SB 1.13.54 (1965)
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
TEXT No. 54
Jeetasana jeetaswasah pratyahrita sada indriyah Hari bhavanaya dhwasta rajah satwa tamo malah.
ENGLISH SYNONYMS
Jeetasana—one who has controlled over the sitting posture, Jeetaswasa—one who has controlled over the breathing process, Pratyahrita—turning back, Sada—six, Indriyas—senses, Hari—the Absolute Personality of Godhead, Bhavanaya—absorbed in, Dhwasta—conquered over, Rajah—passion, Satwa—goodness, Tamo—ignorance, Malah—contaminations.
TRANSLATION
One who has conquered over the sitting postures (the Yogic Asana) and thus controlled over the breathing process can turn back the senses towards the Absolute Personality of Godhead and thus become immune from the contaminations of the modes of material nature namely worldly goodness, passion and ignorance.
PURPORT
The preliminary activities of the way of yoga is Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahar, Dhyan, Dharana, etc. So far Maharaj Dhritarastra was concerned he was just to attain success in those preliminary actions because he was seated tight in a fixed up sanctified place and was concentrating upon one objective namely the Supreme personality of Godhead (Hari). As such all his senses were being engaged in the service of the Lord which process directly helps the devotee to get freedom from the contaminations of the three material modes of nature. Even the highest quality of material mode of goodness is also the cause of material bondage and what to speak of the other qualities namely passion and ignorance. Passion and ignorance increase the material propensities of hankering for material enjoyment and a strong sense of lust for accumulating wealth and power. One who has conquered over these two base mentalities and has raised himself on the platform of goodness which is full of knowledge and morality cannot also control over these senses namely the eyes, the tongue, the nose, the ear and the touch. But one who has surrendered himself unto the lotus feet of the Lord Hari, as above mentioned can transcend all influences of the modes of material nature and be fixed up in the service of the Lord. The Bhaktiyoga processs therefore directly apply the senses in the loving service of the Lord which prohibits the performer being engaged in any material activities. This process of turning back the face of the senses from material attachment to the loving transcendental service of the Lord is called Pratyahar and the very process is called Pranayam ultimately ending in the matter of Samadhi or being absorbed in the objective of pleasing the Supreme Lord Hari by all means.