Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana Book 11 Chapter 15:24-36

Book 11: Chapter 15

Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana: Book 11: Chapter 15: Verses 24-36 Having blocked his rectum with his heel and pushed up the vital air (successfully to his heart, chest, throat and crown of head, and (mentally) forcing it upwards through the (aperture known as) Brahmarandhra` to Brahma (or any other destination sought to be reached by him), the Yogi should shed the body (whenever he likes). Seeking to sport in the sport ground of the gods (in heaven), one should contemplate on Sattva (unmixed with Rajas and Tamas and) constituting My personality. (As a sequel to this contemplation) Apsaras (celestial damsels), representing (so many) rays of Sattva, wait on him with aerial cars (ready to take him bodily to heaven). Devoted to Me and focussing his mind on Me, true of resolve as I am, man duly attains that (very) object which he seeks with his intellect whenever and in whatever way he wants it. The command of a man who has acquired My disposition is not flouted anywhere any more than Mine, the Ruler of all and (absolutely) self-dependent as I am. (Direct) knowledge of the past, present and future, coupled with (that of) birth and death (etc., as well as of others' mind etc.), comes to that Yogi whose mind has been purified through devotion to Me and who knows how to concentrate his mind (on Me, the Knower of the past, present and future). Seasoned by Yoga (in the form of concentration on My Personality, which is incapable of being damaged even slightly by fire etc.) the body of a sage whose mind has found its repose in concentration on Me cannot (likewise be damaged by fire and other elements, which cannot harm him any more than water can prove harmful to aquatic creatures. Contemplating on My glorious manifestations (Avataras) graced with (the marks of) Srivatsa (etc.), and decked with My weapons (viz., conch etc.), and distinguished by an ensign, umbrella and chowrie (etc.); the aforesaid sage turns out to be invincible.The aforesaid Siddhis in their entirety wait upon the sage who worships Me through Yogic concentration as detailed in the foregoing verses. What is that (there is no) Siddhi which is very difficult to attain for the sage who, having conquered his senses, tamed his mind, and controlled his breath and body, practises concentration on Me ? The wise (however) speak of these as obstacles in the path of the man who is practising the highest (form of) Yoga (such as Jnanayoga or Bhaktiyoga) in that they cause delay in his getting united with Me (his true goal). One attains here through concentration (as aforesaid on Me) all those Siddhis that follow from birth, (the use of) drugs, austerity and (the utterance of) spells.* One cannot (however) obtain the supreme reward (in the shape of residence in the divine realm of the Lord etc.), of Yoga (concentration on Me) by recourse to other means. I am the Source (Bestower), I am the Custodian and Controller of all Siddhis, as well as of Yoga (union with God in the shape of final beatitude), Sankhya (Knowledge leading to such union), Dharma (piety as taught by the exponents of Veda), nay, of the teachers of Veda (themselves). I am the Self of all embodied souls, being their Inner Controller as well as enclosing them {from without) though unenclosed Myself, (even) as the (gross) elements both permeate and Enclose the bodies of living beings. Thus ends the fifteenth discourse in Book Eleven of the great and glorious Bhagavata-Purana, otherwise known as the Paramahamsa-Samhita.