The Yoga of Meditation

Krishna explains how past practice creates natural attraction. 'Pūrvābhyāsena tenaiva hriyate hy avaśo 'pi saḥ'—by that (tena) past (pūrva) practice (abhyāsena) indeed (eva), he (saḥ) is attracted (hriyate), even (api) involuntarily (avaśaḥ). This means: past practice creates a natural pull, an automatic attraction toward yoga. Even without conscious effort, even without will, the practitioner is drawn to yoga—it's natural, it's automatic, it's inevitable. This is the power of past practice—it creates a natural inclination that draws you forward. 'Jijñāsur api yogasya śabda-brahmātivartate'—even (api) one who seeks (jijñāsuḥ) to know yoga (yogasya) transcends (ativartate) ritualistic practices (śabda-brahma). This means: even someone who just seeks to know yoga, who just has curiosity, transcends mere rituals—they go beyond external practices, they understand the essence. This shows how past practice benefits you: it creates natural attraction, and even seeking leads to transcendence.