saṅkalpa-prabhavān kāmāns tyaktvā sarvān aśheṣhataḥ
manasaivendriya-grāmaṁ viniyamya samantataḥ
saṅkalpa — a resolve;
prabhavān — born of;
kāmān — desires;
tyaktvā — having abandoned;
sarvān — all;
aśheṣhataḥ — completely;
manasā — through the mind;
eva — certainly;
indriya-grāmam — the group of senses;
viniyamya — restraining;
samantataḥ — from all sides;
This verse is all about being dedicated and focused when practicing yoga. It tells us that if we want to be successful in yoga or any spiritual path, we need to be fully committed and keep going, even if things get tough or progress seems slow. We must believe that in the end, we will achieve our goals if we keep trying.
The verse emphasizes that we should let go of all desires that come from our ego—these are the wishes and cravings we have that are tied to our identity or material things, like wanting more money or status. Instead of being swayed by these desires, we need to use our mind to take charge of our senses, which means learning to control what we see, hear, taste, touch, and smell. By controlling our senses, we can better focus on our spiritual practice.
To help illustrate this idea of determination, think of the story of a little sparrow. This sparrow laid her eggs on the beach, but one day the waves from the ocean took them away. Instead of giving up because the ocean was so big and powerful, the sparrow decided to take action. She started trying to scoop the ocean water away with her tiny beak, even though everyone around her laughed and told her it was impossible.
Her sheer determination caught the attention of a giant bird named Garuda, who is known for his strength and connection to Lord Vishnu. Garuda, moved by the sparrow's determination, decided to help her. He confronted the ocean, saying it must return the eggs, or he would take drastic measures. The ocean was scared of Garuda and agreed to give the eggs back. The sparrow was overjoyed because her persistence paid off.
This story reminds us that with enough determination and faith, even the seemingly impossible can be achieved. It teaches us to stay committed to our goals and not let setbacks discourage us. For a practitioner of yoga, it means staying focused on your spiritual journey and using your mind to control your desires and senses, enabling you to move forward with confidence.