(Revision 01 Feb 05 09)
BHAGAVAD GITA
CHAPTER 12
Arjuna asks:
12. 1 Those devotees who constantly worship you (with form and attributes), and those who worship your unmanifested, indestructible, aspect (of these two categories) who are the best knowers of yoga ?
Lord says:
12. 2 I consider them as the best Yogis, who endowed with supreme faith, and ever united through meditation with ME, worship ME with mind centred on ME.
12. 3-4 Those, however, who fully controlling their senses, and even-minded everywhere, devoted to the welfare of beings, constantly adore (as their very self), the unthinkable, the omnipresent, indestructible, indefinable, eternal, immovable, unmanifest and changeless (Brahman), they too come to ME.
12. 5 The strain is greater for those who have their mind attached to the Unmanifest, for the Unmanifest is attained with difficulty by those who are centred in the body.
PURPORT:
This doubt of Arjuna is a continuing doubt between followers of various acharyas Monism, Dualism and Qualified Monism and others like Chaitanya Maha Prabhu's followers
Lord has clearly answered in 12 -2 above. It is not the school. Both reach HIM, provided they have exclusive devotion, mind centred on HIM, have Supreme faith, worship with mind centred on HIM
Monism is difficult. Dualism is easier. Chaitanya's school has great advantage of mind totally focused on Krsna
12. 6-7 On the other hand, those who depending exclusively on ME, and surrendering all actions to ME, worship ME, constantly meditating on ME with single-minded devotion. Those, I speedily deliver from ocean of birth and death, their mind being fixed on ME.
PURPORT:
These two shlokas give the secret of reaching HIM.
And HE speedily delivers them from this ocean of birth and death
Action for us, is given in the following shlokas.
12. 8 Therefore, fix your mind on ME, establish your intellect in ME alone; thereafter you will abide solely in ME. There is no doubt about it.
12. 9 If you cannot steadily fix the mind on ME, then seek to attain ME through the Yoga of repeated practice.
12. 10 If you are unable to practice, be intent to work for ME; you shall attain perfection even by performing actions for MY sake.
12. 11 If taking recourse to the Yoga of MY realization, you are even unable to do this then subduing your mind and intellect etc relinquish the fruit of all actions
12. 12 Knowledge is better than practice, meditation is better than knowledge, renunciation of fruit of actions is even superior to meditation; for peace immediately follows from renunciation.
PURPORT:
Fixing the mind and intellect on HIM is the Goal, Can't do it ? Try next
Practice meditation. keep practicing. Can't do it also? no problem. Try next
Be intent to work for HIM, you shall attain the Perfection. Still difficult?
Relinquish fruit of actions in whatever you do,, peace immediately follows.
12. 13-14 He who is free from malice towards all beings, friendly and compassionate, rid of I and mine, balance in joy and sorrow, forgiving by nature, ever contented and mentally united with ME, nay, who has subdued his mind, senses, and body, has firm resolve, and has surrendered his mind and reason to ME, that devotee of MINE is dear to ME.
PURPORT:
We never have malice towards all the billions of people, just a few, handful of them, the wicked ones who seem to be either my neighbours, or my spouses' relatives. Forgot, there are some in my workplace ! Why I am burdened with all these malicious people around such a nice me !!
We are of course friendly with a lot of people outside, in fact with millions of people whom we have not met, no problem with them at all. Friendship in the house is not that important, because we are together and I am the road roller with a veto! That's what I did to my wife; Veto. Why she should be friendly with me now?
Compassion of ours is generally misplaced and invariably in Moha, My community, my caste, and with "I" am doing attitude; name and fame taints the compassion
Watch the I and mine each day in every action. and at the end of the day. That will bring change by reminding us not to use those words and eventually not to even think of them.
One need not be a stone hearted person to be same in joy and sorrow; a tear or two, a 5 minute sorrow, or glee doesn't bring you down from the pedestal of equanimity.
Forgiving: Enemies or, of whose success we are jealous of; In daily prayers and at night when you sleep bring their picture in the mind and their traits or success, and tell the Lord to give them more, mentally prostrate to their feet, send enormous love to them saying you love them. Forgetting from conscious mind will only keep the wound deep within. Bring it out and re-write love on that.
Contentment: New word? we will become useless and good for nothing? All right, from 20 -35 run ambition-marathon, 35-40 stop marathon, start slow running, 40-45 start walking: be satisfied with your achievement, stop manipulations, leave to the Lord results, 50-60 start the retirement goal, start that hobby, avocation into plan of action. If you cannot do this, don't worry some more lives will be there for some of us, anyway. Learn, reflect, meditate on contentment at least on Sunday morning or night. Start a diary and write down together with spouse balance desires.
Subduing the mind: Upper borderline sugar is 137, 11 marks more; stop all sweets,(visualize dislike and vomiting!). Zero compromise, till the line is on the lower range of 110. Winter? take cold water bath to start and mostly and end with a nominal 2' hot water bath. mind is like the child, cajole, and show who is the father/mother.
Subdue Senses: five senses; see where all they go; observe each time, let it go, for 2' and then get up from the TV serial and don't ask what happened in the end! 100 ways, do not indulge in empty talks, but do listen without much participation, and yet without hurting. Control urge to write emails, chats, phone calls, watch and control.
Firm resolve: You are now married to satsangh; work out in such a way that either the husband and of the wife, manage to slowly usher other without forcing, bulldozing. It should be like bringing the bride or groom to the marriage stage.
12. 15 He who is not a source of annoyance to his fellow creatures, and who is in turn does not feel vexed with his fellow creatures, and who is free from delight and envy, perturbation and fear, is dear to ME.
PURPORT:
Annoyance to Fellow creatures: First look at your servant and those who are close to you, husband, wife, children in laws and parents - Zero annoyance to all these.(children till 16 need to be corrected; but not any adult. Correction is criminal unless it is asked. Take care of close relatives; fellow creatures' case will follow.
Fear: is directly related to desire. Take care of desire; convert those into duties and rest of them leave to the Lord; Analyse all 7 major fears and do each fear krishnarpanamastu.
12. 16 He who wants nothing who is (internally and externally) pure, is clever,and impartial and has risen above all distractions, and who renounces the feeling of doer-ship in all undertakings- that devotee of MINE is dear to ME.
PURPORT:
Wants nothing: Look at a dying old man, still expects kidney replacement, or other spares; His own life has been useless, never for a moment suspected that he could have been burden on earth. Expectations, Desires tie us down to rebirth
Who is pure: For body purity, a flood of various soaps, shampoos; some help. Internal purity is what is called here. Watch the thoughts; To improve thoughts, daily read lives of saints, so that we too have direction and example to follow. Noble thoughts will result in noble deeds
Daksha: efficient, clever, Chaanakya: it is not crookedness or cunning-ness. The cleverness of the Lord in defeating the wicked
Impartial: calls for decision based on merit and justice; No 'mine' or 'yours'. Lord's praise of Karna's prowess, upsets Arjuna. or Lord Rama's asking Lakshmana to learn statecraft from dying Ravana. In both instances merit is the only consideration. Democratic president JFK or Obama selecting Republicans as Secretary of State.
Above distractions: Distractions are from the world of objects; They are related to our desires. vairagya or renunciation and practice eliminates them.
12. 17 He who neither rejoices nor hates, nor grieves, nor desires, and who renounces both good and evil actions and is full of devotion, is dear to ME.
PURPORT:
Renouncing good and evil actions:
First cleanse the evil thoughts, which will stop evil actions.
Second is to cultivate good thoughts which starts good actions.
This will purify the mind and bring it to a stage of Vairagya or renunciation of the world of objects.
This in turn will lead to Knowledge of Reality, with that takes place total rejection of the phenomenal world
And simultaneous dissolution of the mind and Realization of the Supreme.
One has become now a para bhakta or jnani at the highest level
Such a Realized soul is dear to Lord and in whom Lord stands revealed
12. 18-19 S/He who is alike to friend and foe, to honour and ignominy, heat and cold, joy and sorrow,and is free from attachment. S/He who takes praise and insults, alike and is given to contemplation, and is contented with any means of subsistence whatsoever, entertaining no sense of ownership, unattached to his home, shows firmness in his mind, and full of devotion to ME, that wo/man is dear to ME.
PURPORT:
Alike to friend and foe: Nothing foolish in treating them alike. It only means you do not carry hatred in your heart. Or else there would not have been Mahabharata war, or punishment to criminals, doors of the house would not have had locks, and Visa restrictions to countries would not have been there. Evil doers need to be necessarily deterrently punished. Do you think the executioner hates his victims? The educated may be confused on human rights, but the executioner is never. That is his job
Honour and ignominy: Naturally all seek honour and none ignominy. The world around us has short memories. They will forget what good you have done, but will magnify your faults and bring ignominy on you. Taking in stride without hatred and acrimonious retaliation, especially amidst family, and relatives, is necessary. We need to be like the TV serial's ideal bahu who tolerates a lot of false accusations and finally in the 367th episode stands vindicated! (We might get an earlier release:)
Given to Contemplation: we all know how to contemplate on what we want or on our pet worries. Contemplation here means, on higher spiritual goals, contemplation on the Lord. Naturally, unless we come out of the scum and filth of worldly thoughts, contemplation becomes difficult.
Sense of ownership:We think we own; actually those objects like gold and possessions own us, they were owning earlier our dead ancestors! same is the case of the plot in Bangalore! which was earlier owned by some ruler's concubine! prior to that it was burial ground for animals!! Nothing we can own; not even our body; everything has to be given up here.
Firmness of mind: Those who are wedded to values have firmness of mind. Conviction that this satsangh is a must for us and it is in one's family's interest is firmness of mind.
12. 20 Those devotees, however, who partake in a disinterested way of this nectar of pious wisdom set forth above, endowed with faith and solely devoted to ME, they are extremely dear to ME.
PURPORT:
I don't understand, I can't practice all this. Not to worry just do the following
Keep reading the meaning of this chapter daily
While reading keep and open(disintersted) mind
Understand that this knowledge is pious and it is also highest Wisdom
My friend, have Immense Faith in the Lord's words
Start an Affair de amour with the Lord. Great devotion starts.
DEDICATION:
Commentaries are dedicated to
Mother Ushaji and all the Pujarinis who dedicated themselves in selfless service, who have rarely been appreciated
To the wonderful Mother Satsangh, all other Sathsanghs and noble yogabrishtaas
The All mighty bless you all and all those with you and bless the place you stay
Friday, April 9, 2010
Chapter 11
(Revision 01 Feb 03 09)
BHAGAVAD GITA
CHAPTER 11
11. 1 Thanks to the most profound words of spiritual wisdom that you have spoken out of kindness to me, this delusion of mine has entirely disappeared
11. 2 I have heard from you in detail an account of the evolution and dissolution of beings, and also Your immortal glory.
11. 3 Lord, you are precisely what You declare Yourself to be. But I long to see Your divine form
11. 4 If you think that it can be seen by me, then revel to me Your imperishable form
PURPORT:
The Pilgrim's Travel
First is to hear, know his Supreme Glory
Second to know how HE is in HIS vibhootis
Now Arjuna wants to see HIS Form
11. 5-6 Lord said Behold presently hundreds and thousands of multifarious divine forms, of various colors and shapes
11. 7 Behold as concentrated within this body of Mine the entire creation consisting of both animate and inanimate beings
11. 8 But you cannot see Me with these human eyes of yours; therefore, I vouchsafe to you the divine eye. With this you behold My divine power of Yoga
PURPORT:
Lord gives Arjuna the special eyes to see HIS form
To see HIM we need different eyes, different perception
To understand HIM we need different intellect, dropping our prejudices
To win HIM we need a different heart, a mind soaked in HIM for along time.
11. 9 The Supreme master of Yoga, forthwith revealed His supremely glorious divine Form
11. 10-11 Arjuna saw the Supreme Deity possessing many mouths, eyes, presenting many a wonderful sight, decked with many divine ornaments,wielding many uplifted divine weapons, wearing divine garlands and clothes, besmeared all over with divine sandal paste, full of wonders, infinite and having faces on all sides
11.12 If there be the effulgence of a thousand suns bursting forth all at once in the heavens, even that would hardly approach the splendour of the mighty Lord
11.13 Concentrated at one place in the person of that supreme Deity, Arjuna beheld the whole universe with its manifold divisions.
11.14 The full of wonder and horripulation reverentially bowed his head to the divine Lord, and with joined palms, addressed Him thus.
PURPORT:
Arjuna, sees HIM in infinity, and Infinity in HIM
Indescribable scene,
Fear and wonder and new Knowledge brings reverence.
Like the student whom you taught years ago, is now a famous scientist, earns your respect
11.15 I behold within Your body all gods and hosts of different beings, Brahma throned on his lotus leaf Siva and Rsis and celestial serpents
11.16 I see You endowed with numerous arms, bellies, mouths, eyes and having innumerable forms extended on all sides. I see neither Your beginning and nor middle nor even Your end, manifested as you are in the form of the universe.
11.17 I see you endowed with diadems, clubs and discuses, a mass of splendour flaming all around, having brilliance of blazing fire and the sun, hard to gaze at and immeasurable on all sides.
11.18 You are supreme indestructible worthy of being known; you are the ultimate refuge of this universe. You are again, the protector of the ageless dharma. I consider you to be the eternal imperishable Being.
11.19 I see You without beginning, middle or end, possessing unlimited prowess and endowed with numberless arms, having the moon and the sun for Your eyes, and blazing fire for Your mouth,and scorching this universe by Your radiance.
11.20 Yonder space between heaven and earth and all the quarters are entirely filled by Your alone. Seeing this transcendent, dreadful Form of Yours, all the three worlds feel greatly alarmed.
PURPORT:
HE says he protects the ageless Dharma.
Hindus are convinced it is their Dharma (Righteous way of Life)
Could other Religions be wrong then? are they also not calling on HIM, albeit by different names?
How can Lord be partial to only one Dharma; Naturally, all dharmas in their own way finally lead to HIM
Again, HE is without beginning, without middle, and without end. Why without middle?
Because if we locate the middle we have located the beginning and end. Hence infinity does not have a middle.
11.21 Yonder hosts of gods are entering You; some with palms joined out of fear are uttering your names and glories. Multitudes of Maharshis and Siddhas, saying 'Let there be peace', are extolling You by means of excellent hymns.
11.22 The eleven Rudras, twelve Adityas and eight vasus, the Sadyas and Visvedevas, the two Ashwinikumars and fortynine maruts, as well as the manes and multitudes of Gandharvas, Yakshas, Asuras and Siddhas, all these gaze upon you in amazement.
PURPORT:
The nature of great devotees is described here. Always with Lord in thought and action(9.34)
Chanting HIS names, Wishing peace for the Universe, Extolling Lord with Excellent Hymns.
A host of Gods, and celestial deities are gazing at HIM, just like Arjuna, having opened themselves to HIS Grace.
When we are in material world, we wonder at materialistic-man-made simple wonders of the World
11.23 Seeing this stupendous and dreadful form of Yours possessing numerous mouths and eyes, many arms,thighs,feet,many bellies and many teeth, the worlds are terror struck; so am I.
