meant to end all material happiness and material distress. The best yoga, as taught in Bhagavad-gītā by Kṛṣṇa, is bhakti-yoga. It is also mentioned in the Gītā that one should try to be tolerant and not be disturbed by material happiness or distress. Of course, one may say that he is not disturbed by material happiness, but he does not know that just after one enjoys so-called material happiness, material distress will follow. This is the law of the material world. Lord Kapila states that the yoga system is the science of the spirit. One practices yoga in order to attain perfection on the spiritual platform. There is no question of material happiness or distress. It is transcendental. Lord Kapila will eventually explain how it is transcendental, but the preliminary introduction is given here.
FAQs
In this verse, Lord Kapila states that ādhyātmika (spiritual) yoga is the means to the highest good (niḥśreyasa), because it brings complete withdrawal from both distress and material happiness.
Because both are dualities of material experience; transcending them indicates steadiness in spiritual realization, which is essential for attaining the highest auspicious goal described here.
Practice steady spiritual discipline—such as regulated devotion, meditation, and self-control—so your decisions are not driven by chasing pleasure or fearing pain, but by sincere pursuit of inner realization and service to the Lord.