Shloka 7
The Lord in the Heart and the Discipline of Yoga-Bhakti
कस्तां त्वनादृत्य परानुचिन्ता- मृते पशूनसतीं नाम कुर्यात् । पश्यञ्जनं पतितं वैतरण्यां स्वकर्मजान् परितापाञ्जुषाणम् ॥ ७ ॥
kas tāṁ tv anādṛtya parānucintām ṛte paśūn asatīṁ nāma kuryāt paśyañ janaṁ patitaṁ vaitaraṇyāṁ sva-karmajān paritāpāñ juṣāṇam
ایسی اعلیٰ روحانی فکر کو چھوڑ کر کون—سوائے سخت مادہ پرستوں کے—ناپائیدار ناموں ہی میں لگے گا؟ وہ تو دیکھتا ہے کہ لوگ ویتَرَنی جیسی دکھ کی ندی میں گرے ہوئے ہیں اور اپنے ہی اعمال کے نتیجے کے تپش میں جل رہے ہیں۔
In the Vedas it is said that persons who are attached to demigods to the exclusion of the Supreme Personality of Godhead are like the animals who follow the herdsman even though they are taken to the slaughterhouse. The materialists, like animals, also do not know how they are being misdirected by neglecting the transcendental thought of the Supreme Person. No one can remain vacant of thought. It is said that an idle brain is a devil’s workshop because a person who cannot think in the right way must think of something which may bring about disaster. The materialists are always worshiping some minor demigods, although this is condemned in the Bhagavad-gītā (7.20) . As long as a person is illusioned by material gains, he petitions the respective demigods to draw some particular benefit which is, after all, illusory and nonpermanent. The enlightened transcendentalist is not captivated by such illusory things; therefore he is always absorbed in the transcendental thought of the Supreme in different stages of realization, namely Brahman, Paramātmā and Bhagavān. In the previous verse it is suggested that one should think of the Supersoul, which is one step higher than the impersonal thought of Brahman, as it was suggested in the case of contemplating the virāṭ-rūpa of the Personality of Godhead.
FAQs
This verse condemns speech that neglects the Lord and becomes absorbed in thinking and speaking of others, calling such talk impure and spiritually degrading.
Parīkṣit was preparing for death and asked about the highest duty; Śukadeva emphasizes that one should use speech for devotion to the Lord, not for distractions that bind one to karma and suffering.
Reduce gossip and negative commentary, and intentionally redirect speech and attention toward remembrance of God—through kīrtana, japa, and discussions of Bhagavatam.