11.24 Lord seeing your Form reaching the heavens, effulgent multi-coloured, having its mouth wide open and possessing large flaming eyes, I with my inmost self frightened, have lost self-control and find no peace.
11.25 Seeing your faces frightful on account of their teeth, and flaring like the fire at the time of universal destruction, I am utterly bewildered and find no happiness; therefore, be kind to me,O Lord of celestial and Resting place of the Universe.
PURPORT:
The form of the Lord with each part of the body large numbers is itself fearsome.
Mortals fear the unknown, fearing pain and death.
Arjuna was not an exception.
11.26-27 All those sons of Dhratarastra with hosts of kings are entering You. Bhisma, Drona, and yonder Karna, with the principal warrior on our side as well, are rushing headlong into Your fearful mouths looking all the more terrible on account of their teeth with their heads crushed.
11.28 As the myriad streams of rivers rush towards the sea alone, so do those warriors of the mortal world enter Your flaming mouths
11.29 As moths rush with great great speed into the blazing fire, for extinction out of their folly, even so all these people are with great rapidity entering Your mouths to meet their doom.
11.30 Swallowing through your blazing mouths, You are licking all those people on all sides. Lord, Your terrible splendours are burning the entire universe filling it with radiance.
11.31 Tell me who You are with a form so terrible? My obeisance to You. O best of gods, be kind to me. I wish to know You, the Primal Being, in particular; for I know not Your purpose
PURPORT:
Shlokas 15,18,19, 28, 29 make excellent prayers to chant daily. They have rhythm, full of HIS greatness
This is the chapter where the shlokas have lengthier meter, as if the vastness and greatness of the Lord cannot be told in smaller metered ones
The scene is described in a variety of ways
Arjuna also sees the future, the annihilation of the armies on both sides.
Suddenly, Arjuna is unsure of who this Great Personage is, and enquires, who HE is?
11.32 The Lord says, I am inflamed Kala(The eternal Time-spirit), destroyer of the worlds. I am out to exterminate these people. Even without you all those warriors arrayed in the enemy's camp must die
11.33 Therefore, do arise and win glory; conquering foes, enjoy the affluent kingdom. These warriors stand already slain by ME. Be you only an instrument.
11.34 Do you ki ll Drona, Bhisma, Jayadratha, Karna and other brave warriors; who stand already killed by ME. fear not. You will surely conquer the enemies in this war; therefore, fight
PURPORT:
HE is the TIME the great devour.
Without Arjuna HE has already destroyed all of them
Arjuna has a choice to become an instrument of the Lord and fight the war
Eminently applicable forever to all of us.
Find out what he Lord wants and be an instrument in HIS hands
When you become an instrument, you are in Karmayoga
11.35 Sanjaya said: Hearing these words of Bhagavan Kesava, Arjuna tremblingly bowed to HIM with joined palms and bowing again and again in extreme terror spoke to Sri Krsna in faltering accents
11.36 Arjuna said,Lord, well it is, the universe exults and is filled with love by chanting Your names, virtues and glory; terrified Raksasas are fleeting in all directions and all the hosts of Siddhas are bowing to You.
11.37 O Great Soul, why should they not bow to you, who are the progenitor of Brahma himself and the greatest of the great? O infinite Lord of the celestial, abode of the universe, You are that which is existent(Sat), that which is non-existent(Asat) and also that which is beyond both, viz., the indestructible Brahma
11.38 You are the Primal deity, the most ancient Person; You are the ultimate resort of this universe. You are both the knower and knowable, and the highest abode. It is you who pervade the universe, assuming endless forms.
11.39 You are the Vayu, Yama, Agni, varuna, the Moon, Brahma, nay the father of Brahma himself. Hail, hail to you a thousand times; salutations, repeated salutations to you once again.
11.40 O Lord of Infinite prowess, my salutations to you from front and back. O Soul of all, my obeisance to You from all sides indeed. You who possess limitless might, pervade all; therefore, You are all.
PURPORT:
The Lord is called Stavya( one who deserves to be extolled), and 'stutipriyah'(one who likes praise, admiration, adulation.
Here Arjuna praises HIM in such terms which can only be applied to the Supreme Being.
This Lord of lords, is same for Infinite Universes, all though HE is called by various names by various countries in different Universes
Who cannot but respond to a suggestion arising from esteem (Laghu Yoga Vasishta) or grant wishes for such praise.
The Scriptures teach us 'Satyam vada, priyam vada' (speak the Truth but speak Pleasingly'.
This whole chapter is all about being pleasing Lord and His devotee
11.41-42 The way in which I have importunately called out, either through intimacy or even through want of thought, Hey Krsna, Hey Yadava, Hi Friend, and so on, never suspecting this greatness of Yours, and thinking of You only to be a friend and the way in which You have been slighted by me in jest, while at play, reposing, sitting or at meals either alone or even in the presence of others- for all that I crave forgiveness from You, who are infinite
11.43 You are the father, nay, the greatest teacher of this moving and unmoving creation, and worthy of adoration, O Lord of incomparable might, in all the three worlds, there is none else even equal to You, then, any better ?
11.44 Therefore, Lord prostrating my body at Your feet and bowing low i seek to propitiate You, the ruler of all and worthy of all praise. It behoves You to bear with me even as a father bears with his son, a friend with his friend and a lover with is beloved.
PURPORT:
Arjuna, now regrets for being casual, flippant, disrespectful to the Great Lord who was with him as his friend and cousin.
He recalls his follies. as we recall ours when our parents, in laws, elders, are no longer there.
Unfortunately, we do not recall all the disrespect we show to our parents, and more often our spouses (husband to wife and wife to husband).
If we do recall it will be when we are incapacitated, bedridden old and decrepit and when we badly need wife's help.
Being satsanghis, we can change and love old parents and devoted wives who sacrificed her parents, brothers and sisters to come and live with me, the derelicting one.
11.45 Having seen Your wondrous form, which was never seen before, I feel transported with joy; at the same time my mind is tormented by fear. Pray reveal to me the divine form; (form of Vishnu with four arms); O Lord of celestial, abode of the universe, be gracious
11.46 I wish to see you adorned in the same way with a diadem on the head, and holding a mace and discus in two of Your hands. O Lord with a thousand arms, O Universal Being, appear against in the same (four armed) Form.
11.47 Sri Bhagavan said: Arjuna, pleased with You Have shown you, through My own power of Yoga this Supreme, effulgent, primal and infinite Cosmic Body which was never seen before by anyone else than you.
11.48 In this mortal world I cannot be seen in this Form by anyone else than you, either through study of the Vedas or of rituals, or again through gifts, actions or austere penances.
PURPORT:
We now know that Lord cannot be seen either by study of the highest scriptures, ofr by charity, actions, or by penances
The same thing has been told in Scriptures like Viveka chudamani, Laghu Yoga Vaasista, and even Bhakti sutras.
The meaning of this is, all those acts purify the mind when done without desires for fruits, without the feeling of doership.
Purified mind has now abandoned all desires and thoughts of the phenomenal world
This purified mind is now ready for its own merger totally with the Lord (9.22 ananya bhakti, 10.9-10 matchitta , madgatha prana, also 8.7 mind and intellect to HIM)
Knowing and meditating on Knowledge of reality which is HE the Supreme in HIS unmanifested Form.
11.49 Seeing such a dreadful Form of Mine as this, be not perturbed or perplexed; with a fearless and complacent mind behold once again the same four armed Form of Mine
11.50 Sanjaya said: Having spoken thus to Arjuna, Bhagavan Vasudeva again showed to him in the same way His four armed Form; and then, assuming a gentle form, the high souled Sri Krsna consoled the frightened Arjuna
11.51 Arjuna said: Krsna, seeing this gentle human form of Yours, I have regained my composure and am myself again.
11.52 Sri Bhagavan said: This form of Mine which you have just seen is exceedingly difficult to perceive. Even the gods are always eager to behold this form.
11.53 Neither by study of Vedas nor by penance, nor again by charity, nor even by ritual can I be seen in this form as you have seen ME
11.54 Through single minded devotion, however I can be seen in this form, nay, known in essence and even entered into.
11.55 Arjuna, he who performs all his duties for My sake, depends on ME, is devoted to ME, has no attachment, and free from malice towards all beings reaches ME.
PURPORT:
Shloka 48 is reflected again here in shloka 53, to remind again to us, merely studying scriptures without practicing, doing charities for name and fame, austerities for even heavenly gains all are in the long run will bring rebirth and not liberation(His World)
shloka 54 (similar to 9-22 ananya chintana and shloka 10.9-10) the stress is very clear. Path is clearly shown to us. Go on this path; leave other thoughts if you are after Moksha, understand you are in a world of Maya( 7.14)which is very difficult to cross. Acquire Great Jnana (same as Para Bhakti). This will be your last life(7.19). You will come to ME(2.72 & 8.5)
Shloka 55. Duties for My sake. What HE likes most? (spread of this Knowledge- (Guru)Nanak Naam ka ek Jahaz hai -which takes people across the ocean of Samsaar), Depend on ME(7.1), we depend on our Intellectual ability(now lying with brain tumour), on Wealth of investments{(melt down:)}, on our loving children(Oldage Home- very good one! :)}, on our dear friends (Time servers, as bad condition as you are now). No, dependence only on HIS Name
Devoted to ME (God need to be an obsession of sort - need not be open or known to others; as Paramahamsa put it illicit love of a wife, or the mind of the tortoise on its eggs buried in the seashore, or the servant maid's attention on her children in her far off hut,). Some how HE needs to be part of my life's each activity
Attachment comes only from delusion(ch 1.27-28) or Maya of I and Mine. Ahamkar and mamakar. Knowledge of Reality alone can awaken us to the Truth. Prolonged meditation of this Truth, seeing (after conviction) the folly of my relationship people in this non-existing phenomenal world, will gradually(with prolonged, repeated reflection) turn the scales in favour of non-attachment which will free the sadhaka
DEDICATION:
The commentaries, in all humility and most respectfully, are dedicated, at the feet of Shaila and Krishnanand Sanjeevarao Chandavarkar, (Chitrakoot farm Tippegondana Halli, Magadi Road, Bengaluru) who started the satsangh on 14Th Jan 1981. For next 10 turbulent and uncertain years this great founder stood like a rock and nourished its growth and remained an inspiration for alll those who knew him.
Respectful pranams in dedication also to founders who continued with Chandavarkarji, late Dinkar Mallapur and his wife, Vasanth and Mradula Somane, Gangadhar and Anasuya Bhat and others
In gratefulness to the pillars who chose to stand like rock by their unfailing attendance, Govindan and Geetha, Sugunan and Gita, Gopinath and Srilatha, Prabhakar Prabhu and Shobha
BHAGAVAD GITA
CHAPTER 11
11. 1 Thanks to the most profound words of spiritual wisdom that you have spoken out of kindness to me, this delusion of mine has entirely disappeared
11. 2 I have heard from you in detail an account of the evolution and dissolution of beings, and also Your immortal glory.
11. 3 Lord, you are precisely what You declare Yourself to be. But I long to see Your divine form
11. 4 If you think that it can be seen by me, then revel to me Your imperishable form
PURPORT:
The Pilgrim's Travel
First is to hear, know his Supreme Glory
Second to know how HE is in HIS vibhootis
Now Arjuna wants to see HIS Form
11. 5-6 Lord said Behold presently hundreds and thousands of multifarious divine forms, of various colors and shapes
11. 7 Behold as concentrated within this body of Mine the entire creation consisting of both animate and inanimate beings
11. 8 But you cannot see Me with these human eyes of yours; therefore, I vouchsafe to you the divine eye. With this you behold My divine power of Yoga
PURPORT:
Lord gives Arjuna the special eyes to see HIS form
To see HIM we need different eyes, different perception
To understand HIM we need different intellect, dropping our prejudices
To win HIM we need a different heart, a mind soaked in HIM for along time.
11. 9 The Supreme master of Yoga, forthwith revealed His supremely glorious divine Form
11. 10-11 Arjuna saw the Supreme Deity possessing many mouths, eyes, presenting many a wonderful sight, decked with many divine ornaments,wielding many uplifted divine weapons, wearing divine garlands and clothes, besmeared all over with divine sandal paste, full of wonders, infinite and having faces on all sides
11.12 If there be the effulgence of a thousand suns bursting forth all at once in the heavens, even that would hardly approach the splendour of the mighty Lord
11.13 Concentrated at one place in the person of that supreme Deity, Arjuna beheld the whole universe with its manifold divisions.
11.14 The full of wonder and horripulation reverentially bowed his head to the divine Lord, and with joined palms, addressed Him thus.
PURPORT:
Arjuna, sees HIM in infinity, and Infinity in HIM
Indescribable scene,
Fear and wonder and new Knowledge brings reverence.
Like the student whom you taught years ago, is now a famous scientist, earns your respect
11.15 I behold within Your body all gods and hosts of different beings, Brahma throned on his lotus leaf Siva and Rsis and celestial serpents
11.16 I see You endowed with numerous arms, bellies, mouths, eyes and having innumerable forms extended on all sides. I see neither Your beginning and nor middle nor even Your end, manifested as you are in the form of the universe.
11.17 I see you endowed with diadems, clubs and discuses, a mass of splendour flaming all around, having brilliance of blazing fire and the sun, hard to gaze at and immeasurable on all sides.
11.18 You are supreme indestructible worthy of being known; you are the ultimate refuge of this universe. You are again, the protector of the ageless dharma. I consider you to be the eternal imperishable Being.
11.19 I see You without beginning, middle or end, possessing unlimited prowess and endowed with numberless arms, having the moon and the sun for Your eyes, and blazing fire for Your mouth,and scorching this universe by Your radiance.
11.20 Yonder space between heaven and earth and all the quarters are entirely filled by Your alone. Seeing this transcendent, dreadful Form of Yours, all the three worlds feel greatly alarmed.
PURPORT:
HE says he protects the ageless Dharma.
Hindus are convinced it is their Dharma (Righteous way of Life)
Could other Religions be wrong then? are they also not calling on HIM, albeit by different names?
How can Lord be partial to only one Dharma; Naturally, all dharmas in their own way finally lead to HIM
Again, HE is without beginning, without middle, and without end. Why without middle?
Because if we locate the middle we have located the beginning and end. Hence infinity does not have a middle.
11.21 Yonder hosts of gods are entering You; some with palms joined out of fear are uttering your names and glories. Multitudes of Maharshis and Siddhas, saying 'Let there be peace', are extolling You by means of excellent hymns.
11.22 The eleven Rudras, twelve Adityas and eight vasus, the Sadyas and Visvedevas, the two Ashwinikumars and fortynine maruts, as well as the manes and multitudes of Gandharvas, Yakshas, Asuras and Siddhas, all these gaze upon you in amazement.
PURPORT:
The nature of great devotees is described here. Always with Lord in thought and action(9.34)
Chanting HIS names, Wishing peace for the Universe, Extolling Lord with Excellent Hymns.
A host of Gods, and celestial deities are gazing at HIM, just like Arjuna, having opened themselves to HIS Grace.
