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Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana: Book 11: Chapter 19: Verses 24-37
Devotion (consisting in all-absorbing Love for Me, the reward of all spiritual endeavours) to Me develops, by (following) such righteous courses, in the heart of men who dedicate (to My service) their (very) self (in the shape of their psychophysical organism as well as all that is connected with it), 0 Uddhava ! What other objected remains for such a devotee to be accomplished ? (In other words, all his objects are accomplished as a matter of course through Devotion alone.) When the mind, equipped with Sattva and (therefore) tranquil, is devoted to Me, man (automatically) acquires piety, wisdom coupled with dispassion and divine powers. When (however) the aforesaid mind is set on various objects (tho body, dwelling etc.), it wanders alongwith the senses and gets all the more stained with Rajas and addicted to evil and then know it (for certain) that a man develops the reverse of piety etc., (viz., unrighteousness, ignorance, passion and lack of divinity). That (alone) which engenders devotion to Me is extolled (in the scriptures) as Dharma (piety); that (alone) which enables one to perceive unity (everywhere) is glorified as wisdom; a distaste for the pleasures of sense is spoken highly of as dispassion and mystic powers (such as the capacity to assume the size of an atom) are extolled as divine powers. Uddhava submitted : Of how many varieties is Yama (self-control) declared to consist and of how many types is Niyama (self-discipline) declared to be, 0 Chastiser of foes ? What is Sama ? What does Dama consist in, 0 Enchanter of beings ? What is (the definition of) Titiksa (and) what is firmness, 0 Lord ? What is charity ? What is Tapas ? What is valour ? What is truthfulness and what is called (by the name of) Rta ? What is (known as) Tyaga ? What is the esteemed wealth ? What is Yajna and what goes by the name of Daksina ? What is the strength of men, 0 glorious One ? What is fortune and what is the gain, 0 Ruler (even) of Brahma and Siva ? What is supreme Wisdom ? What is Hri ? What is adornment? What is happiness and what is misery ? (30) Who is a man of erudition and who is a fool ? What is the path (of virtue) and what is the wrong way ? What is heaven ? What is hell ? Who is a friend and what is the home ? (31) Who is opulent and who isa destitute? Who is pitiable and who is the master of his self ? (Pray,) answer these questions of mine and (also) define the contraries (of what has been asked), 0 Protector of the virtuous ?The glorious Lord replied : Harmlessness, uttering only that which is wholesome, agreeable and true, non-thieving, absence of attachment, modesty, non-accumulation of possessions, faith, chastity, silence, firmness (of resolve), forgiveness and fearlessness, bodily cleanliness and mental purity, muttering the Gayatri and other sacred texts, austerity, pouring oblations into the sacred fire, reverence (for true religion), hospitality and offering worship to Me; visiting .sacred places, working for the benefit of others, contentment and service to the preceptor-these have been declared to be the twelve Yamas and the twelve Niyamas divided in two (separate) verses Carried into practice they positively yield fruit (in the shape of final beatitude or worldly prosperity) according to the desire of men, 0 dear one ! Sama is dependence of the intellect on Me; Dama consists in control of the senses. Titiksa consists in (calmly) enduring, suffering and firmness in completely controlling the palate and the sex. Forswearing enmity towards (the entire) creation is the highest form of charity; Tapas has been declared to consist in abandoning luxuries (of all kind). Valour consists in curbing one's natural propensities or cravings and truthfulness consists in perceiving unity (in the form of Brahma) everywhere.
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