ati sarvatra varjayet - avoid excesses

Either excessive force in doing something or abstaining from something will lead to pain in Raja Yoga saadhana (practice).

Lord suggest the "moderate" path for success in yoga and overcoming the most important obstacle for yoga i.e., pain (physical, emotional and intellectual) = "dukha".

How Yoga becomes destroyer of dukha (pain)?

Instruction 16: (important practical instruction)
नात्यश्नतस्तु योगोऽस्ति न चैकान्तमनश्नतः।
न चातिस्वप्नशीलस्य जाग्रतो नैव चार्जुन।।6.16।।

युक्ताहारविहारस्य युक्तचेष्टस्य कर्मसु।
युक्तस्वप्नावबोधस्य योगो भवति दुःखहा।।6.17।।

nātyaśnatastu yōgō.sti na caikāntamanaśnataḥ.
na cātisvapnaśīlasya jāgratō naiva cārjuna..6.16..

yuktāhāravihārasya yuktacēṣṭasya karmasu.
yuktasvapnāvabōdhasya yōgō bhavati duḥkhahā..6.17..

6.16 Verily Yoga is not possible for him who eats too much, nor for him who does not eat at all, nor for him who sleeps too much, nor for him who is (always) awake, O Arjuna.

6.17 Yoga becomes the destroyer of pain for him who is moderate in eating and recreation (such as walking, etc.), who is moderate in exertion in actions, who is moderate in sleep and wakefulness.

Notes:

yukta Ahara & vihara = food mentioned in the above verse not only means the physical food; it also means the food for Mind in its two layers; emotional and intellectual food. Who controls the intake of food and "recreation of body and mind" in a moderate level will be successful in yoga.

yukta chesta & karma = "chesta" represents mental effort where as karma represents physical effort; one who is moderate in effort of both physical and mental layers during the "saadhana"

A balanced "input" AND "process" will lead to the balanced outcome of samadhi!
This is very useful suggestion especially for the saadhakas who are on the alternative path of iswara pranidhanam and has no living GURU to guide.


As long as one is on the correct path and in correct direction he reaches the goal without fail. No need to hurry or worry!!

om tat sat
(Vaikuntha Ekadasi)