When we are in material world, we wonder at materialistic-man-made simple wonders of the World
11.23 Seeing this stupendous and dreadful form of Yours possessing numerous mouths and eyes, many arms,thighs,feet,many bellies and many teeth, the worlds are terror struck; so am I.
11.24 Lord seeing your Form reaching the heavens, effulgent multi-coloured, having its mouth wide open and possessing large flaming eyes, I with my inmost self frightened, have lost self-control and find no peace.
11.25 Seeing your faces frightful on account of their teeth, and flaring like the fire at the time of universal destruction, I am utterly bewildered and find no happiness; therefore, be kind to me,O Lord of celestial and Resting place of the Universe.
PURPORT:
The form of the Lord with each part of the body large numbers is itself fearsome.
Mortals fear the unknown, fearing pain and death.
Arjuna was not an exception.
11.26-27 All those sons of Dhratarastra with hosts of kings are entering You. Bhisma, Drona, and yonder Karna, with the principal warrior on our side as well, are rushing headlong into Your fearful mouths looking all the more terrible on account of their teeth with their heads crushed.
11.28 As the myriad streams of rivers rush towards the sea alone, so do those warriors of the mortal world enter Your flaming mouths
11.29 As moths rush with great great speed into the blazing fire, for extinction out of their folly, even so all these people are with great rapidity entering Your mouths to meet their doom.
11.30 Swallowing through your blazing mouths, You are licking all those people on all sides. Lord, Your terrible splendours are burning the entire universe filling it with radiance.
11.31 Tell me who You are with a form so terrible? My obeisance to You. O best of gods, be kind to me. I wish to know You, the Primal Being, in particular; for I know not Your purpose
PURPORT:
Shlokas 15,18,19, 28, 29 make excellent prayers to chant daily. They have rhythm, full of HIS greatness
This is the chapter where the shlokas have lengthier meter, as if the vastness and greatness of the Lord cannot be told in smaller metered ones
The scene is described in a variety of ways
Arjuna also sees the future, the annihilation of the armies on both sides.
Suddenly, Arjuna is unsure of who this Great Personage is, and enquires, who HE is?
11.32 The Lord says, I am inflamed Kala(The eternal Time-spirit), destroyer of the worlds. I am out to exterminate these people. Even without you all those warriors arrayed in the enemy's camp must die
11.33 Therefore, do arise and win glory; conquering foes, enjoy the affluent kingdom. These warriors stand already slain by ME. Be you only an instrument.
11.34 Do you ki ll Drona, Bhisma, Jayadratha, Karna and other brave warriors; who stand already killed by ME. fear not. You will surely conquer the enemies in this war; therefore, fight
PURPORT:
HE is the TIME the great devour.
Without Arjuna HE has already destroyed all of them
Arjuna has a choice to become an instrument of the Lord and fight the war
Eminently applicable forever to all of us.
Find out what he Lord wants and be an instrument in HIS hands
When you become an instrument, you are in Karmayoga
11.35 Sanjaya said: Hearing these words of Bhagavan Kesava, Arjuna tremblingly bowed to HIM with joined palms and bowing again and again in extreme terror spoke to Sri Krsna in faltering accents
11.36 Arjuna said,Lord, well it is, the universe exults and is filled with love by chanting Your names, virtues and glory; terrified Raksasas are fleeting in all directions and all the hosts of Siddhas are bowing to You.
11.37 O Great Soul, why should they not bow to you, who are the progenitor of Brahma himself and the greatest of the great? O infinite Lord of the celestial, abode of the universe, You are that which is existent(Sat), that which is non-existent(Asat) and also that which is beyond both, viz., the indestructible Brahma
11.38 You are the Primal deity, the most ancient Person; You are the ultimate resort of this universe. You are both the knower and knowable, and the highest abode. It is you who pervade the universe, assuming endless forms.
11.39 You are the Vayu, Yama, Agni, varuna, the Moon, Brahma, nay the father of Brahma himself. Hail, hail to you a thousand times; salutations, repeated salutations to you once again.
11.40 O Lord of Infinite prowess, my salutations to you from front and back. O Soul of all, my obeisance to You from all sides indeed. You who possess limitless might, pervade all; therefore, You are all.
PURPORT:
The Lord is called Stavya( one who deserves to be extolled), and 'stutipriyah'(one who likes praise, admiration, adulation.
Here Arjuna praises HIM in such terms which can only be applied to the Supreme Being.
This Lord of lords, is same for Infinite Universes, all though HE is called by various names by various countries in different Universes
Who cannot but respond to a suggestion arising from esteem (Laghu Yoga Vasishta) or grant wishes for such praise.
The Scriptures teach us 'Satyam vada, priyam vada' (speak the Truth but speak Pleasingly'.
This whole chapter is all about being pleasing Lord and His devotee
11.41-42 The way in which I have importunately called out, either through intimacy or even through want of thought, Hey Krsna, Hey Yadava, Hi Friend, and so on, never suspecting this greatness of Yours, and thinking of You only to be a friend and the way in which You have been slighted by me in jest, while at play, reposing, sitting or at meals either alone or even in the presence of others- for all that I crave forgiveness from You, who are infinite
11.43 You are the father, nay, the greatest teacher of this moving and unmoving creation, and worthy of adoration, O Lord of incomparable might, in all the three worlds, there is none else even equal to You, then, any better ?
11.44 Therefore, Lord prostrating my body at Your feet and bowing low i seek to propitiate You, the ruler of all and worthy of all praise. It behoves You to bear with me even as a father bears with his son, a friend with his friend and a lover with is beloved.
PURPORT:
Arjuna, now regrets for being casual, flippant, disrespectful to the Great Lord who was with him as his friend and cousin.
He recalls his follies. as we recall ours when our parents, in laws, elders, are no longer there.
Unfortunately, we do not recall all the disrespect we show to our parents, and more often our spouses (husband to wife and wife to husband).
If we do recall it will be when we are incapacitated, bedridden old and decrepit and when we badly need wife's help.
Being satsanghis, we can change and love old parents and devoted wives who sacrificed her parents, brothers and sisters to come and live with me, the derelicting one.
11.45 Having seen Your wondrous form, which was never seen before, I feel transported with joy; at the same time my mind is tormented by fear. Pray reveal to me the divine form; (form of Vishnu with four arms); O Lord of celestial, abode of the universe, be gracious
11.46 I wish to see you adorned in the same way with a diadem on the head, and holding a mace and discus in two of Your hands. O Lord with a thousand arms, O Universal Being, appear against in the same (four armed) Form.
11.47 Sri Bhagavan said: Arjuna, pleased with You Have shown you, through My own power of Yoga this Supreme, effulgent, primal and infinite Cosmic Body which was never seen before by anyone else than you.
11.48 In this mortal world I cannot be seen in this Form by anyone else than you, either through study of the Vedas or of rituals, or again through gifts, actions or austere penances.
PURPORT:
We now know that Lord cannot be seen either by study of the highest scriptures, ofr by charity, actions, or by penances
The same thing has been told in Scriptures like Viveka chudamani, Laghu Yoga Vaasista, and even Bhakti sutras.
The meaning of this is, all those acts purify the mind when done without desires for fruits, without the feeling of doership.
Purified mind has now abandoned all desires and thoughts of the phenomenal world
This purified mind is now ready for its own merger totally with the Lord (9.22 ananya bhakti, 10.9-10 matchitta , madgatha prana, also 8.7 mind and intellect to HIM)
Knowing and meditating on Knowledge of reality which is HE the Supreme in HIS unmanifested Form.
11.49 Seeing such a dreadful Form of Mine as this, be not perturbed or perplexed; with a fearless and complacent mind behold once again the same four armed Form of Mine
11.50 Sanjaya said: Having spoken thus to Arjuna, Bhagavan Vasudeva again showed to him in the same way His four armed Form; and then, assuming a gentle form, the high souled Sri Krsna consoled the frightened Arjuna
11.51 Arjuna said: Krsna, seeing this gentle human form of Yours, I have regained my composure and am myself again.
11.52 Sri Bhagavan said: This form of Mine which you have just seen is exceedingly difficult to perceive. Even the gods are always eager to behold this form.
11.53 Neither by study of Vedas nor by penance, nor again by charity, nor even by ritual can I be seen in this form as you have seen ME
11.54 Through single minded devotion, however I can be seen in this form, nay, known in essence and even entered into.
11.55 Arjuna, he who performs all his duties for My sake, depends on ME, is devoted to ME, has no attachment, and free from malice towards all beings reaches ME.
PURPORT:
Shloka 48 is reflected again here in shloka 53, to remind again to us, merely studying scriptures without practicing, doing charities for name and fame, austerities for even heavenly gains all are in the long run will bring rebirth and not liberation(His World)
shloka 54 (similar to 9-22 ananya chintana and shloka 10.9-10) the stress is very clear. Path is clearly shown to us. Go on this path; leave other thoughts if you are after Moksha, understand you are in a world of Maya( 7.14)which is very difficult to cross. Acquire Great Jnana (same as Para Bhakti). This will be your last life(7.19). You will come to ME(2.72 & 8.5)
Shloka 55. Duties for My sake. What HE likes most? (spread of this Knowledge- (Guru)Nanak Naam ka ek Jahaz hai -which takes people across the ocean of Samsaar), Depend on ME(7.1), we depend on our Intellectual ability(now lying with brain tumour), on Wealth of investments{(melt down:)}, on our loving children(Oldage Home- very good one! :)}, on our dear friends (Time servers, as bad condition as you are now). No, dependence only on HIS Name
Devoted to ME (God need to be an obsession of sort - need not be open or known to others; as Paramahamsa put it illicit love of a wife, or the mind of the tortoise on its eggs buried in the seashore, or the servant maid's attention on her children in her far off hut,). Some how HE needs to be part of my life's each activity
Attachment comes only from delusion(ch 1.27-28) or Maya of I and Mine. Ahamkar and mamakar. Knowledge of Reality alone can awaken us to the Truth. Prolonged meditation of this Truth, seeing (after conviction) the folly of my relationship people in this non-existing phenomenal world, will gradually(with prolonged, repeated reflection) turn the scales in favour of non-attachment which will free the sadhaka
DEDICATION:
The commentaries, in all humility and most respectfully, are dedicated, at the feet of Shaila and Krishnanand Sanjeevarao Chandavarkar, (Chitrakoot farm Tippegondana Halli, Magadi Road, Bengaluru) who started the satsangh on 14Th Jan 1981. For next 10 turbulent and uncertain years this great founder stood like a rock and nourished its growth and remained an inspiration for alll those who knew him.
Respectful pranams in dedication also to founders who continued with Chandavarkarji, late Dinkar Mallapur and his wife, Vasanth and Mradula Somane, Gangadhar and Anasuya Bhat and others
In gratefulness to the pillars who chose to stand like rock by their unfailing attendance, Govindan and Geetha, Sugunan and Gita, Gopinath and Srilatha, Prabhakar Prabhu and Shobha
Chapter 10
(Revision 01 Feb 03 09)
BHAGAVAD GITA
CHAPTER 10
10. 1 Hear once again MY supreme Word, which I shall speak to you, who are so loving, for your welfare
10. 2 Neither Gods nor the great sages know the secret of my origin, for I am the cause in all respects of gods, great seers.
10. 3 He who knows ME in reality as birth less, and without beginning and as the Supreme Lord of the Universe, he un-deluded among men, is purged of all sins
PURPORT:
Purged of all sins because this knowledge and conviction can come only out of Great faith, and constant contemplation and love of the Lord; all of which will
10. 4 Reason, right Knowledge, unclouded understanding, forbearance, veracity, control over the senses, and mind, joy and sorrow, evolution and dissolution, fear and fearlessness, non-violence,
10. 5 Equanimity,contentment, austerity, charity, fame and obloquy- these3 diverse traits of creatures emanated from ME alone.
10. 6 The seven rishis, the four elders, and the fourteen Manus, who are all devoted to ME, were born of MY will. from them all creatures of this world have descended.
PURPORT:
We think that we can reason, we are wise, etc, but the Lord says, what we egoistically attribute to ourselves are all emanated from HIM and are HIS gift to chosen beings. It is like realizing that my daughter is mine, only to find out she really belongs rightfully to her husband and I was only a caretaker for him! Should bring our arrogance down!
10. 7 He who knows in reality this supreme divine glory, and supernatural power of MINE gets established in ME through unfaltering devotion; of this there is no doubt.
10.8 I am the source of all creation and everything in the world moves because of ME. Knowing thus, the wise full of devotion constantly worship ME.
10. 9 With their minds fixed on ME, their lives surrendered to ME, enlightening one another about MY greatness and speaking of ME, My devotees ever remain contented and take delight in ME.
10. 10 In order to shower MY Grace on them I, dwelling in their heart, dispel the darkness born of ignorance by the shining light of wisdom
PURPORT:
First is to know, understand, contemplate, the overwhelming, limitless supremacy and glory of the Lord
More we look, meditate and reason we see HIS infinity and our limitations and thus
We are now ready to fix our mind on HIM,
Surrender our lives to HIM,
Enlightening one another of HIS greatness
Speaking of HIM
Remain contented and take delight in HIM
RESULT: HE showers HIS grace, dispels ignorance, and gives wisdom
10. 11 You are the transcendent Eternal. the Supreme Abode and the greatest purifier;all the seers speak of you as the eternal divine Purusha, the primal Deity, unborn and all pervading
10. 12-13 You are the transcendental Eternal, the supreme Abode and the greatest purifier; all the seers speak of you as the eternal divine Purusha, the primal Deity, unborn and all pervading. Likewise speak the celestial sage Narada, sages Asita and Devala and great sage Vyasa
10. 14 Krsna, I believe as true all that you tell me, Lord, neither demons nor gods are aware of your manifestation through sport
10. 15 O Creator of beings,O Ruler of creatures, god of gods, the Lord of the universe, O Supreme Purusha, You alone know what You are by Yourself.
10. 16 Therefore, You alone can describe in full Your divine glories, whereby You stand pervading all these worlds.
10. 17 O Master of Yoga, through what process of continuous meditation shall I know You? And in what particular forms, O Lord, are you to be meditated upon by me?
10. 18 Krsna, tell me in detail Your Power of Yoga and Your Glory; for I know no satiety in hearing Your nectar-like words
PURPORT:
Arjuna by now knows HIS Supreme greatness
HE alone can explain Himself about Himself
Arjuna wants to know forms of Lord to meditate upon.
10. 19 Arjuna, now I shall tell you my conspicuous divine glories, for there is no limit to MY magnitude
PURPORT:
This means there are inconspicuous glories which are not told here. and more important, there is no limit to HIS magnitude. Now list all that HE has done to improve our situation in the last limitless centuries.
How fire came into existence and how later it was tamed and put into a box called matchbox!
Where was electricity for centuries? and where exactly it is now also?
Where was Internet and why we can't live without it for a few hours now, although we lived with out it for centuries?
How could camera take photos from a distance of 12+ miles? No 12+Mn miles, and to boot it the camera was travelling in space at tremendous speed to photograph distant stars.
