Bhagavad Gita 15.11

[Paramananda das]

Text 11

yatanto yoginas cainam pasyanty atmany avasthitam yatanto ’py akritatmano nainam pasyanty acetasah

Translation

The endeavoring transcendentalists, who are situated in self-realization, can see all this clearly. But those whose minds are not developed and who are not situated in self-realization cannot see what is taking place, though they may try to.

Commentary by Srila Prabhupada

There are many transcendentalists on the path of spiritual self-realization, but one who is not situated in self-realization cannot see how things are changing in the body of the living entity. The word yoginah is significant in this connection. In the present day there are many so-called yogis, and there are many so-called associations of yogis, but they are actually blind in the matter of self-realization. They are simply addicted to some sort of gymnastic exercise and are satisfied if the body is well built and healthy. They have no other information. They are called yatanto ’py akritatmanah. Even though they are endeavoring in a so-called yoga system, they are not self-realized. Such people cannot understand the process of the transmigration of the soul. Only those who are actually in the yoga system and have realized the self, the world, and the Supreme Lord—in other words, the bhakti-yogis, those engaged in pure devotional service in Krishna consciousness—can understand how things are taking place.

Commentary by Sri Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakur

Those persons of discrimination are the endeavoring yogis. They see the soul in the body. Those of impure consciousness (akrtatmanah), even endeavoring, do not see the soul there.

Rudra Vaisnava Sampradaya: Visnuswami Sridhara Swami's Commentary It is extremely difficult to perceive the atma or immortal soul within  one's etheric heart even if endeavoring with acute discrimination and focused  attention. Only some are able to succeed while others who strive do not. The  pure yogis who have mastered the science of meditation and completed control of  the senses, who assiduously strive for self- realisation, after great effort  perceive the atma residing within thier own physical body and distinctly  different from it. Whereas those who have not mastered the science of  meditation, who have not managed to control the mind, who are of impure  thoughts, who are unable to curb the impetuous impulses of the senses; hence are  deluded, bewildered and spiritually deficient will be unable to perceive the atmano matter how hard they strive by study and practice.

Brahma Vaisnava Sampradaya: Madhvacarya Madhvacarya's Commentary Those who assiduously strive will perceive the atma or immortal soul  after achieving spiritual intelligence. It is not enough to become complacent or  be satisfied after acquiring equanimity of mind from meditation and reflection.  One must continuously strive with great faith in the teachings of the spiritual  preceptor until the goal is finally attained. Otherwise there is always a  possibility of contamination of the mind due to the influences of the gunas or three modes of material nature. The word akritatmano  means those of impure mind and as such they will be unable to perceive the atmaalthough possessing sufficient intelligence. A classic example of  this is Ravana.

Sri Vaisnava Sampradaya: Ramanuja Ramanuja's Commentary Preserverance of the aspirant is the persistence essential to insure success  once has fully resorted to bhakti or exclusive loving devotion to the  Supreme Lord Krishna. By cultivating this path they purify their minds and  hearts by yoga or the individual consciousness attaining communion with  the ultimate consciousness. They then realise the true nature of the atma  residing within the etheric heart of the physical body and perceive it  distinctly different from the body. But if their efforts even if industrous are  devoid of sufficient faith in the spiritual preceptor and unalloyed devotion to  the Supreme Lord and thus spiritually impotent and feeble minded, then they are  handicapped and incapable of atma tattva or realisation of the soul.  Hence they do not perceive it. Although the light of the sun, the moon,  lightning and fire are powerful antidotes to removing darkness, they are limited  to removing only external darkness and they have this power due to their  empowerment by the divine consciousness of the Supreme Lord which has the  capacity to remove the darkness of ignorance in the phenomenal world externally  and the darkness of ignorance within the consciousness of the jiva  internally.

