SB 3.8.21

SB 3.8.21

Devanagari

ततो निवृत्तोऽप्रतिलब्धकाम: स्वधिष्ण्यमासाद्य पुन: स देव: । शनैर्जितश्वासनिवृत्तचित्तो न्यषीददारूढसमाधियोग: ॥ २१ ॥

Verse text

tato nivṛtto ’pratilabdha-kāmaḥ sva-dhiṣṇyam āsādya punaḥ sa devaḥ śanair jita-śvāsa-nivṛtta-citto nyaṣīdad ārūḍha-samādhi-yogaḥ

Synonyms

tataḥ thereafter ; nivṛttaḥ retired from that endeavor ; apratilabdha kāmaḥ — without achievement of the desired destination ; sva dhiṣṇyam — own seat ; āsādya reaching ; punaḥ again ; saḥ he ; devaḥ the demigod ; śanaiḥ without delay ; jita śvāsa — controlling the breathing ; nivṛtta retired ; cittaḥ intelligence ; nyaṣīdat sat down ; ārūḍha in confidence ; samādhi yogaḥ — in meditation on the Lord .

Translation

Thereafter, being unable to achieve the desired destination, he retired from such searching and came back again to the top of the lotus. Thus, controlling all objectives, he concentrated his mind on the Supreme Lord.

Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)

Giving up his search, Brahmā, unfulfilled in his desire, then returned to the lotus. Gradually controlling his breath and mind, he remained seated in complete concentration by meditation on the Lord. One who gives up pride attains the Lord through meditation, by the Lord’s will. Giving up the search, he returned to the lotus (sva-dhiṣṇyam), and controlling his mind (nivṛtta-cittaḥ) sat down (nyasīdat). He achieved complete concentrate from meditation on the Lord (samādhi).

Purport

Samādhi involves concentrating the mind upon the supreme cause of all, even if one is unaware of whether His actual nature is personal, impersonal or localized. Concentration of the mind on the Supreme is certainly a form of devotional service. To cease from personal sense endeavors and to concentrate on the supreme cause is a sign of self-surrender, and when self-surrender is present, that is a sure sign of devotional service. Each and every living entity needs to engage in devotional service to the Lord if he wishes to understand the ultimate cause of his existence.