When we say this is not possible, HE shows to us (remember 'I am the intelligence of the intelligent') greater and unimagined things are possible.
Imagine 100 yrs ago these: Green peace movement, no smoking areas, Pollution control, Consumer rights, 80yr old running marathon, African American as President...No limits to HIS magnitude. HE is the Science, technology....everything. Science is not against HIM. HE is Science.
10. 20 I am the Universal Self seated in the heart of all beings. So I alone am the beginning and middle and also the end of all beings
PURPORT:
HE is in you and me and in the wife you scold and every lamb we kill. Our fountain of compassion can ooze forth, and we realize cruelty is not HIS way.
We can invoke HIM in our heart, for HE is never away from us. The Great Realized souls have no need to go anywhere looking for Lord. They see HIM where their eyes fall, and see in that HIS miracles operating.
Now we know, HE is in us as our soul, our intelligent, our mind, our glory, our austerity our every pore, sinew, our tear, our laughter.
10.21-39 HIS conspicuous glories are enumerated. The best or best liked one in each category.
10. 40 There is no limit to MY divine manifestations. This is only a brief description by ME of the extent of MY glory.
PURPORT:
In HIS world and Universe, anything can happen, by HIS will. It is always for the general good of all, including the wicked! Future HE works out for the benefit of good and poor, distraught and deprived, meek and humble; Even for those who did not appeal in human language, like plants, animals, vanishing species, atmosphere. His compassion and power is limitless, beyond our thoughts. What HE will do in the centuries ahead becomes clear to Jnani who gets established in HIM.
10.41 Every such being as is glorious, brilliant and powerful, know that to be part manifestation of MY glory.
Don Brad man to little master, the blaster and Gambir.....more to come from dark corners of little villages
Each decade he keeps sending the most handsome and World beauties only to surpass them in next decade.
If you thought of a Nightingale of India, he will bring for playback 100s of them showing HIS power to baffle.
Scientists and greater Newtons, Einsteins, Hawkins, Gandhi, Vinobha, Amte, Pandurang Shashtri like streams of gold coming out of Divine reservoir.
If Wealthy hoard wealth, HE creates from street Opulent to do HIS work of service to poor. He alone creates new sytems of thought, be it communism, socialism capitalism and trashes them when they do not serve.
My friend, we are eternally living in a Magic world of Hidden Magician, showing us miracles in millions around us daily and yet making us not see those;
Do we see how the huge earth, with all its buildings and population, and revolves daily on its axis and also moves around the sun, and yet tea in our cup does not spill out, nor we get a reeling sensation of spin. We do not even recognise this miracle taking place each nano second!
10.42 Or what will you gain by knowing all this in detail, Arjuna ? Suffice it to say that I stand holding this entire universe by a fraction of My Yogic Power.
DEDICATION: This chapter on Lord's Vibhooti is dedicated to most Rev. Ralph Thomas Griffith Hochkin whose translation in verse form, of Valmiki Ramayana remains unexcellable(for the Lord like HIS vibhootis,Hanuman, Tulsidas, has kept them unexcelled and unexcellable).
R T Hochkin's death centenary falls in 2010, before which we propose to distribute copies of his translation to colleges and high schools and residential schools like 575 central Govt Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas, the latter in themselves are vibhootis among residential schools , may be IITs, NITs and IIMs libraries.
BHAGAVAD GITA
CHAPTER 10
10. 1 Hear once again MY supreme Word, which I shall speak to you, who are so loving, for your welfare
10. 2 Neither Gods nor the great sages know the secret of my origin, for I am the cause in all respects of gods, great seers.
10. 3 He who knows ME in reality as birth less, and without beginning and as the Supreme Lord of the Universe, he un-deluded among men, is purged of all sins
PURPORT:
Purged of all sins because this knowledge and conviction can come only out of Great faith, and constant contemplation and love of the Lord; all of which will
10. 4 Reason, right Knowledge, unclouded understanding, forbearance, veracity, control over the senses, and mind, joy and sorrow, evolution and dissolution, fear and fearlessness, non-violence,
10. 5 Equanimity,contentment, austerity, charity, fame and obloquy- these3 diverse traits of creatures emanated from ME alone.
10. 6 The seven rishis, the four elders, and the fourteen Manus, who are all devoted to ME, were born of MY will. from them all creatures of this world have descended.
PURPORT:
We think that we can reason, we are wise, etc, but the Lord says, what we egoistically attribute to ourselves are all emanated from HIM and are HIS gift to chosen beings. It is like realizing that my daughter is mine, only to find out she really belongs rightfully to her husband and I was only a caretaker for him! Should bring our arrogance down!
10. 7 He who knows in reality this supreme divine glory, and supernatural power of MINE gets established in ME through unfaltering devotion; of this there is no doubt.
10.8 I am the source of all creation and everything in the world moves because of ME. Knowing thus, the wise full of devotion constantly worship ME.
10. 9 With their minds fixed on ME, their lives surrendered to ME, enlightening one another about MY greatness and speaking of ME, My devotees ever remain contented and take delight in ME.
10. 10 In order to shower MY Grace on them I, dwelling in their heart, dispel the darkness born of ignorance by the shining light of wisdom
PURPORT:
First is to know, understand, contemplate, the overwhelming, limitless supremacy and glory of the Lord
More we look, meditate and reason we see HIS infinity and our limitations and thus
We are now ready to fix our mind on HIM,
Surrender our lives to HIM,
Enlightening one another of HIS greatness
Speaking of HIM
Remain contented and take delight in HIM
RESULT: HE showers HIS grace, dispels ignorance, and gives wisdom
10. 11 You are the transcendent Eternal. the Supreme Abode and the greatest purifier;all the seers speak of you as the eternal divine Purusha, the primal Deity, unborn and all pervading
10. 12-13 You are the transcendental Eternal, the supreme Abode and the greatest purifier; all the seers speak of you as the eternal divine Purusha, the primal Deity, unborn and all pervading. Likewise speak the celestial sage Narada, sages Asita and Devala and great sage Vyasa
10. 14 Krsna, I believe as true all that you tell me, Lord, neither demons nor gods are aware of your manifestation through sport
10. 15 O Creator of beings,O Ruler of creatures, god of gods, the Lord of the universe, O Supreme Purusha, You alone know what You are by Yourself.
10. 16 Therefore, You alone can describe in full Your divine glories, whereby You stand pervading all these worlds.
10. 17 O Master of Yoga, through what process of continuous meditation shall I know You? And in what particular forms, O Lord, are you to be meditated upon by me?
10. 18 Krsna, tell me in detail Your Power of Yoga and Your Glory; for I know no satiety in hearing Your nectar-like words
PURPORT:
Arjuna by now knows HIS Supreme greatness
HE alone can explain Himself about Himself
Arjuna wants to know forms of Lord to meditate upon.
10. 19 Arjuna, now I shall tell you my conspicuous divine glories, for there is no limit to MY magnitude
PURPORT:
This means there are inconspicuous glories which are not told here. and more important, there is no limit to HIS magnitude. Now list all that HE has done to improve our situation in the last limitless centuries.
How fire came into existence and how later it was tamed and put into a box called matchbox!
Where was electricity for centuries? and where exactly it is now also?
Where was Internet and why we can't live without it for a few hours now, although we lived with out it for centuries?
How could camera take photos from a distance of 12+ miles? No 12+Mn miles, and to boot it the camera was travelling in space at tremendous speed to photograph distant stars.
When we say this is not possible, HE shows to us (remember 'I am the intelligence of the intelligent') greater and unimagined things are possible.
Imagine 100 yrs ago these: Green peace movement, no smoking areas, Pollution control, Consumer rights, 80yr old running marathon, African American as President...No limits to HIS magnitude. HE is the Science, technology....everything. Science is not against HIM. HE is Science.
10. 20 I am the Universal Self seated in the heart of all beings. So I alone am the beginning and middle and also the end of all beings
PURPORT:
HE is in you and me and in the wife you scold and every lamb we kill. Our fountain of compassion can ooze forth, and we realize cruelty is not HIS way.
We can invoke HIM in our heart, for HE is never away from us. The Great Realized souls have no need to go anywhere looking for Lord. They see HIM where their eyes fall, and see in that HIS miracles operating.
Now we know, HE is in us as our soul, our intelligent, our mind, our glory, our austerity our every pore, sinew, our tear, our laughter.
10.21-39 HIS conspicuous glories are enumerated. The best or best liked one in each category.
10. 40 There is no limit to MY divine manifestations. This is only a brief description by ME of the extent of MY glory.
PURPORT:
In HIS world and Universe, anything can happen, by HIS will. It is always for the general good of all, including the wicked! Future HE works out for the benefit of good and poor, distraught and deprived, meek and humble; Even for those who did not appeal in human language, like plants, animals, vanishing species, atmosphere. His compassion and power is limitless, beyond our thoughts. What HE will do in the centuries ahead becomes clear to Jnani who gets established in HIM.
10.41 Every such being as is glorious, brilliant and powerful, know that to be part manifestation of MY glory.
Don Brad man to little master, the blaster and Gambir.....more to come from dark corners of little villages
Each decade he keeps sending the most handsome and World beauties only to surpass them in next decade.
If you thought of a Nightingale of India, he will bring for playback 100s of them showing HIS power to baffle.
Scientists and greater Newtons, Einsteins, Hawkins, Gandhi, Vinobha, Amte, Pandurang Shashtri like streams of gold coming out of Divine reservoir.
If Wealthy hoard wealth, HE creates from street Opulent to do HIS work of service to poor. He alone creates new sytems of thought, be it communism, socialism capitalism and trashes them when they do not serve.
My friend, we are eternally living in a Magic world of Hidden Magician, showing us miracles in millions around us daily and yet making us not see those;
Do we see how the huge earth, with all its buildings and population, and revolves daily on its axis and also moves around the sun, and yet tea in our cup does not spill out, nor we get a reeling sensation of spin. We do not even recognise this miracle taking place each nano second!
10.42 Or what will you gain by knowing all this in detail, Arjuna ? Suffice it to say that I stand holding this entire universe by a fraction of My Yogic Power.
DEDICATION: This chapter on Lord's Vibhooti is dedicated to most Rev. Ralph Thomas Griffith Hochkin whose translation in verse form, of Valmiki Ramayana remains unexcellable(for the Lord like HIS vibhootis,Hanuman, Tulsidas, has kept them unexcelled and unexcellable).
R T Hochkin's death centenary falls in 2010, before which we propose to distribute copies of his translation to colleges and high schools and residential schools like 575 central Govt Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas, the latter in themselves are vibhootis among residential schools , may be IITs, NITs and IIMs libraries.
Chapter 9
(Revision 02 Oct 20 09)
BHAGAVAD GITA
CHAPTER 09
9. 1 Going to tell you who is free from jealousy, the most important secret, Knowledge and its Practice, knowing which you will be liberated from the evil(of worldly existence)
9. 2 This knowledge is sovereign science and sovereign secret, holy, excellent, directly enjoyable, virtuous, easy to practise and imperishable
9. 3 People having no faith in this Dharma, failing to reach ME, revolve in the path of world of death
PURPORT:
Free from jealousy means, free from ego, I am body etc feeling; which means someone who does not start comparing oneself to the world around.
Such a person is fit to receive the Sovereign Knowledge.
Royal secret means a secret known only to topmost few people in the court of the King, something which cannot be disclosed to all and sundry
In a word, answer to all our problems and royal highway to Realization
Don't believe? Fine. such of these fail to reach HIM and revolve in the cycle of birth and death. Disbelief is expensive. All our education from birth is based on belief!
9. 4 This whole universe is permeated by ME, as unmanifest Divinity, and all beings rest in ME, I am not in them(as visible divinity.)
9. 5 No, all those beings abide not in ME; but look at the wonderful power of MY Yoga. Though the sustainer and Creator of all beings, Myself in reality dwells not(theoretically) in them.
9. 6 The ever present Air in ether moves everywhere; likewise know that all beings abide in ME
9. 7 During Final dissolution, all enter MY Prakriti; at the beginning of creation, I send them forth again.
9. 8 Wielding My Nature I release, again and again, multitude of beings subject to the influence of their own nature.
9. 9 Those actions do not bind ME, Unattached as I am to such actions.
9. 10 Presided by ME,the Nature brings forth creation of sentient and insentient beings. It is due to this cause the world revolves.
PURPORT:
Why we should trust what the Lord said of Sovereign Knowledge and Royal secret ? Who is HE?
Shlokas 4-10 give HIS vastness, unlimited powers, omniscience, omnipotence and omnipresence.
He now tells about how HIS mysterious Maya operates and baffles our powers of comprehension " Universe is permeated by ME, all rest in ME, I am not in them." In next shloka # 5, HE says, "No, they do not abide in ME, Look at my wonderful divine Yoga, Myself, in reality dwells not in them!"
8th shloka makes it clear, according to our own nature, looks like catch22 situation. Not so, 'will' is gvien, road map is given, a number of times. Responsibility for my change is only on me.
9. 11 Fools, not knowing my supreme nature, think of ME low, as having assumed a human form
9. 12 Those bewildered persons with vain hopes, futile actions and fruitless knowledge have embraced a fiendish, demoniacal and delusive nature
PURPORT:
Reading the meaning of these shlokas, we start looking for fools, Ravana, etc among our relatives or friends..
No, HE is talking about you and me, because it is we who have
Vain hopes,(name, fame and wealth will make us happy finally!)
Futile actions: actions without Viveka; (without satsangh no viveka- Tulsidas);Look at the 100's of wasteful outdated and modern gaudy ceremonies.
Futile knowledge: from 100s of newspapers and magazines and #1 best seller Listed novels that we read, are all knowledge which take us away from the Lord and rivet us to sense pleasures
9. 13 However, Mahatmas being of divine nature worship with single pointed mind, knowing ME to be imperishable and the source of all lives
9. 14 Constantly glorifying ME, striving for Realization, those devotees of steadfast mind, identifying with ME prostrate and worship ME.
9. 15 Others worship ME with Sacrifice(spreading) of Knowledge, some in themselves and some other in Universal form with faces(forms) everywhere.
PURPORT:
Who are the great souls;
not the advertised ones,
nor the elected ones, nor by popular opinion on SMS poll,
nor the known vested interest sponsored, not the spiritual Gurus floating around
the three shlokas describe these Mahatmas, and generally it is always presumed to be the other satsanghi and not me!
these mahatmas are unsung, unpraised, often unknown, simple, living in poverty an unlettered often. You can see some of them in Maharashtra
On Ashad Ekadasi day or other days too, you will find them on the lines to visit Vittal at Pandarpur, or Aalandi or Ganagapur, or the mumbai's varkhari dabbavalas
9. 16 I am the Vedic riutual, the sacrifice, the offering to the departed. I am the medicine, the mantra,the ghee, the sacred fire, and the act of offering oblations to fire.
9. 17 I am the sustainer, and ruler of this Universe, its father mother, its grandfather, the one worth knowing, the purifier, the sacred syllable OM, the Vedas Rik, Saama, Yajus
9. 18 I am the Supreme Goal, supporter,lord, witness,abode, refuge,well wisher seeking no return, origin and end, resting place, store house, and imperishable seed.
