SLOKA OF THE DAY:

Bhagavad Gita As It Is -
Chapter 6 Text 24
sa niscayena yoktavyo
yogo 'nirvinna-cetasa
sankalpa-prabhavan kamams
tyaktva sarvan asesatah
manasaivendriya- gramam
viniyamya samantatah

sah--that; niscayena--with firm determination; yoktavyah--must be practiced; yogah--yoga system; anirvinna-cetasa- -without deviation; sankalpa--mental speculations; prabhavan--born of; kaman--material desires; tyaktva--giving up; sarvan--all; asesatah--completel y; manasa--by the mind; eva--certainly; indriya-gramam- -the full set of senses; viniyamya--regulati ng; samantatah-- from all sides.

TRANSLATION

One should engage oneself in the practice of yoga with determination and faith and not be deviated from the path. One should abandon, without exception, all material desires born of mental speculation and thus control all the senses on all sides by the mind.

JOURNAL:

Srila Prabhupada tells this story about determination in his purport; A sparrow laid her eggs on the shore of the ocean, but the big ocean carried away the eggs on its waves. The sparrow became very upset and asked the ocean to return her eggs. The ocean did not even consider her appeal. So the sparrow decided to dry up the ocean. She began to pick out the water in her small beak, and everyone laughed at her for her impossible determination. The news of her activity spread, and at last Garuda, the gigantic bird carrier of Lord Visnu, heard it. He became compassionate toward his small sister bird, and so he came to see the sparrow. Garuda was very pleased by the determination of the small sparrow, and he promised to help. Thus Garuda at once asked the ocean to return her eggs lest he himself take up the work of the sparrow. The ocean was frightened at this, and returned the eggs. Thus the sparrow became happy by the grace of Garuda.

Oh Lord Krishna. My determination is not so great. Please grant me the patience of the small sparrow and let me not falter on this path! As Srila Prabhupada says herein; ...if anyone follows the principles with great determination, the Lord will surely help, for God helps those who help themselves.