श्लोकोऽयं मह्यं रोचते - 37

गु
गुहायां गेहे वा बहिरपि वने वाद्रिशिखरे
जले वा वह्नौ वा वसतु वसतेः किं वद फलम् ।
सदा यस्यैवान्तःकरणमपि शंभो तव पदे
स्थितं चेद्योगोऽसौ स च परमयोगी स च सुखी ॥ 12

guhäyäm gehe vä bahirapi vane vädriçikhare

jale vä vahnou vä vasatu vasateù kim phalam

sadä yasyaivävantaùkaranamapi çambho tava pade

sthitam cet yogosou sa ca paramayogé sa ca sukhé

The above verse is from Adi sankara’s ‘sivAnanda lahari’.

In the above sloka Adi sankara says that any place would be fine if one has bhakti towards Isvara. One need not search for forests or mountains to show his/her devotion towards the lord. Need not perform severe penance by standing in the water during winter and surrounded by scorching fire during summer. Instead one can meditate upon the supreme power in which ever condition (he lives), this is the very essence of penance & yoga.

गुहायाम् – In the cave, गेहे वा – or in the house,बहिरपि- outside, वने वा – in the forest, अद्रिशिखरे – on the top of the mountain, जले वा – inside the water, वह्नौ वा – or near the fire, वसतु – let a person live, वसतेः- of living , किम्- what is the, फलम् - purpose, वद – tell . सदा - always, यस्य – whose, अन्तःकरणम् – inner- self , अपि- also, शंभो - oh lord siva, तव – at your, पदे - feet, स्थितं चेत् –lie or surrender oneself (involved in meditation), असौ – that is, योगः - yoga , स च – he is, परमयोगी – best among the yogis, स च – He is, सुखी – the happiest person.

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