9. 19 I radiate heat as the sun, hold back as send forth rain, I am immortality, and death. Even so, I am being and non-being both
PURPORT:
Who is this Lord? everything you can think of, and beyond your thoughts
Where is HE: everywhere you can think of, and where your mind cannot go.
The goal, refuge, supporter, well wisher, origin ... think of more words, HE is that and more too .
Also doer of everything which we cannot do and which cannot imagine. 50-100 yrs ago did you imagine 100s of items you are using and you cannot live without SMS :)
9. 20 Those who perform action with some interested motive, as laid down in the three Vedas and drink the sap of the soma plant, and have thus been purged of the sin, worshipping Me through sacrifices, seek access to heaven; attaining Indra's paradise as the result of their virtuous deeds, they enjoy the celestial pleasures of gods in heaven.
9. 21 Having enjoyed the extensive heavens, they return to this world of mortals when merits are exhausted. Thus devoted to the the ritual with interested motive, recommended by the three Vedas (as the means of attaining heavenly bliss) and seeking worldly enjoyments, they repeatedly come and go forever.
PURPORT:
Actions with selfish motive bring us back rebirth.
This means even the great Indra has to be born again.
When we do rituals with a desire, we forget these shlokas. and imagine we did a great 'spiritual' act :)
Nothing wrong in asking for immediate desires,
but witness how you are getting trapped into an avalanche of desires
And keep performing rituals all of which will bring you back to unknown strange new families as now yours! (if you are now an Iyyengar, imagine yourself being born as an Iyyer or chettiyar)
and some country as yours, some language as yours (all of which in this life you hate)
9. 22 The devotees, who think of ME to the exclusion of all and worship ME, to those ever united with ME, I bring full security and personally attend to their needs.
9. 23 Those who worship other gods with faith, worship ME alone, although improper method.
9. 24 For I am the enjoyer, and lord of all sacrifices; but they do not know ME in reality(as the Supreme Deity) hence they fall.
9. 25 Worshippers of gods go to manes, worshippers of manes will go to manes, those who adore the spirits, go to spirits, and those who worship ME, come to Me alone.
PURPORT:
An assurance to take care of you: conditions are simple:
Think of ME to the exclusion of every other desire. Worship ME, Ever united with ME
Worshiping of other gods is mainly for desires. Rebirth cannot be avoided because of non Knowledge of Reality
In short, Worship Lord without desires; Acquire correct Knowledge from Gita and other scriptures.
9. 26 Whoever offers ME with love, a leaf,flower,a fruit, even water, I accept that which has been offered with a sinless mind.
9. 27 What you do, or eat, or sacrifice, give, or do penance, offer it all to ME.
9. 28 With your mind established in the yoga of renunciation, you will be freed from the bond of Karma in the shape of good and evil consequences. Freed from them, you will attain ME.
9. 29 I am equally present in all. None hateful or dear to ME. However, those who worship ME with devotion, abide in ME, I too stand revealed in them.
PURPORT:
Lord is easily pleased with a drop of water or a leaf, or simply by mental offering.
We give our mind to our spouse, to boss, to children, to all and sundry, and also offer one fruit to Lord. Not happy!
He wants my mind, my intellect, my thoughts, my intention, my heart and not my any other thing
9. 30 Even if a vilest sinner worships ME with exclusive devotion, he should be considered as saint; for he has rightly resolved.
9. 31 Soon he becomes virtuous, and secures lasting peace. Know it for certain, MY devotee never falls.
9. 32 Women(the deprived and down trodden class), Vaisyas, Sudras(labour, uneducated, uninformed), and those born of even of sinful source,(illegitimate, illicit, red light) taking refuge in ME, they too attain the Supreme Goal.
9. 33 How much more, then holy Brahmins and royal sages devoted to ME. Therefore, having obtained this joyless and transient human life, constantly worship ME.
PURPORT:
Intent of exclusive devotion today and now is vital not one's past sins.
The deprived, the distraught, the weak, the meek, the women, all can reach him;
Th message is also for all evangelists, speakers on scriptures, priests, and those who behave as if the Lord is their private property and they know better than anyone else, the Trustees of temples, and other religious places. Those who do not know scriptures, cannot read, cannot afford to do anything can reach HIM still, with one single sincere prayer of their soul.
9. 34 Fix your mind on ME, Be devoted to ME, worship ME and make obeisance to ME, thus linking yourself with ME and entirely depending on ME, you shall come to ME.
PURPORT:
The conclusion and essence of Chapter
The Supreme Secret and the Royal Knowledge
Mind, Intellect, Dependence, identifying totally, worship, obeisance, devotion
Dedication: To One who was reading this chapter daily, who taught me to cry in prayers, who suffered for me, whom I could have loved more, my mother
BHAGAVAD GITA
CHAPTER 09
9. 1 Going to tell you who is free from jealousy, the most important secret, Knowledge and its Practice, knowing which you will be liberated from the evil(of worldly existence)
9. 2 This knowledge is sovereign science and sovereign secret, holy, excellent, directly enjoyable, virtuous, easy to practise and imperishable
9. 3 People having no faith in this Dharma, failing to reach ME, revolve in the path of world of death
PURPORT:
Free from jealousy means, free from ego, I am body etc feeling; which means someone who does not start comparing oneself to the world around.
Such a person is fit to receive the Sovereign Knowledge.
Royal secret means a secret known only to topmost few people in the court of the King, something which cannot be disclosed to all and sundry
In a word, answer to all our problems and royal highway to Realization
Don't believe? Fine. such of these fail to reach HIM and revolve in the cycle of birth and death. Disbelief is expensive. All our education from birth is based on belief!
9. 4 This whole universe is permeated by ME, as unmanifest Divinity, and all beings rest in ME, I am not in them(as visible divinity.)
9. 5 No, all those beings abide not in ME; but look at the wonderful power of MY Yoga. Though the sustainer and Creator of all beings, Myself in reality dwells not(theoretically) in them.
9. 6 The ever present Air in ether moves everywhere; likewise know that all beings abide in ME
9. 7 During Final dissolution, all enter MY Prakriti; at the beginning of creation, I send them forth again.
9. 8 Wielding My Nature I release, again and again, multitude of beings subject to the influence of their own nature.
9. 9 Those actions do not bind ME, Unattached as I am to such actions.
9. 10 Presided by ME,the Nature brings forth creation of sentient and insentient beings. It is due to this cause the world revolves.
PURPORT:
Why we should trust what the Lord said of Sovereign Knowledge and Royal secret ? Who is HE?
Shlokas 4-10 give HIS vastness, unlimited powers, omniscience, omnipotence and omnipresence.
He now tells about how HIS mysterious Maya operates and baffles our powers of comprehension " Universe is permeated by ME, all rest in ME, I am not in them." In next shloka # 5, HE says, "No, they do not abide in ME, Look at my wonderful divine Yoga, Myself, in reality dwells not in them!"
8th shloka makes it clear, according to our own nature, looks like catch22 situation. Not so, 'will' is gvien, road map is given, a number of times. Responsibility for my change is only on me.
9. 11 Fools, not knowing my supreme nature, think of ME low, as having assumed a human form
9. 12 Those bewildered persons with vain hopes, futile actions and fruitless knowledge have embraced a fiendish, demoniacal and delusive nature
PURPORT:
Reading the meaning of these shlokas, we start looking for fools, Ravana, etc among our relatives or friends..
No, HE is talking about you and me, because it is we who have
Vain hopes,(name, fame and wealth will make us happy finally!)
Futile actions: actions without Viveka; (without satsangh no viveka- Tulsidas);Look at the 100's of wasteful outdated and modern gaudy ceremonies.
Futile knowledge: from 100s of newspapers and magazines and #1 best seller Listed novels that we read, are all knowledge which take us away from the Lord and rivet us to sense pleasures
9. 13 However, Mahatmas being of divine nature worship with single pointed mind, knowing ME to be imperishable and the source of all lives
9. 14 Constantly glorifying ME, striving for Realization, those devotees of steadfast mind, identifying with ME prostrate and worship ME.
9. 15 Others worship ME with Sacrifice(spreading) of Knowledge, some in themselves and some other in Universal form with faces(forms) everywhere.
PURPORT:
Who are the great souls;
not the advertised ones,
nor the elected ones, nor by popular opinion on SMS poll,
nor the known vested interest sponsored, not the spiritual Gurus floating around
the three shlokas describe these Mahatmas, and generally it is always presumed to be the other satsanghi and not me!
these mahatmas are unsung, unpraised, often unknown, simple, living in poverty an unlettered often. You can see some of them in Maharashtra
On Ashad Ekadasi day or other days too, you will find them on the lines to visit Vittal at Pandarpur, or Aalandi or Ganagapur, or the mumbai's varkhari dabbavalas
9. 16 I am the Vedic riutual, the sacrifice, the offering to the departed. I am the medicine, the mantra,the ghee, the sacred fire, and the act of offering oblations to fire.
9. 17 I am the sustainer, and ruler of this Universe, its father mother, its grandfather, the one worth knowing, the purifier, the sacred syllable OM, the Vedas Rik, Saama, Yajus
9. 18 I am the Supreme Goal, supporter,lord, witness,abode, refuge,well wisher seeking no return, origin and end, resting place, store house, and imperishable seed.
9. 19 I radiate heat as the sun, hold back as send forth rain, I am immortality, and death. Even so, I am being and non-being both
PURPORT:
Who is this Lord? everything you can think of, and beyond your thoughts
Where is HE: everywhere you can think of, and where your mind cannot go.
The goal, refuge, supporter, well wisher, origin ... think of more words, HE is that and more too .
Also doer of everything which we cannot do and which cannot imagine. 50-100 yrs ago did you imagine 100s of items you are using and you cannot live without SMS :)
9. 20 Those who perform action with some interested motive, as laid down in the three Vedas and drink the sap of the soma plant, and have thus been purged of the sin, worshipping Me through sacrifices, seek access to heaven; attaining Indra's paradise as the result of their virtuous deeds, they enjoy the celestial pleasures of gods in heaven.
9. 21 Having enjoyed the extensive heavens, they return to this world of mortals when merits are exhausted. Thus devoted to the the ritual with interested motive, recommended by the three Vedas (as the means of attaining heavenly bliss) and seeking worldly enjoyments, they repeatedly come and go forever.
PURPORT:
Actions with selfish motive bring us back rebirth.
This means even the great Indra has to be born again.
When we do rituals with a desire, we forget these shlokas. and imagine we did a great 'spiritual' act :)
Nothing wrong in asking for immediate desires,
but witness how you are getting trapped into an avalanche of desires
And keep performing rituals all of which will bring you back to unknown strange new families as now yours! (if you are now an Iyyengar, imagine yourself being born as an Iyyer or chettiyar)
and some country as yours, some language as yours (all of which in this life you hate)
9. 22 The devotees, who think of ME to the exclusion of all and worship ME, to those ever united with ME, I bring full security and personally attend to their needs.
9. 23 Those who worship other gods with faith, worship ME alone, although improper method.
9. 24 For I am the enjoyer, and lord of all sacrifices; but they do not know ME in reality(as the Supreme Deity) hence they fall.
9. 25 Worshippers of gods go to manes, worshippers of manes will go to manes, those who adore the spirits, go to spirits, and those who worship ME, come to Me alone.
PURPORT:
An assurance to take care of you: conditions are simple:
Think of ME to the exclusion of every other desire. Worship ME, Ever united with ME
Worshiping of other gods is mainly for desires. Rebirth cannot be avoided because of non Knowledge of Reality
In short, Worship Lord without desires; Acquire correct Knowledge from Gita and other scriptures.
9. 26 Whoever offers ME with love, a leaf,flower,a fruit, even water, I accept that which has been offered with a sinless mind.
9. 27 What you do, or eat, or sacrifice, give, or do penance, offer it all to ME.
9. 28 With your mind established in the yoga of renunciation, you will be freed from the bond of Karma in the shape of good and evil consequences. Freed from them, you will attain ME.
9. 29 I am equally present in all. None hateful or dear to ME. However, those who worship ME with devotion, abide in ME, I too stand revealed in them.
PURPORT:
Lord is easily pleased with a drop of water or a leaf, or simply by mental offering.
We give our mind to our spouse, to boss, to children, to all and sundry, and also offer one fruit to Lord. Not happy!
He wants my mind, my intellect, my thoughts, my intention, my heart and not my any other thing
9. 30 Even if a vilest sinner worships ME with exclusive devotion, he should be considered as saint; for he has rightly resolved.
9. 31 Soon he becomes virtuous, and secures lasting peace. Know it for certain, MY devotee never falls.
9. 32 Women(the deprived and down trodden class), Vaisyas, Sudras(labour, uneducated, uninformed), and those born of even of sinful source,(illegitimate, illicit, red light) taking refuge in ME, they too attain the Supreme Goal.
9. 33 How much more, then holy Brahmins and royal sages devoted to ME. Therefore, having obtained this joyless and transient human life, constantly worship ME.
PURPORT:
Intent of exclusive devotion today and now is vital not one's past sins.
The deprived, the distraught, the weak, the meek, the women, all can reach him;
Th message is also for all evangelists, speakers on scriptures, priests, and those who behave as if the Lord is their private property and they know better than anyone else, the Trustees of temples, and other religious places. Those who do not know scriptures, cannot read, cannot afford to do anything can reach HIM still, with one single sincere prayer of their soul.
9. 34 Fix your mind on ME, Be devoted to ME, worship ME and make obeisance to ME, thus linking yourself with ME and entirely depending on ME, you shall come to ME.
PURPORT:
The conclusion and essence of Chapter
The Supreme Secret and the Royal Knowledge
Mind, Intellect, Dependence, identifying totally, worship, obeisance, devotion
Dedication: To One who was reading this chapter daily, who taught me to cry in prayers, who suffered for me, whom I could have loved more, my mother
Chapter 8
(Revision 01 Feb 01 09)
BHAGAVAD GITA
CHAPTER 08
8. 1 Arjuna asks, what is that Brahma, Adhyatma, Karma, Adhibhuta, Adhidaiva
8. 2 What is Adhiyajna, how you are to be realized at the time of death by those of steadfast mind
8. 3 Lord says, Supreme Indestructible is Brahma, One’s own self is Adhyatma, the discharge of spirits which brings forth beings is Karma
8. 4 All perishable objects are Adhibhuta; The (shining) Purusha is Adhidaiva. I, Myself
dwelling as the inner witness is Adhiyajna
PURPORT:
6 terms are defined.
1. The terms Brahma or Brahman, Adhidaiva, Adhiyajna, Purusha are all signifying that great Indestructible whom we call God.
2. Adhubhuta is the sum total of all that changes forms and hence called perishable or Matter one aspect of Prakrati
3. Adhyatma is the self which is associated with Jiva; or Self identifying with body. It is called the ignorant
4. Karma is that which brings forth beings based on their actions in earlier life.
8. 5 He who departs from the body, thinking of Me alone even at the time of death, attains my state. There is no doubt about it.
