Asraya means

Expressions researched:
"asraya means"

Bhagavad-gita As It Is Lectures

Mad-āśraya means, kṛṣṇa-yoga means bhakti-yoga.

Lecture on BG 7.1 -- Calcutta, January 27, 1973: So we are transmigrating according to our karma, different forms of life. The reason is kāraṇaṁ guṇa-saṅgo 'sya sad-asad-janma-yoniṣu [Bg. 13.22]. Kāraṇaṁ guṇa-saṅga, as you are associating with the guṇas, with the material qualities. So one has to increase his attachment for Kṛṣṇa by becoming nirguṇa. Everything is going on under the modes of material nature. Traiguṇya-viṣayā vedā nistraiguṇyo bhavārjuna. That is the instruction. One has to become above the, transcendental to these guṇas. And what is that process? The process is mad-āśraya. When you take shelter of Kṛṣṇa or you take shelter of Kṛṣṇa's pure devotee, then you become transcendental. Sa guṇān samatītyaitān brahma-bhūyāya kalpate. Who? Māṁ ca yo 'vyabhicāreṇa bhakti-yogena sevate [Bg. 14.26]. So mad-āśraya means, kṛṣṇa-yoga means bhakti-yoga. If you want to learn Kṛṣṇa, if you want to know Kṛṣṇa, then you have to take this process. Mayy āsakta-manāḥ pārtha yogam. And if you practice this yoga, kṛṣṇa-yoga, or bhakti-yoga, then you become the topmost of all yogis. That is also stated in the Sāṅkhya Yoga chapter of Bhagavad-gītā:

yoginām api sarveṣāṁ

mad-gatenāntar-ātmanā

śraddhāvān bhajate yo māṁ

sa me yuktatamo mataḥ

[Bg. 6.47] So you have to keep always Kṛṣṇa within your heart. Kṛṣṇa is already within your heart. Īśvaraḥ sarva-bhūtānāṁ hṛd-deśe arjuna [Bg. 18.61]. He's already there. Simply you have to qualify yourself to see that Kṛṣṇa is here. That is called kṛṣṇa-yoga, or bhakti-yoga. So there are many instances.

premāñjana-cchurita-bhakti-vilocanena

santaḥ sadaiva hṛdayeṣu vilokayanti

yaṁ śyāmasundaram acintya-guṇa-svarūpaṁ

govindam ādi-puruṣaṁ tam ahaṁ bhajāmi

[Bs. 5.38]

Āśraya means to take shelter. You cannot practice this yoga separately. You have to take shelter of Kṛṣṇa or His devotee. That is called mad-āśraya.

Lecture on BG 7.1 -- Upsala University Stockholm, September 8, 1973: So Kṛṣṇa says mayy āsakta-manāḥ pārtha. In this way, you can begin your attachment for Kṛṣṇa. Mayy āsakta-manāḥ pārtha yogam... This is yoga. To increase attachment for Kṛṣṇa is the first-class yoga system. But how it can be done? Mayy āsakta-manāḥ pārtha yogaṁ yuñjan mad-āśrayaḥ. You have to take shelter of Kṛṣṇa or His representative. Āśraya. Āśraya means to take shelter. You cannot practice this yoga separately. You have to take shelter of Kṛṣṇa or His devotee. That is called mad-āśraya. Or mad-āśraya means "one who has taken shelter of Me." One may say that "How can I take shelter of Kṛṣṇa? Kṛṣṇa is not here present." He's present everywhere. It is a question of realization. Then you can take shelter of His representative. Mad-āśraya. Asaṁśayaṁ samagraṁ māṁ yathā jñāsyasi tac... [Bg. 7.1]. Asaṁśayam, "without any doubt," samagram, "in complete," yathā, "as," jñāsyasi, "you can understand," tac chṛṇu, "you hear from Me." Kṛṣṇa is describing Himself, how you can increase your attachment for Kṛṣṇa.

Mad-āśraya means "under My direct supervision."

Lecture on BG 7.1-3 -- Paris, June 13, 1974: So yogaṁ yuñjan mad-āśrayaḥ. This yoga system should be practiced, the mad-āśraya... Mad-āśraya means "under My direct supervision." This yoga system means it is not impersonal—personal. And therefore the word is used, bhagavān uvāca: "The Supreme Personality of Godhead said." Bhagavān, the Absolute Truth, He's a person. Sometimes we think... There are many, they think the Absolute Truth is impersonal. But the Absolute Truth is person. Impersonal realization of the Absolute Truth is partial. It is not complete realization. Therefore it is mentioned here, asaṁśayam, "without any doubt" and samagram, "in full." After all, yoga system means an endeavor to understand the Absolute Truth. Yoga means linking, connecting.