The pure devotee constantly absorbed in Krishna-consciousness is the highest yogi, requiring only steadfast faith and saintly association.Listen — Srila Prabhupada Uvaca
Bhagavad-gītā 6.47 — December 12, 1972, Ahmedabad 721212BG-AHMEDABAD [42:14 Minutes] Bg-06.47_721212BG-AHMEDABAD Prabhupāda: So we have been discussing Bhagavad-gītā. In Second Chapter, the Lord has very elaborately explained the constitutional position of the living entity, and the whole first portion of the six chapters... The Bhagavad-gītā is divided into three portions: the first six chapter, the second six chapters and the third six chapters. Actually, just like this book, there are two hard covers, and in the middle there is the substance, writing.
So the first six chapters, they are just like two covering: karma-yoga and jñāna-yoga. And the middle six chapters, well-protected, that is bhakti-yoga. So at the end of the first six chapters, Kṛṣṇa concludes the yoga system. In the Sixth Chapter He has explained the sāṅkhya-yoga system, and the concluding portion of the sāṅkhya-yoga system is: yoginām api sarveṣāṁ mad-gatenāntar-ātmanā śraddhāvān bhajate yo māṁ sa me yuktatamo mataḥ [Bg. 6.47] This is the conclusion of the yoga system.
People, generally, they are attracted by the yoga system. So the yoga system means always thinking of Kṛṣṇa. That is samādhi. So five thousand years ago, when...
[pause—noise of fireworks in background] Five thousand years ago, when this yoga system was discussed between Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna, Arjuna frankly admitted that this system was very difficult for him. He thought himself as a gṛhastha and a military man, so concentration of the mind and sitting in a posture and looking on the point of the nose, so many system—find out a secluded place, alone, and observing so many rules and regulation, āsana, dhyāna, dhāraṇā, prāṇāyāma—so he thought it difficult for him. Therefore Kṛṣṇa, in order to encourage him, that although he could not practice the aṣṭāṅga-yoga system, still there was no cause of disappointment. He concluded, therefore, tapasvibhyo 'dhiko yogī jñānibhyo 'pi mato 'dhikaḥ karmibhyaś cādhiko yogī tasmād yogī bhavārjuna. [Bg. 6.46] He insisted... [aside:] Why you are sitting like that, sleeping?
If you feel sleepy don't sit like that. So the conclusion is, yoginām api sarveṣāṁ mad-gatenāntar-ātmanā śraddhāvān bhajate yo māṁ sa me yuktatamo mataḥ [Bg. 6.47] This is the conclusion, that "Of all yogīs, who is always thinking of Me, śraddhāvān..." Without being śraddhāvān... Śraddhā is the beginning of everything. Faith, śraddhā, respect. If you have no respect for Kṛṣṇa, if you have no faith in Kṛṣṇa, there is no advancement of spiritual life or yoga life. Therefore it is said śraddhāvān. Ādau śraddhā.
The beginning of spiritual life is śraddhā, faith. Ādau śraddhā. Ādau śraddhā tataḥ sādhu-saṅgaḥ [Cc. Madhya 23.14-15]. First of all, faith, and faith has been described by Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī as..., faith means viśvāsa. So he explains: 'śraddhā'-śabde-viśvāsa sudṛḍha niścaya, sudṛḍha niścaya kṛṣṇe bhakti kaile sarva-karma kṛta haya [Cc. Madhya 22.62] This is the śraddhā. Śraddhā means firm faith. As Kṛṣṇa says, sarva-dharmān parityajya mām ekaṁ śaraṇaṁ vraja [Bg. 18.66]. So unless one has got faith. Why one should consider himself that "I must be completely surrendered to Kṛṣṇa," unless one has got faith? Therefore faith is the beginning.
And to create faith, Kṛṣṇa has explained about Himself in the whole Bhagavad-gītā. So one who is fortunate, after reading Bhagavad-gītā thoroughly, he'll have a strong faith in Kṛṣṇa. If you have failed to achieve this status of faith, then there is no question of progress. That is explained by Kṛṣṇadāsa Kavirāja Gosvāmī: śraddhā-śabde viśvāsa kahe sudṛḍha niścaya [Cc. Madhya 22.62]. Śraddhā means firm faith, with conviction, "Yes, if I surrender to Kṛṣṇa, then all my business will be perfect, all my spiritual life will be perfect." Therefore Kṛṣṇa says śraddhāvān bhajate; with śraddhā, with full faith. Ādau śraddhā.