8. 6 Thinking of whatever entity one leaves the body at the time of death, that and that alone one attains, being ever absorbed in its thought
8. 7 Therefore think of Me at all times and fight. With mind and reason set on Me, you will doubtless come to Me
PURPORT:
Constantly think of Him, so that one remembers Him (to the exclusion of everything else) at the time of death. Naturally, what we always think comes to the mind at the time of death
.
1. Think of Him before sleep, so you remain with Him in sleep; in death while at sleep
2. Think of Him in hospital, or while ill, so that you think of Him while going into coma.
3. Think of Him while driving, so that if a serious accident takes place, you will have thought of Him prior to death.
4. Think of Him in all probable dangers like fire, floods, swimming, in dangerous sports
5. Think of Him while yawning, while coughing, sneezing,
6. While handling dangerous weapons, climbing heights,
7. Think of Him before you leave the house, while you board the plane, while you get down from the plane, before we eat and when you get up after eating. Before and after mating.
8. Learn to thank Him every night and every morning while waking up
9. When all festivities take place, on happy occasions, on visiting departed souls, on shraaddha days, on all sankrantis, samkashtis, all days of the week
10. All this will get HIM into you and get you into HIM
11. Look at Arabs, and other devout Muslims ya Allah, subhaanallah, maashaa-alla, al-hamdullillah,Khuda-hafiz at every juncture. All religions advocate this, Jai Sri Krishna, Hare Krishna, Hari Bol. Wahe Guru, Sat-Sri-akal, Ram-ram, jai Sri Ram
8. 8 With mind disciplined though yoga in the form of practice of meditation and thinking of nothing else, who is constantly engaged in contemplation of God, attains the supremely effulgent Divine Purusha.
8. 9 He who contemplates on the all Wise, ageless Being, the Ruler of all, Subtler than the Subtle, the Universal Sustain-er, possessing a form beyond human conception, refulgent like the sun and far beyond the darkness of ignorance.
8. 10 Having by the power of Yoga firmly held the life breath in the space between the two eyebrows even at the time of death, and then contemplating on God, with a steadfast mind, full of devotion, he reaches verily that supreme divine Purusha (God)
PURPORT:
Prerequisites for meditation on the Lord. Mental discipline, meditation, constant contemplation,
Lord is described in a way we comprehend that HE is different from us all
Partly described here what to do at the time of death.(described fully in the next Purport)
(Not meeting all relatives, friends and saying ta-ta, bye bye, forgive me for faults, where is my will, where is my purse or Rolax watch - all such thoughts and acts are for materialists and atheists)
8. 11 I shall tell you briefly about that Supreme goal, which the knowers of Veda term as Indestructible, which striving recluses free from passion enter, and desiring which the celibates practice Brahmacharya(continence)
8. 12-13 Having closed all the doors of the senses, and firmly holding the mind in the cavity of the heart, and then fixing the life breath in the head, and thus remaining steadfast in Yogic concentration on God, he who leaves the body and departs from uttering the one Indestructible Brahma, OM, and dwelling on Me in My absolute aspect, reaches the supreme goal.
PURPORT:
Lord as Indestructible and favourite of the recluses and Celibates
Yogic concentration at the time of death. This need to be done while living or today and now.
Closing eyes and shutting other sense organs by focusing on each of them for a few seconds and tell each of them that you are now withdrawing your mind from each of them,
feel the mind going deep with in your (spiritual) heart
Life breath or prana visualize has been brought to the moordhani(top of the head)
Chanting OM slowly and steadily, thinking of Brahman(the absolute and formless aspect)
leaves the body. Such a soul reaches the Supreme
8. 14 Whosoever always and constantly thinks of Me with undivided mind, to that Yogi ever absorbed in Me I am easily attainable
PURPORT:
See Purport above for shloka 8-7
8. 15 Great souls, who have attained the highest perfection, having come to Me, are no more subjected to rebirth, which is the abode of sorrow and transient by nature.
PURPORT:
World is abode of sorrow(dhukhaalayam) and fleeting, temporary,(ashaashwatam). Alas! If we keep chanting these two words for one week to implant them strongly in our subconscious, we can start looking at all our anxieties and worries calmly and without any BP, adrenaline gushing.
Thereafter, it becomes easy for us to see through our worthless desires and concentrate on Lord for longer.
8. 16 All the worlds from Brahmaloka downwards are liable to appear and reappear. But attaining Me there is no rebirth
8. 17 Those yogis who know from realization Brahma’s day as covering a thousand Mahayugas, and so his night another thousand Mahayugas, know the reality about Time
8. 18 All embodied beings emanate from the Unmanifest(Brahma’s subtle body) at the coming of the cosmic day. At the cosmic night, they merge into the same subtle body of Brahma known as the unmanifest
8. 19 The multitude of beings , born again and again, is dissolved under compulsion of its nature at the coming of the cosmic night, and rise again at the commencement of the cosmic day
PURPORT:
One mahayuga is equal to four yugas (Krita, Treta, Dwapara and Kali )= 4.320,000= 4.32Mn humanyrs
Brahmas 24 hrs = 2000 Mahayugas= 8,640,000,000= 8.640 B.yrs Brahma's one year=365x8.640B = 3153.60billion human yrs
For every 4.320B human years(Brahma's one day of 12hrs) beings are born and live.
At the end of Brahman this day, all go into Brahma's unmanifest and remain there for 4,320B human yrs.
At the end of which the beings are again born according to their Karma(shloka 3 Purport item 4)
With 6 billion people in the world, in one life time of Brahma(3153.6Billion human yrs), each person living a maximum of 100yrs, you find each of us have had blood relation with every human being and creature on earth.
We have been mother, father, child, grandchild, grandparent, pet dog, cat, servant, maid,,grave digger, king queen, male female, plants, pig, fish(which we eat and being eaten :).
All this suggests till we liberate ourselves, we remain a fertilizer or eating matter, cannibals(after properly canned by earth as fertilizer and then plant....) for each other.
Is this this the cup that you take to your lip which was he cup sometime ago and the cup will be lip for someone else later years.
The neck that is proud to wear 'My' gold
Laughs the necklace, which adorned
thousands of necks in centuries past
Oh! my friend, wake up,
muffled drums beat too the grave!
Necklace is busy looking at the next fool!
8. 20 Far beyond this unmanifest there is yet another unmanifest Existence, that Supreme Divine Person, who does not perish even though all beings perish
8. 21 The same unmanifest which has been spoken of as the Indestructible is also called supreme Goal; that again is my Supreme Abode, attaining which they return not to this mortal world.
8. 22 The eternal unmanifest supreme Purusha in whom all beings reside and by whom all this is pervaded, is attainable only through exclusive devotion.
PURPORT:
Akshara(imperishable) paramam(Supreme) Brahman( which is nameless) is described here.
To reach this is the goal of human life.
There is no rebirth reaching here
(This great unmenifest is not outside anywhere, it is in you deep within you, yet ! outside the world of objects where your focus, desire filled activity, attachment to, is now,)
(Once we go outside the World, by seeing the falsity of it, its irrationality, and go within to that unspoken, where words do not reach;subtler than subtle, so near yet so far.....obtained thru exclusive devotion like the beautiful princess you seek with single minded aim.. pine and seek that beloved of yours - and the HE says I am easily attained by devotees who have surrendered their mind and intellect to ME, which is possible when we see the world as dream and wake up widely.
Easy this very day, Difficult for 100 lives too
8. 23 I shall now tell you the time departing when yogis do not return, and also the time departing when they do return
8. 24 The one is that in which all are stationed the effulgent fire-god and the deities over daylight, the bright fortnight, and the six months of the northward course of the sun. Proceeding along that after death Yogis, who have known Brahma, being successively led by the above gods, finally reach Brahma
8. 25 The other path is that wherein are stationed the gods presiding over smoke, night, the dark fortnight, and the six months of the southward course of the sun; the Yogi (devoted to action with an interested motive) taking to this path after death, is led by the above gods, one after the other, and attaining the lustre of the moon(and enjoying the fruits of the meritorious deeds in heaven, returns to this mortal world.
8. 26 For these two paths of the world, the bright and the dark, are considered to be eternal. Proceeding by one of them, one reaches the supreme state from which there is no return; proceeding by the other, one returns to the mortal world; that is becomes subject to birth and death once more.
PURPORT:
These two paths have meaning to some and no meaning to others. They become true if you have total faith in them. If you start reasoning, and doubting then the next shloka explains what you need to do
The next
8. 27 Knowing thus the secret of these tow paths, no Yogi gets deluded. Therefore, at all times be established in yoga in the form of equanimity (strive constantly for my realization.)
PURPORT"
The secret is in faith or in your reason; Both are correct. HE says just go ahead and get established in yoga as described earlier and do not worry about the results( like whether I am dying in Uttarayana or night time or day time) Once you realize you transcend.
On the other hand if you have total faith, and death takes place in Uttarayana(Jan 15 through June 14) your faith gives you the result(shloka 8.5-7)
And if the death takes place in dakshinayana, if you are a jivanmukta shloka 8.27 becomes applicable, if you are not a jivanmukta you will anyway get a better life next time as a yoga brishta and trusting the shlokas 8.25 you will enjoy the heavenly pleasures for all the merits you acquired.
Thus you find seeming archaic shlokas(against a so called scientific background), acquire a powerful meaning.
8. 28 The Yogi realizing this profound truth, doubtless transcends all the rewards, ascribed in the scriptures, to the study of the Vedas, as well as to the performance of sacrifices, austerities and charities, and attains the beginning-less supreme state
PURPORT:
Transcending rewards means the aim is not acquiring merit,(which automatically gets credited to your account without your wanting also, more so-bonus points), the aim is liberation from cycle of birth and death.
Vedas mention various sacrifices, austerities, charities the purpose of all of which is fix us in the realm of God and secondly to purify our minds, these are in the realm of Apara Vidya;
However, Vedas also mention Upanishads which tell us The Truth of Reality, The Great Knowledge or Para Vidya. Humans have a resistance to break traditions, rituals and customs. this resistance is found even in using intelligence. Lord has come up with Lateral thinking and thinking outside he box or ZEN meditation, or conversation, or the sound of one hand to break our thinking patterns
All paths are true. all systems , all religions, all systems of thought are all meaningful, useful and are true at different levels.
Again these levels need not be up and down, superior and inferior. Lord is most merciful, and yet mercurial, most adjustable and yet hard nut to crack.
HE is a puzzle for which answers are given on the same page, right in front of us. but does not allow our adrenaline to ooze, gives lot of distractions of Menaka and Crowns and Thrones. HE smilingly brings in front of us kanakadhara Stotram, asking you to chant, Aditya Hridayam so that you can go after health....
HE is one chess player against whom we have to play. Saint begs to HIM, but his wife who has not time for the Lord, encounters HIM all the time. He makes me poor so that I ineed to yearn for wealth. He likes the chastising of Yashoda, the beaten rice of Sudhamas of this world, and not my Silver Tray full of best fruits, HE likes the Kannapa's bilva torn bilva leaves thrown without respect, not all our dress-purity has any impact on HIM.
You find HE is the Maya, inexplicable, unfathomable, unattainable, un-understandble, most merciless, never follows any rules of conduct, professional cheater, gambler you name.... it is these words of chastisement HE loves for rarely anyone other than Gopis of Vrindavan could say those.
DEDICATION: Commentaries are dedicated to Singapore Satsanghis and others.
BHAGAVAD GITA
CHAPTER 08
8. 1 Arjuna asks, what is that Brahma, Adhyatma, Karma, Adhibhuta, Adhidaiva
8. 2 What is Adhiyajna, how you are to be realized at the time of death by those of steadfast mind
8. 3 Lord says, Supreme Indestructible is Brahma, One’s own self is Adhyatma, the discharge of spirits which brings forth beings is Karma
8. 4 All perishable objects are Adhibhuta; The (shining) Purusha is Adhidaiva. I, Myself
dwelling as the inner witness is Adhiyajna
PURPORT:
6 terms are defined.
1. The terms Brahma or Brahman, Adhidaiva, Adhiyajna, Purusha are all signifying that great Indestructible whom we call God.
2. Adhubhuta is the sum total of all that changes forms and hence called perishable or Matter one aspect of Prakrati
3. Adhyatma is the self which is associated with Jiva; or Self identifying with body. It is called the ignorant
4. Karma is that which brings forth beings based on their actions in earlier life.
8. 5 He who departs from the body, thinking of Me alone even at the time of death, attains my state. There is no doubt about it.
8. 6 Thinking of whatever entity one leaves the body at the time of death, that and that alone one attains, being ever absorbed in its thought
8. 7 Therefore think of Me at all times and fight. With mind and reason set on Me, you will doubtless come to Me
PURPORT:
Constantly think of Him, so that one remembers Him (to the exclusion of everything else) at the time of death. Naturally, what we always think comes to the mind at the time of death
.
1. Think of Him before sleep, so you remain with Him in sleep; in death while at sleep
2. Think of Him in hospital, or while ill, so that you think of Him while going into coma.
3. Think of Him while driving, so that if a serious accident takes place, you will have thought of Him prior to death.
4. Think of Him in all probable dangers like fire, floods, swimming, in dangerous sports
5. Think of Him while yawning, while coughing, sneezing,
6. While handling dangerous weapons, climbing heights,
7. Think of Him before you leave the house, while you board the plane, while you get down from the plane, before we eat and when you get up after eating. Before and after mating.
8. Learn to thank Him every night and every morning while waking up
9. When all festivities take place, on happy occasions, on visiting departed souls, on shraaddha days, on all sankrantis, samkashtis, all days of the week
10. All this will get HIM into you and get you into HIM
11. Look at Arabs, and other devout Muslims ya Allah, subhaanallah, maashaa-alla, al-hamdullillah,Khuda-hafiz at every juncture. All religions advocate this, Jai Sri Krishna, Hare Krishna, Hari Bol. Wahe Guru, Sat-Sri-akal, Ram-ram, jai Sri Ram
8. 8 With mind disciplined though yoga in the form of practice of meditation and thinking of nothing else, who is constantly engaged in contemplation of God, attains the supremely effulgent Divine Purusha.
8. 9 He who contemplates on the all Wise, ageless Being, the Ruler of all, Subtler than the Subtle, the Universal Sustain-er, possessing a form beyond human conception, refulgent like the sun and far beyond the darkness of ignorance.
8. 10 Having by the power of Yoga firmly held the life breath in the space between the two eyebrows even at the time of death, and then contemplating on God, with a steadfast mind, full of devotion, he reaches verily that supreme divine Purusha (God)
PURPORT:
Prerequisites for meditation on the Lord. Mental discipline, meditation, constant contemplation,
Lord is described in a way we comprehend that HE is different from us all
Partly described here what to do at the time of death.(described fully in the next Purport)
(Not meeting all relatives, friends and saying ta-ta, bye bye, forgive me for faults, where is my will, where is my purse or Rolax watch - all such thoughts and acts are for materialists and atheists)
8. 11 I shall tell you briefly about that Supreme goal, which the knowers of Veda term as Indestructible, which striving recluses free from passion enter, and desiring which the celibates practice Brahmacharya(continence)
8. 12-13 Having closed all the doors of the senses, and firmly holding the mind in the cavity of the heart, and then fixing the life breath in the head, and thus remaining steadfast in Yogic concentration on God, he who leaves the body and departs from uttering the one Indestructible Brahma, OM, and dwelling on Me in My absolute aspect, reaches the supreme goal.
