982 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 4, Ch. 23
be subject to polluted desires, he has to accept one material body after
another. So-called yogis, without knowledge of the real purpose of yoga,
practice it in order to keep the body fit. Thus they engage themselves in
fruitive activities, and thus they are bound by desire to accept another
body. They are not aware that the ultimate goal of life is to approach
Krsna. In order to save such yogis from wandering throughout the different
species of life, the sastras warn that in this age such yogic practice is simply
a waste of time. The only means of elevation is the chanting of the Hare
Krsna mahdé-mantra.

King Prthu’s activities took place in Satya-yuga, and in this age this
practice of yoga is misunderstood by fallen souls who are not capable of
practicing anything. Consequently the sastras enjoin: kalau nasty eva
nasty eva nasty eva gatir anyatha. The conclusion is that unless the karmis,
jianis and yogis come to the point of devotional service to Lord Krsna,
their so-called austerities and yoga have no value. Naradhitah: if Hari, the
Supreme Personality of Godhead, is not worshiped, there is no point in
practicing meditational yoga, performing karma-yoga or culturing empiric
knowledge. As far as pranayama is concerned, chanting of the holy name
of the Lord and dancing in ecstasy are also considered pranayama. In a
previous verse, Sanatkumara instructed Maharaja Prthu to engage constant-
ly in the service of the Supreme Lord, Vasudeva:

yat pada-pankaja-palasa-vilasa-bhaktya
karmasayam grathitam udgrathayanti santah

Only by worshiping Vasudeva can one become free from the desires of
fruitive activities. Outside of worshiping Vasudeva, the yogis and jiianis
cannot attain freedom from such desires. Tadvan na rikta-matayo yatayo’pi
ruddha-srotoganas tam aranam bhaja vasudevam (Bhag. 4.22.39). Here the
word pranayama does not refer to any ulterior motive. The actual aim is
to strengthen the mind and senses in order to engage them in devotional
service. In the present age this determination can be very easily acquired
simply by chanting the holy names—Hare Krsna, Hare Krsna, Krsna Krsna,
Hare Hare/ Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare.

TEXT 9
TAHA ATA TTT ALAK WY |
at || AAT TOTRATTTETHT: 1S Il
sanat-kumaro bhagavan
yad ahadhyatmikam param