Kumara Vaisnava Sampradaya: Nimbaditya Kesava Kasmiri's Commentary The atma or immortal soul is extremely difficult to perceive but the  aspirant who continuously strives to achieve it through focused concentration  and meditation will realise the atma enshrined within their etheric heart  but distinctly different from the physical body. The ignorant enslaved by  desires and sense gratification have no qualification for spiritual pursuits as  they are bewildered by the ostentatious encumbrances of the false ego and  pursuing mundane goals in the phenomenal world they are completely oblivious to  the existence of the atma.

comment: I like to remind devotees again of the glories of reciting this 15th chapter of Bhagavad Gita and entering into the deep meaning,there is great transcendental potency in  reciting and discussing this 15chapter of Bhagavad Gita during Purusottama month ,and Krsna has advised in Padma Purana to recite this chapter and also the SB 10 canto chapter 14 (prayers of Lord Brahma) best is to do this as a daily function during Purusottama month

Ch  15. Purusottama Yoga

Yoga Through  Understanding the Supreme Person
This material world extends from the  lower to the higher planetary systems. Jivas are separated parts or amsas of Shri Bhagavan. Those who are opposed to Bhagavan are bound by their karma and  wander in various higher and lower species of life. However, one may, by great  fortune attain the mercy of a sad guru, and engage in every respect in the bhajana o Shri Krishna, knowing that he alone is Purusottama. The bhaktas  absorption in their performance of bhaajana makes them aware of everything. They  can then easily cross over the ocean of this material world.
The Glories  of Chapter Fifteen (Mahatmya) from Gita Mahatmya
Lord Siva said, “My dear Parvati, now I  will tell you the glories of the Fifteenth Chapter of the Shrimad Bhagavad-gita,  kindly listen carefully.
In Gaudadesa, there was a king of the name Narasingha. He was so powerful that he was able to defeat the demigods. The  commander of his army was known by the name Sarabhmerund. He was very greedy and  along with the prince, he planned to kill the king, and become the ruler of Gaudadesa. But before he was able to carry out his plan, he got cholera and very  quickly died. After he took his next birth as a horse in the country known as Sindhu. That horse was very beautiful and was very fast at running. He had all  the qualities of a prize horse, one day, the son of a very rich man of Gaudadesa  saw that horse and decided to buy him with the intention of selling him to the  king of Gaudadesa. After having purchased that horse, he took him to the capital  of Gaudadesa, When he reached the city he went straight to the palace of the  king and requested the guards to inform the king of his arrival.
When he  came before the king, the king inquired from him, “What has brought you here?” That business man replied, “Oh, king, in Sindhu I found a horse of the highest  quality and it’s equal cannot be found in the whole universe. I paid very much  money for it”. The king ordered, “Bring that horse immediately.” That horse was  very quickly brought before the king who became very pleased with the high  qualities of the horse. After having examined the horse, the king paid to that  businessman whatever amount he had requested without thinking  twice.
After some days the king decided to go hunting. Riding that horse,  he set off for the forest, where he saw a deer, to which he immediately gave  chase. Following behind that deer, he followed in every direction it turned.  After some time he left the rest of his party far behind. After chasing for a  long time and becoming very tired and thirsty, he stopped to take rest. He tied  the horse to the branch of a tree and he himself sat down on a large  rock.
After a little while he saw a piece of parchment blowing in the  wind and land next to him on the rock. On that piece of parchment was written  half a sloka of the Fifteenth Chapter of the Shrimad Bhagavad-gita. The king  started to read, and as the first sound came out of his mouth, that horse fell  down to the ground and gave up that horse-body. He attained a transcendental  four-armed form and immediately sat down in a flower-airplane, which had come  from Vaikuntha to take him to that transcendental abode Vaikuntha.
The  king noticed that close by; there was a beautiful ashram, which was surrounded  by fruit-trees. Sitting in that ashram was a brahmana who had complete control  over his senses. The king offered respects to that brahmana and with folded  hands inquired from him, “How was it possible that my horse was able to attain Vaikuntha?” The brahmana, whose name was Vishnusharma, replied, “Oh, king,  previously, you had a commander-in chief of your army, who was known by the name Sarabhmerund. He had planned along with the prince to usurp you from your  throne. Before he was able to, he got cholera and died, after which he took  birth as that horse. By chance he heard some words from the Fifteenth Chapter of  the Shrimad Bhagavad-gita and attained Vaikuntha.”
The king offered his  respects to that brahmana and returned to his capital and again and again read  what was written on that parchment. After a short time he installed his son as  the king of Gaudadesa and himself went off to the forest, where he recited  regularly the Fifteenth Chapter of the Shrimad Bhagavad-gita and very quickly,  attained the lotus feet of Lord Vishnu.