PURPORT:
Lord as Indestructible and favourite of the recluses and Celibates
Yogic concentration at the time of death. This need to be done while living or today and now.
Closing eyes and shutting other sense organs by focusing on each of them for a few seconds and tell each of them that you are now withdrawing your mind from each of them,
feel the mind going deep with in your (spiritual) heart
Life breath or prana visualize has been brought to the moordhani(top of the head)
Chanting OM slowly and steadily, thinking of Brahman(the absolute and formless aspect)
leaves the body. Such a soul reaches the Supreme
8. 14 Whosoever always and constantly thinks of Me with undivided mind, to that Yogi ever absorbed in Me I am easily attainable
PURPORT:
See Purport above for shloka 8-7
8. 15 Great souls, who have attained the highest perfection, having come to Me, are no more subjected to rebirth, which is the abode of sorrow and transient by nature.
PURPORT:
World is abode of sorrow(dhukhaalayam) and fleeting, temporary,(ashaashwatam). Alas! If we keep chanting these two words for one week to implant them strongly in our subconscious, we can start looking at all our anxieties and worries calmly and without any BP, adrenaline gushing.
Thereafter, it becomes easy for us to see through our worthless desires and concentrate on Lord for longer.
8. 16 All the worlds from Brahmaloka downwards are liable to appear and reappear. But attaining Me there is no rebirth
8. 17 Those yogis who know from realization Brahma’s day as covering a thousand Mahayugas, and so his night another thousand Mahayugas, know the reality about Time
8. 18 All embodied beings emanate from the Unmanifest(Brahma’s subtle body) at the coming of the cosmic day. At the cosmic night, they merge into the same subtle body of Brahma known as the unmanifest
8. 19 The multitude of beings , born again and again, is dissolved under compulsion of its nature at the coming of the cosmic night, and rise again at the commencement of the cosmic day
PURPORT:
One mahayuga is equal to four yugas (Krita, Treta, Dwapara and Kali )= 4.320,000= 4.32Mn humanyrs
Brahmas 24 hrs = 2000 Mahayugas= 8,640,000,000= 8.640 B.yrs Brahma's one year=365x8.640B = 3153.60billion human yrs
For every 4.320B human years(Brahma's one day of 12hrs) beings are born and live.
At the end of Brahman this day, all go into Brahma's unmanifest and remain there for 4,320B human yrs.
At the end of which the beings are again born according to their Karma(shloka 3 Purport item 4)
With 6 billion people in the world, in one life time of Brahma(3153.6Billion human yrs), each person living a maximum of 100yrs, you find each of us have had blood relation with every human being and creature on earth.
We have been mother, father, child, grandchild, grandparent, pet dog, cat, servant, maid,,grave digger, king queen, male female, plants, pig, fish(which we eat and being eaten :).
All this suggests till we liberate ourselves, we remain a fertilizer or eating matter, cannibals(after properly canned by earth as fertilizer and then plant....) for each other.
Is this this the cup that you take to your lip which was he cup sometime ago and the cup will be lip for someone else later years.
The neck that is proud to wear 'My' gold
Laughs the necklace, which adorned
thousands of necks in centuries past
Oh! my friend, wake up,
muffled drums beat too the grave!
Necklace is busy looking at the next fool!
8. 20 Far beyond this unmanifest there is yet another unmanifest Existence, that Supreme Divine Person, who does not perish even though all beings perish
8. 21 The same unmanifest which has been spoken of as the Indestructible is also called supreme Goal; that again is my Supreme Abode, attaining which they return not to this mortal world.
8. 22 The eternal unmanifest supreme Purusha in whom all beings reside and by whom all this is pervaded, is attainable only through exclusive devotion.
PURPORT:
Akshara(imperishable) paramam(Supreme) Brahman( which is nameless) is described here.
To reach this is the goal of human life.
There is no rebirth reaching here
(This great unmenifest is not outside anywhere, it is in you deep within you, yet ! outside the world of objects where your focus, desire filled activity, attachment to, is now,)
(Once we go outside the World, by seeing the falsity of it, its irrationality, and go within to that unspoken, where words do not reach;subtler than subtle, so near yet so far.....obtained thru exclusive devotion like the beautiful princess you seek with single minded aim.. pine and seek that beloved of yours - and the HE says I am easily attained by devotees who have surrendered their mind and intellect to ME, which is possible when we see the world as dream and wake up widely.
Easy this very day, Difficult for 100 lives too
8. 23 I shall now tell you the time departing when yogis do not return, and also the time departing when they do return
8. 24 The one is that in which all are stationed the effulgent fire-god and the deities over daylight, the bright fortnight, and the six months of the northward course of the sun. Proceeding along that after death Yogis, who have known Brahma, being successively led by the above gods, finally reach Brahma
8. 25 The other path is that wherein are stationed the gods presiding over smoke, night, the dark fortnight, and the six months of the southward course of the sun; the Yogi (devoted to action with an interested motive) taking to this path after death, is led by the above gods, one after the other, and attaining the lustre of the moon(and enjoying the fruits of the meritorious deeds in heaven, returns to this mortal world.
8. 26 For these two paths of the world, the bright and the dark, are considered to be eternal. Proceeding by one of them, one reaches the supreme state from which there is no return; proceeding by the other, one returns to the mortal world; that is becomes subject to birth and death once more.
PURPORT:
These two paths have meaning to some and no meaning to others. They become true if you have total faith in them. If you start reasoning, and doubting then the next shloka explains what you need to do
The next
8. 27 Knowing thus the secret of these tow paths, no Yogi gets deluded. Therefore, at all times be established in yoga in the form of equanimity (strive constantly for my realization.)
PURPORT"
The secret is in faith or in your reason; Both are correct. HE says just go ahead and get established in yoga as described earlier and do not worry about the results( like whether I am dying in Uttarayana or night time or day time) Once you realize you transcend.
On the other hand if you have total faith, and death takes place in Uttarayana(Jan 15 through June 14) your faith gives you the result(shloka 8.5-7)
And if the death takes place in dakshinayana, if you are a jivanmukta shloka 8.27 becomes applicable, if you are not a jivanmukta you will anyway get a better life next time as a yoga brishta and trusting the shlokas 8.25 you will enjoy the heavenly pleasures for all the merits you acquired.
Thus you find seeming archaic shlokas(against a so called scientific background), acquire a powerful meaning.
8. 28 The Yogi realizing this profound truth, doubtless transcends all the rewards, ascribed in the scriptures, to the study of the Vedas, as well as to the performance of sacrifices, austerities and charities, and attains the beginning-less supreme state
PURPORT:
Transcending rewards means the aim is not acquiring merit,(which automatically gets credited to your account without your wanting also, more so-bonus points), the aim is liberation from cycle of birth and death.
Vedas mention various sacrifices, austerities, charities the purpose of all of which is fix us in the realm of God and secondly to purify our minds, these are in the realm of Apara Vidya;
However, Vedas also mention Upanishads which tell us The Truth of Reality, The Great Knowledge or Para Vidya. Humans have a resistance to break traditions, rituals and customs. this resistance is found even in using intelligence. Lord has come up with Lateral thinking and thinking outside he box or ZEN meditation, or conversation, or the sound of one hand to break our thinking patterns
All paths are true. all systems , all religions, all systems of thought are all meaningful, useful and are true at different levels.
Again these levels need not be up and down, superior and inferior. Lord is most merciful, and yet mercurial, most adjustable and yet hard nut to crack.
HE is a puzzle for which answers are given on the same page, right in front of us. but does not allow our adrenaline to ooze, gives lot of distractions of Menaka and Crowns and Thrones. HE smilingly brings in front of us kanakadhara Stotram, asking you to chant, Aditya Hridayam so that you can go after health....
HE is one chess player against whom we have to play. Saint begs to HIM, but his wife who has not time for the Lord, encounters HIM all the time. He makes me poor so that I ineed to yearn for wealth. He likes the chastising of Yashoda, the beaten rice of Sudhamas of this world, and not my Silver Tray full of best fruits, HE likes the Kannapa's bilva torn bilva leaves thrown without respect, not all our dress-purity has any impact on HIM.
You find HE is the Maya, inexplicable, unfathomable, unattainable, un-understandble, most merciless, never follows any rules of conduct, professional cheater, gambler you name.... it is these words of chastisement HE loves for rarely anyone other than Gopis of Vrindavan could say those.
DEDICATION: Commentaries are dedicated to Singapore Satsanghis and others.
Chapter 7
(Revision 01 Jan 30 09)
BHAGAVAD GITA
CHAPTER 07
7. 1 Listen Arjuna, I will tell you, how to know me in entirety and without any doubts, with mind attached to me, with absolute dependence on me.
7. 2 I am unfolding to you completely, the Wisdom(of formless aspect of Mine) and knowledge (of qualified or form aspect of God), knowing which nothing else remains to be known.
7. 3 Hardly one among thousands tries to realize Me, of them too, one rare soul knows me in reality.
PURPORT:
Key points to know the Lord
Mind(with intellect) attached only to HIM
Dependence only on HIM(not on the world, wealth, relatives, education, strength, power, influence)
In short one obsession (His Name.)
Strivers are one in 1000, and in that also one rare one Realizes.
A acute continuous urge for liberation is more essential than, giving up attachment or desires! (PDasi)
7. 4-5 Pancha bhutas, mind intellect, ego are MY 8-fold prakriti which is lower nature, Jiva(soul) principle is Higher nature, which sustains this whole universe
7. 6 From the combination of these two, all beings are evolved. I am the origin and and end of this World.
7. 7 There is nothing else besides Me. Like clusters of beads, all this is threaded on me.
7. 8 I am sapidity in water, light in sun and moon, Om in vedas, sound in Akash, vigour in man
7. 9 Pure odour in earth, brilliance in fire, life in all beings, austerity in ascetics I am
7. 10 Know me eternal seed of all beings, intelligence of the intelligent, glory of the glorious
7. 11 Might of the might, free from desire,& passion, I am the desire not in conflict with Virtue
PURPORT:
OMNIPRESENCE ? NO, MORE THAN THAT
The Lord above 8 shlokas(4-11) tells how He Himself has become everything. In fact there is nothing besides Him.
when he says I am sapidity in water or life in beings he says that He is the essence, core of all that makes water, or beings.
Consequently, we can see in our intelligence HIM, removing the feeling of I. Immediately He will give the right discrimination.
Look at all the great inventions, discoveries, theories, principles of justice, Equity and natural laws, all came out of Intelligence and goodness which is HE.
Even when the intellect is used wrongly also some good only eventually come out of it. war brings out countless inventions for scientists are pressed to get things fast.
7. 12 Entities born of Satwa, rajas, tamas, evolved from Me, I am not in them, (nor)they are in Me
7. 13The world which is evolved from the 3 Modes (gunas), is deluded and does not know me, who is imperishable,(and standing apart from these)
7. 14 This divine Maya of Mine, consisting of three modes(gunas), impossible to break through. Those who (constantly)adore me alone cross.
PURPORT:
DIVINE MAYA
Maya consists of three gunas Satwa Rajas and Tamas. Maya is that which is not. Inexplicable. There is no point in trying to understand it. The only way to tackle Maya is to cross it
Lord shows the only way to transcend it. Seeing Him everywhere, in everyone. This can happen only when we have that as an obsession and none other.
7. 15 Those whose wisdom has been carried away by Maya, embraced a demoniac nature, such foolish and vile men of evil deeds do not adore me.
7. 16 Four types of devotees worship me. the desperate, the seeker of wealth, the seeker of knowledge, man of wisdom
7. 17 Among them Jnani(wise one) is the best one who is ever established in identity with Me, and possessed of exclusive devotion, and he is extremely dear to Me.
7. 18 All these are noble,but Jnani is my very self, For he has his mind and intellect merged in Me, firmly established in Me alone, the highest goal
7. 19 In the last of all births, enlightened soul worships Me, realizing all this is God. Such a great soul is very rare.
PURPORT:
JNANI MOST DEAR TO GOD
The foolish and the wicked do not adore him. These are in insurmountable Maya. The good people are the believers. Among these good souls the majority are desire ridden. It is the jnani who is ever established in Him alone and a rare soul is dear to Lord. He is one among a million(shloka 3 above).
God starts manifesting Himself in the Jnani who is none other than Bhakta. God starts His play in this world through the Bhakta. Jnani becomes the visible God for his devotees and the wishes are easily granted by the Lord.
All of you who are seriously in our satsangh taking up scriptures on liberation intently, have to understand that this will be your last life(shloka 19 above). For the Lord says You having acquired the Jnan(shloka 7, Knowledge of Reality, that there is nothing in the world other than Lord Himself) will reach Him. What should be our action? make him our salt , sugar,perfume, our water, our very breath, our clothes, our floor on which we walk, see Him everywhere, silently feel His absence, cry when none observe you, feel emptiness and at the same time feel the fullness of Him everywhere. Accept praise, insults, neglect, difficulties, disasters, as His Grace, His Prasad. Love Him as if you are with your beloved.... and He is your beloved for He alone listens to you and reaches out to you as none could, He alone fills the loneliness you feel. Get lost into Him and let it be a secret too.
7. 20 With desires wisdom carried away, prompted by their nature,worship other deities following the rules relating to them
7. 21 Whatsoever deity one worships with total faith, I stabilize that faith of that particular devotee in that very form.
7. 22 Endowed with such faith when he worships that particular deity obtains without doubt his desires
7. 23 The fruit gained by these men of little understanding will end. Worshippers of Gods attain to Gods
PURPORT:
DESIRE PROMPTED WORSHIP, & PRAYERS
All deities do fulfil any desire we want to be fulfilled if we follow the rules of worship Lord says I am myself stabilizing faith of that individual (at least somewhere he gets his faith takes roots.)
What we see all the time in the temples, houses and everywhere we do pujas, prayers, vritas etc, all are desire prompted. We will get the result undoubtedly. but short lived. For next 10 desires and problems crop up and again and again we will be in similar position through out life. At some point we have to decide what we really want and at what stage we are going to start loving the Lord without desires for liberation.
7. 24 Not knowing My unsurpassable undecaying Supreme nature, the ignorants believe me, the Supreme spirit beyond the reach of mind and senses, think to be human
7. 25 I am not manifest to everyone, veiled by Yoga maya. Hence the ignorant do not recognise me, the unborn,imperishable supreme deity.
7. 26 I know all beings past present, as well as future, but none knows me.
7. 27 Through delusion born out of pairs of opposites like desire and hatred, all creatures of the world are falling a prey to infatuation
7. 28 But those of virtuous men whose sins have come to an end, being freed from delusion in the shape of pairs of opposites, worship Me with firm resolve in every way
PURPORT:
Maya or delusion is getting swayed by pairs of opposites. wanting praise but not wanting insults, wanting one side of the coin not wanting other side of it, without realizing selection of one automatically you get involved into other.
