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## Praise of Yoga
**Yoga Shastra, First Light, Verse 14**
Chilatiputra, driven by intense love for his beloved, was heading south, ignoring the path. On his way, he saw a sage, steady in Kayotsarga (meditation), like a shady tree that removes all suffering. Chilatiputra's mind was constantly tormented by his actions. Seeing the sage's peaceful countenance, he was deeply impressed. As the sage finished his meditation, Chilatiputra said, "Tell me the Dharma briefly, or I will cut off your head with this sword, just like you cut off the banana tree for its fruit." The sage, with his knowledge, knew that the seed of enlightenment could be sown in this soul. He said, "One should diligently practice Upshama, Vivek, and Sanvar." Saying this, he flew away like a bird. Hearing these three words, Chilatiputra grasped them well and began to remember them repeatedly. Gradually, he understood their meaning: "Wise men should subdue the passions like anger. Alas, I am surrounded by these passions like a sandalwood tree surrounded by snakes. To cure this great disease of passions, I must stay away from them. My first resolution for subduing passions is to consume the medicines of forgiveness, humility, simplicity, and contentment. My second resolution is to accept the Vivek of renunciation of wealth, gold, and other material possessions, which is the unparalleled seed of the great tree of knowledge. I also renounce this Sushma, like a flag of sinful wealth, and the sword in my hand, and all the meaning that is harmful. My third resolution is to embrace the renunciation of the objects of the senses and mind, and the Sanvar, like the crown of the goddess of self-control." Thus, controlling all his senses and contemplating the true nature of things, he became so absorbed that his mind became one-pointed. He became still and motionless in samadhi.
Meanwhile, thousands of ants were attracted by the smell of blood clinging to Chilatiputra's body. They covered his body like armor and made hundreds of holes in it. Even with this unbearable torment, Chilatiputra remained motionless like a pillar. He endured this intense suffering with equanimity for two and a half days and then left his body. From there, he went to the heaven world.
Other sources also narrate the story of Chilatiputra. They say that I bow to Chilatiputra, the devotee of Upshama, Vivek, and Sanvar, who, after hearing these three words, understood Dharma well and embraced self-control. I bow to the ascetic who remained in samadhi even when ants, attracted by the smell of blood, climbed his body from his feet to his head and gnawed at his entire body. I bow to the steadfast Chilatiputra, whose body was made like a sieve by the ants, who remained steadfast on the path of equanimity. In just two and a half days, through the power of yoga, he attained the divine state, adorned by apsaras.
Indeed, Chilatiputra, with his Chandala-like behavior, was deserving of condemnation and hell, but by embracing yoga, he became worthy of the happiness of heaven. Similarly, yoga is the root cause of all happiness, through which a person achieves victory everywhere. ||13||
Again, in praise of yoga, it is said: ||14||
**Tasyajanniravastu, nripashormoghajanmanah | Aviddhakarnho yo 'yoga', ityaksara-shalakaya ||14||**
**Meaning:** The birth of a man whose ears are not pierced by the two and a half-letter-long needle of "yoga" is like that of an animal. Such a person should not have been born at all. ||14||
Even if the ears are pierced with an iron needle, but not with the two and a half-letter-long needle of "yoga," or if "yoga" has not entered his ears, he is not worthy of being called a human among humans. His birth is futile and ironic, like that of an animal. It would have been better if he had not been born at all. ||14||