"Bhakti and Yogic Discipline": Satsang with Swami Bhajanananda Saraswati

Revered Dr. Swami Bhajanananda Saraswati continues his series on the Principles of Bhakti Yoga, reading from the teachings of Kapila Muni in the Srimad Bhagavatam, Skanda 3, Discourse 28 (translation by Swami Bhajanananda):

1. śrī-bhagavān uvācayogasya lakṣaṇaṁ vakṣyesabījasya nṛpātmajemano yenaiva vidhināprasannaṁ yāti sat-patham

The Blessed Lord said:"O princess, I shall describe the authorized system of yoga, by the practice of which one’s mind becomes joyful and advances on the path of Truth."

2. sva-dharmācaraṇaṁ śaktyāvidharmāc ca nivartanamdaivāl labdhena santoṣaātmavic-caraṇārcanam

"One must perform one’s dharma with all one’s strength and avoided prohibited actions. One should be satisfied with what one has through destiny  and worship the lotus feet of the Self-realized."

3. grāmya-dharma-nivṛttiś camokṣa-dharma-ratis tathāmita-medhyādanaṁ śaśvadvivikta-kṣema-sevanam

"Giving up worldly activities one should then develop a taste for activates that lead to liberation. One should always eat pure food in moderation and stay in a secluded and peaceful dwelling."

4. ahiṁsā satyam asteyaṁ yāvad-artha-parigrahaḥbrahmacaryaṁ tapaḥ śaucaṁsvādhyāyaḥ puruṣārcanam

"One should practice nonviolence, truthfulness, non-stealing, possessing only what is necessary, celibacy, austerity, cleanliness, self-study, and worship of the Supreme Person."

5. maunaṁ sad-āsana-jayaḥsthairyaṁ prāṇa-jayaḥ śanaiḥpratyāhāraś cendriyāṇāṁviṣayān manasā hṛdi

"One should practice silence, attain mastery of a proper and steady posture, control the breath/prana, gradually withdraw the senses from sense-objects, and focus the mind on the heart."

6. sva-dhiṣṇyānām eka-deśemanasā prāṇa-dhāraṇamvaikuṇṭha-līlābhidhyānaṁsamādhānaṁ tathātmanaḥ