Purification

Vita-raga-bhaya-krodha man-maya mam upashritah, bahavo jnana-tapasa puta mad-bhavam agatah

Freed from attachment, fear, and anger, fully absorbed in Me and taking refuge in Me, many persons in the past became purified by knowledge and austerity and attained My divine love.

Yasya sarve samarambhah kama-sankalpa-varjitah, jnanagni-dagdha-karmanam tam ahuh panditam budhah

The wise call that person a pandit (learned one) whose every undertaking is free from desire and personal motive, and whose actions are burned up by the fire of knowledge.

Apare niyataharah prana-yajnesu juhvati, sarve 'py ete yajna-vido yajna-kshapita-kalmashah

Others, who regulate their eating, offer their life force into the life force as sacrifice. All of these knowers of sacrifice have their impurities cleansed away by sacrifice.

Yathaidhamsi samiddho 'gnir bhasmasat kurute 'rjuna, jnanagnih sarva-karmani bhasmasat kurute tatha

As a blazing fire turns wood to ashes, O Arjuna, so the fire of knowledge burns all karmic reactions to ashes.

Na hi jnanena sadrisham pavitram iha vidyate, tat svayam yoga-samsiddhah kalenatmani vindati

In this world, there is nothing so sublime and pure as transcendental knowledge. Such knowledge is the mature fruit of all mysticism. One who has become accomplished in yoga finds it within their own self in due course of time.

Sannyasas tu maha-baho duhkham aptum ayogatah, yoga-yukto munir brahma na cirenadhigacchati

True renunciation is difficult to attain without the discipline of yoga; the sage who is united in yoga reaches Brahman without delay. Renunciation without inner purification through practice is painful and fruitless.

Tad-buddhayas tad-atmanah tan-nishthhas tat-parayanah, gacchanty apunar-avrittim jnana-nirdhuta-kalmashah

Those whose intellect is absorbed in That, whose self is That, who are established in That, and whose supreme goal is That — they go to the state of no-return, their impurities washed away by knowledge. Complete absorption in the Supreme leads to final liberation.

Prayatnad yatamanas tu yogi samshuddha-kilbishah, aneka-janma-samsiddhas tato yati param gatim

The yogi who strives with great effort, purified of all impurities, perfected through many lifetimes — then attains the supreme goal. The supreme goal is reached not in a moment but through sustained effort across many lives, with each life building on the purification of the last.

Yesham tv anta-gatam papam jananam punya-karmanam, te dvandva-moha-nirmukta bhajante mam dridha-vratah

But those persons of virtuous deeds whose sins have come to an end, and who are freed from the delusion of duality, worship Me with firm resolve. The accumulation of virtuous deeds over many lives purifies the soul, eventually freeing it from delusion and enabling firm, unwavering devotion.

Yatanto yoginash cainam pashyanty atmany avasthitam, yatanto 'py akrtātmano nainam pashyanty acetasah

The endeavoring yogis see this soul clearly within themselves. But those who are not self-realized — even though they endeavor — cannot see it, for their minds are not purified. Sincere spiritual practice and inner purification are essential conditions for perceiving the soul; effort alone without self-purification is insufficient.

Yajna-dana-tapah-karma na tyajyam karyam eva tat, yajno danam tapash chaiva pavanani manishinam

Acts of sacrifice, charity, and austerity should not be abandoned, but should indeed be performed, for sacrifice, charity, and austerity are purifying for the wise.