Text 44] Dhruva Maharaja Leaves Home for the Forest 321
snatva—after taking bath; anusavanam—three times; tasmin—in that;
kalindyah —in the River Kalindi (the Yamuna); salile—in the water; sive—
which is very auspicious; krtva—performing; ucitani—suitable; nivasan—
sitting; atmanah—of the self; kalpita-asanah—having prepared a sitting place.
TRANSLATION
Narada Muni instructed: My dear boy, in the waters of the Yamuna
River, which is known as Kalindi, you should take three baths daily
because the water is very auspicious, sacred and clear. After bathing, you
should perform the necessary regulative principles for agtanga-yoga and
then sit down on your asana [sitting place] in a calm and quiet position.

PURPORT
It appears from this statement that Dhruva Maharaja had already been
instructed how to practice the eightfold yoga system, which is known as
astanga-yoga. This system is explained in our Bhagavad-gita As It Is, in the
chapter entitled “Sankhya-yoga,”’ pages 319-322. It is understood that in
astdinga-yoga one practices settling the mind and then concentrating it on
the form of Lord Visnu, as will be described in the following verses. It is
clearly stated here that astanga-yoga is not a bodily gymnastic exercise,
but a practice to concentrate the mind on the form of Vignu. Before sitting
on his dsana, which is also described in Bhagavad-gita, one has to cleanse
himself very nicely in clear or sacred water thrice daily. The water of
Yamuna is naturally very clear and pure, and thus if anyone bathes there
three times, undoubtedly he will be very greatly purified externally.
Narada Muni, therefore, instructed Dhruva Maharaja to go to the bank of
the Yamuna and thus become externally purified. This is part of the

gradual process of practicing mystic yoga.

TEXT 44

ToT Fran stig |
TAIT TEN THT evil
pranadyamena tri-urta
pranendriya-mano-malam
Sanair vyudasyabhidhyayen
manasa guruna gurum

pranayamena—by breathing exercise; tri-vrta—by the three recommended
ways; prana-indriya—the life air and the senses; manah—mind; malam—
