Bābāra Kathā

yatroparamate cittaṁ niruddhaṁ yoga-sevayā |
yatra caivātmanātmānaṁ paśyann ātmani tuṣyati ||
sukham ātyantikaṁ yat tad buddhi-grāhyam atīndriyam |
vetti yatra na caivāyaṁ sthitaś calati tattvataḥ ||
yaṁ labdhvā cāparaṁ lābhaṁ manyate nādhikaṁ tataḥ |
yasmin sthito na duḥkhena guruṇāpi vicālyate ||
taṁ vidyād duḥkha-saṁyoga-viyogaṁ yoga-saṁjñitam |
sa niścayena yoktavyo yogo’nirviṇṇa-cetasā ||
(Śrīmad Bhagavad-gītā: 6.20–23)

“Wherein the citta (mind) restrained by yoga practice desists [i.e., does not engage with any sense object]; wherein the ātmā [i.e., the mind] sees the ātmā [i.e., the Paramātmā] within the ātmā [i.e., the antaḥkaraṇa] and feels satisfaction; wherein he [i.e., the yogī] experiences absolute happiness which is beyond the senses [i.e., free from any contact with the senses and sense objects] and graspable [only] by the buddhi, and being so situated [wherein] he does not stray from the reality [i.e., from the ātmā’s nature]; upon gaining which he thinks there is no greater gain; and being situated in which he is never shaken even by the heaviest suffering—know that to be called yoga [i.e., the attainment of samādhi] and devoid of any connection with suffering. This yoga is to be practiced with determination and a non-despondent mind.”

Read on →