Verse 6.41

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration, Word-for-word and English translation of verse 6.41:

प्राप्य पुण्य-कृतां लोकान् उषित्वा शाश्वतीः समाः ।
शुचीनां श्रीमतां गेहे योग-भ्रष्टोऽभिजायते ॥ ४१ ॥

prāpya puṇya-kṛtāṃ lokān uṣitvā śāśvatīḥ samāḥ |
śucīnāṃ śrīmatāṃ gehe yoga-bhraṣṭo'bhijāyate || 41 ||

prāpya–having attained; puṇya-kṛtām–of the pious; lokān–the planets; uṣitvā–after dwelling; śāśvatīḥ–for a very long time; samāḥ–years; śucīnām–of the pure (brāhmaṇas); śrīmatām–of the wealthy; gehe–in the home; yoga-bhraṣṭaḥ–one deviated from the path of yoga; abhijāyate–he takes birth.

A person who deviates from the path of yoga after practising it for only a short time attains the planets of the pious, and after enjoying there for many years, he takes birth in a virtuous and wealthy family.

Commentary: Sārārtha-Varṣiṇī Ṭīkā

(By Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura; the innermost intention of the commentary named ‘the shower of essential meanings’)

What is the destination of persons who deviate from the path of yoga? In answer to this, Śrī Bhagavān says that they reside on the planets that are attained by pious persons who perform yajñas such as the aśvamedha-yajña. Since both enjoyment and liberation are the results of yoga, the yogīs who have not yet matured in their practice and who have fallen because of a desire to enjoy only attain enjoyment. On the other hand, since it is impossible for matured yogīs to desire enjoyment, they certainly attain liberation. If, by the will of providence, a mature yogī does develop a desire to enjoy, he also can attain enjoyment like Kardama and Saubhari Ṛṣis.

The word śuci means ‘those who are of good character and conduct’, and śrī means ‘wealthy business people or royalty’. A fallen yogī takes birth only in the houses of such families after residing in the heavenly realm (Svarga) and other higher planets.

Commentary: Sārārtha-Varṣiṇī Prakāśikā-vṛtti

(By Śrīla Bhaktivedānta Nārāyaṇa Gosvāmī Mahārāja; the explanation that illuminates the commentary named Sārārtha-varṣiṇī)

The yogīs who have fallen from the path of aṣṭāṅga-yoga can be divided into two categories. In the first category are those who have fallen after following the process of yoga for a short time. According to the verse nehābhikrama-nāśo’sti (Gītā 2.40), such yogīs do not attain lower destinations; rather, they enjoy happiness on the higher planets attained by pious persons who perform yajñas such as the aśvamedha-yajña. They then take birth in the homes of qualified brāhmaṇas or rich men who are engaged in religious activities. Both of these situations are favourable for their continued practice of yoga.

In the second category are those who have practised yoga for a long time and whose practice has almost matured. By the will of providence, however, they have developed a desire to enjoy sense gratification in this life. In their next life some of them achieve their desired enjoyment, and finally, becoming indifferent to that, they complete the process of yoga. Examples of this are Kardama Ṛṣi (Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.23) and Saubhari Ṛṣi.

Kardama Ṛṣi was a yogī of high calibre. On the order and inspiration of his father, Brahmā, he unwillingly married Devahūtī and enjoyed conjugal pleasure superior to that of the Prajāpatis, the progenitors of all living entities. Kapiladeva, an incarnation of Bhagavān, appeared as Kardama Ṛṣi’s son. After renouncing all material enjoyment and sense pleasure, Kardama Ṛṣi again engaged in the worship of Bhagavān. The life history of Saubhari Ṛṣi has been related in the Sārārtha-varṣiṇī Prakaśikā-vṛtti of the Bhagavad-gītā (2.65).