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BHAKTI-YOGA.
92
within. If they have ceased to express life, crush them out without mercy.
The next means to the attainment of bhakti-yoga is strength (). "This Atman is not to be attained by the weak," * says the Sruti. Both physical weakness and mental weakness are meant here. "The strong, the hardy," are the only fit students. What can puny, little, decrepit things do? They will break to pieces, whenever the mysterious forces of the body and mind are even slightly awakened by the practice of any of the Yogas. It is "the young, the healthy, the strong" that can score success. Physical strength, therefore, is absolutely necessary. It is the strong body alone that can bear the shock of re-action resulting from the attempt to control the organs. He who wants to become a bhakta must be strong-must be healthy. When the miset
* नायमात्मा वलहोनेन लभाः ।
(Mundaka III-2-4).