Virtuous men who are now sinless bear both side of the pairs as Grace of the Lord.
7. 29-30 Those who, having taken refuge in Me, strive for deliverance from old age and death know Brahma, the whole Adhyatma, karma adhibhuta adhidaiva, adhiyajna. They who possessed of steadfast mind, know thus eve at the hour of death, they too know Me alone
PURPORT:
These are explained at the beginning of chapter 8
BHAGAVAD GITA
CHAPTER 07
7. 1 Listen Arjuna, I will tell you, how to know me in entirety and without any doubts, with mind attached to me, with absolute dependence on me.
7. 2 I am unfolding to you completely, the Wisdom(of formless aspect of Mine) and knowledge (of qualified or form aspect of God), knowing which nothing else remains to be known.
7. 3 Hardly one among thousands tries to realize Me, of them too, one rare soul knows me in reality.
PURPORT:
Key points to know the Lord
Mind(with intellect) attached only to HIM
Dependence only on HIM(not on the world, wealth, relatives, education, strength, power, influence)
In short one obsession (His Name.)
Strivers are one in 1000, and in that also one rare one Realizes.
A acute continuous urge for liberation is more essential than, giving up attachment or desires! (PDasi)
7. 4-5 Pancha bhutas, mind intellect, ego are MY 8-fold prakriti which is lower nature, Jiva(soul) principle is Higher nature, which sustains this whole universe
7. 6 From the combination of these two, all beings are evolved. I am the origin and and end of this World.
7. 7 There is nothing else besides Me. Like clusters of beads, all this is threaded on me.
7. 8 I am sapidity in water, light in sun and moon, Om in vedas, sound in Akash, vigour in man
7. 9 Pure odour in earth, brilliance in fire, life in all beings, austerity in ascetics I am
7. 10 Know me eternal seed of all beings, intelligence of the intelligent, glory of the glorious
7. 11 Might of the might, free from desire,& passion, I am the desire not in conflict with Virtue
PURPORT:
OMNIPRESENCE ? NO, MORE THAN THAT
The Lord above 8 shlokas(4-11) tells how He Himself has become everything. In fact there is nothing besides Him.
when he says I am sapidity in water or life in beings he says that He is the essence, core of all that makes water, or beings.
Consequently, we can see in our intelligence HIM, removing the feeling of I. Immediately He will give the right discrimination.
Look at all the great inventions, discoveries, theories, principles of justice, Equity and natural laws, all came out of Intelligence and goodness which is HE.
Even when the intellect is used wrongly also some good only eventually come out of it. war brings out countless inventions for scientists are pressed to get things fast.
7. 12 Entities born of Satwa, rajas, tamas, evolved from Me, I am not in them, (nor)they are in Me
7. 13The world which is evolved from the 3 Modes (gunas), is deluded and does not know me, who is imperishable,(and standing apart from these)
7. 14 This divine Maya of Mine, consisting of three modes(gunas), impossible to break through. Those who (constantly)adore me alone cross.
PURPORT:
DIVINE MAYA
Maya consists of three gunas Satwa Rajas and Tamas. Maya is that which is not. Inexplicable. There is no point in trying to understand it. The only way to tackle Maya is to cross it
Lord shows the only way to transcend it. Seeing Him everywhere, in everyone. This can happen only when we have that as an obsession and none other.
7. 15 Those whose wisdom has been carried away by Maya, embraced a demoniac nature, such foolish and vile men of evil deeds do not adore me.
7. 16 Four types of devotees worship me. the desperate, the seeker of wealth, the seeker of knowledge, man of wisdom
7. 17 Among them Jnani(wise one) is the best one who is ever established in identity with Me, and possessed of exclusive devotion, and he is extremely dear to Me.
7. 18 All these are noble,but Jnani is my very self, For he has his mind and intellect merged in Me, firmly established in Me alone, the highest goal
7. 19 In the last of all births, enlightened soul worships Me, realizing all this is God. Such a great soul is very rare.
PURPORT:
JNANI MOST DEAR TO GOD
The foolish and the wicked do not adore him. These are in insurmountable Maya. The good people are the believers. Among these good souls the majority are desire ridden. It is the jnani who is ever established in Him alone and a rare soul is dear to Lord. He is one among a million(shloka 3 above).
God starts manifesting Himself in the Jnani who is none other than Bhakta. God starts His play in this world through the Bhakta. Jnani becomes the visible God for his devotees and the wishes are easily granted by the Lord.
All of you who are seriously in our satsangh taking up scriptures on liberation intently, have to understand that this will be your last life(shloka 19 above). For the Lord says You having acquired the Jnan(shloka 7, Knowledge of Reality, that there is nothing in the world other than Lord Himself) will reach Him. What should be our action? make him our salt , sugar,perfume, our water, our very breath, our clothes, our floor on which we walk, see Him everywhere, silently feel His absence, cry when none observe you, feel emptiness and at the same time feel the fullness of Him everywhere. Accept praise, insults, neglect, difficulties, disasters, as His Grace, His Prasad. Love Him as if you are with your beloved.... and He is your beloved for He alone listens to you and reaches out to you as none could, He alone fills the loneliness you feel. Get lost into Him and let it be a secret too.
7. 20 With desires wisdom carried away, prompted by their nature,worship other deities following the rules relating to them
7. 21 Whatsoever deity one worships with total faith, I stabilize that faith of that particular devotee in that very form.
7. 22 Endowed with such faith when he worships that particular deity obtains without doubt his desires
7. 23 The fruit gained by these men of little understanding will end. Worshippers of Gods attain to Gods
PURPORT:
DESIRE PROMPTED WORSHIP, & PRAYERS
All deities do fulfil any desire we want to be fulfilled if we follow the rules of worship Lord says I am myself stabilizing faith of that individual (at least somewhere he gets his faith takes roots.)
What we see all the time in the temples, houses and everywhere we do pujas, prayers, vritas etc, all are desire prompted. We will get the result undoubtedly. but short lived. For next 10 desires and problems crop up and again and again we will be in similar position through out life. At some point we have to decide what we really want and at what stage we are going to start loving the Lord without desires for liberation.
7. 24 Not knowing My unsurpassable undecaying Supreme nature, the ignorants believe me, the Supreme spirit beyond the reach of mind and senses, think to be human
7. 25 I am not manifest to everyone, veiled by Yoga maya. Hence the ignorant do not recognise me, the unborn,imperishable supreme deity.
7. 26 I know all beings past present, as well as future, but none knows me.
7. 27 Through delusion born out of pairs of opposites like desire and hatred, all creatures of the world are falling a prey to infatuation
7. 28 But those of virtuous men whose sins have come to an end, being freed from delusion in the shape of pairs of opposites, worship Me with firm resolve in every way
PURPORT:
Maya or delusion is getting swayed by pairs of opposites. wanting praise but not wanting insults, wanting one side of the coin not wanting other side of it, without realizing selection of one automatically you get involved into other.
Virtuous men who are now sinless bear both side of the pairs as Grace of the Lord.
7. 29-30 Those who, having taken refuge in Me, strive for deliverance from old age and death know Brahma, the whole Adhyatma, karma adhibhuta adhidaiva, adhiyajna. They who possessed of steadfast mind, know thus eve at the hour of death, they too know Me alone
PURPORT:
These are explained at the beginning of chapter 8
Chapter 6
BHAGAVAD GITA
CHAPTER 06
6. 1. Without expecting fruit of actions one who does work, he is a sanyasi and a (karma)yogi, not the one who has given up his sacred fire or all activities
6. 2. What is called sanyasa is also (karma)Yoga. One who have not given up the thoughts of the world can never be a yogi
PURPORT:
Our normal concept of a yogi or sanyasi is either from his ochre robes or his heading a math or Ashram. Gita makes it clear. Sanyasa and yoga are in mind and not in garments or posture or stature. Corollary is this is also applicable to all who is anyone, in spiritual field
6. 3 To a contemplative, who wants to climb the steps of (karma)yoga, (disinterested)action is the step. When he has reached the height of Yoga, absence of thoughts of the world is said to the way to blessedness.
6. 4 When one is unattached to sense objects and also to actions, and had renounced thoughts of the world, he has reached the heights of Yoga
6. 5 One should lift oneself by one's own efforts and should not degrade oneself. For one's own self is one's friend and one's own self is one's enemy.
6. 6 One becomes one's friend, when by whom the lower self (mind senses and body) is conquered. When it is not conquered, it behaves like its enemy.
PURPORT:
Disinterested action is first step towards Karmayoga. absence of thoughts of the world is sign of success in Yoga and ceases to have Any attachment to objects of senses. None can eat, live, or die for us. Same way.I have to liberate myself. If I don't, I become my own enemy.
6. 7 Lord is firmly in the heart of one who is self controlled, serene, and is above pairs of opposites, like heat and cold, and praise and insult
6. 8 He is realized Yogi who is content with Knowledge and its application, who has conquered his senses, for whom gold, earth and stone are same.
6. 9 He stands supreme who has equal vision towards well wishers, neutrals, mediators, friends, foes, relatives and objects of hatred, the saints, and the sinners.
PURPORT:
NATURE OF A YOGI
Lord is the one obsession, self controlled, above pairs of opposites, has Knowledge and its day today living, equal eye to all people and things
6. 10 Living in alone, in seclusion, controlled his mind and body, desire-less, without possession, yogi should engage his mind in meditation.
6. 11 Sit in clean spot, neither too high nor too low, on a cloth spread on kusha grass,
6. 12 concentrate controlling functions of mind and senses,
6. 13 holding the back, head neck straight and steady and gazing tip of the nose
6. 14 Remaining calm, fearless, in continence, retraining mind and fixed on me, sit absorbed in me.
6. 15 Thus constantly applying his mind in me, Yogi of disciplined mind attains everlasting peace of supreme bliss and will abide in me.
6. 16 yoga is not for one who is not moderate in eating and sleeping.
6. 17 Yoga is only for one who is regulated in eating and recreation
6. 18 when the mind gets focused on God alone.
PURPORT:
HOW TO MEDITATE
The above nine shlokas give the basics of meditation. Since we do not go to forest, kusha grass etc is not necessary, nor it is necessary measure exact quantity of food. Excess food makes one sleepy. Anything that does not take away your mind from the Lord or brings attachment to you, is fine.
Important thing is the state of mind. Are you still hooked on to your assets, possessions, family? do you still have desires? Is your contentment and peace based on your wealth, name, fame, admiration of your relatives, then meditation does not take place on God.
6. 19 The disciplined mind of the Yogi practicing meditation on God is like a lamp in a windless place which does not flicker.
6. 20 The mind now becomes still, in which realizing God intuitively, the soul(jiva) rejoices in God only
6. 21 inexplicable bliss, beyond the ken of intellect, fixed in which moves not from it on any account
6. 22 Having got this, does not reckon any gain as high, and will not be moved by highest sorrow
PURPORT:
INITIAL ASPECTS(PHYSICAL) OF MEDITATION
The above 4 shlokas
6. 23 That state is to be known which is free from sorrow, and resolutely practiced
6. 24 Renouncing all desires arising from thoughts of the world, restraining all senses by mind
6. 25 by and by, practice attain tranquillity. fix the mind on God through reason controlled by steadfastness, and should not think of anything else
6. 26 Drawing back the restless mind from all the objects it runs after, repeatedly fix it on God
6. 27 Yogi whose mind is serene, who is sinless and whose passion(rajas) is subdued, who is identified with Brahman, happiness comes as a matter of course.
6. 28 Yogi without sins, uniting his self always with God, easily enjoys the eternal bliss of oneness with Brahman
PURPORT:
MEDITATION ENDING IN LIBERATION
The above 6 shlokas give the aspects:
Realized state is free from sorrow
It needs to be practised (resolutely even after realization, so you get established never to fall)
Renouncing desires which arise from the thoughts of the world
Restraining senses by mind
Practice tranquillity,
fix the mind on God by using reason controlled by steadfastness
should not think of anything else
Draw back the mind which runs after all objects, & repeatedly fix on the Lord
When your mind is serene, (now)sinless, passion is subdued, identified with Brahman, Happiness comes soon
You enjoy now eternal bliss
6. 29 Himself in all beings, and all in himself, yogi sees unity everywhere,
6. 30 He who sees Me present in all beings and all beings existing in me, never loses me, nor I him.
6. 31One who worships me as one residing in all beings, that yogi will ever abide in me
6. 32 One who looks on all as one, on the analogy of his self and looks joys and sorrows of all with a similar vision, that Yogi is deemed highest of all.
PURPORT:
SEEING UNITY ALL AROUND
The result of realization is one sees oneself in all beings
He sees all in himself
He never loses Me nor I lose him
He sees Me as residing in all and worships me thus.(does not hurt, hate anyone)
Looks on all as one as if his own self
their sorrows and joys he sees as his similar to his own(compassion to lowly, distressed, poor, distraught)
6.33 Arjuna says, mind being restless, can't see stability in this Yoga
6.34 Mind is unsteady, turbulent,tenacious,powerful, difficult to control as wind
6.35 Lord says, 'True, difficult yes, but can be controlled by practice and dispassion( total lack of interest in the World)
6.36 'Difficult, for one who has not subdued his mind. One who has subdued his mind and striving ceaselessly, it is easily attained.
PURPORT:
PRACTICE AND VAIRAGYA(DISPASSION)
In ordinary life too, nothing worthwhile can be achieved without goal, focus(controlled mind towards goal) and sustained efforts, never giving up
Whether it is masters, proessional course, a PhD, International fame, in music, sports, being an author, actor, acquiring enormous wealth, the formula for success is ame as above. The only difference is what we achieve in all these spheres is perishable and is partly useful only when done with an unselfish motive. but God realization is the noblest, highest, crowing glory of Life for it is the acquiring Kingdom of God Himself. It is the end and highest goal of life, although not known to vast majority who are wallowing like worms in worldly pleasures and acquisitions which perish soon, giving pain.
6.37 Arjuna asks," what happens to him who has nopt subdued his passions, and thus gets diverted from yoga and fails to each perfection?"
6.38 "Strayed from the path of God realization, without anything to stand upon, is he not lost"
6.39 " None can remove this doubt of mine, other than you o Lord"
PURPORT: A GENUINE DOUBT
6.40 Lord says, "No fall for him who strives for self redemption; he will never meets evil end"
6.41 One who has fallen from yoga, obtains the higher worlds, to which only men of meritorious deeds alone are entitled; Having resided there for many years, will be born in the house of pious and welathy men.
6.42 Or (if he has developed dispassion he is born to the family of enlightened yogis. but such a birth in this world is very difficult to obtain
6.43 There he automatically regains the spiritual insights of previous birth and thru that he strives, harder, for perfection (God realization)
6.44 The other (one born in wealthy family) though under the sway of his senses, feels drawn towards God by the force of habit acquired in previous birth
6.45 Yogi who takes up diligently the practice attains perfection in this very life, with the help of latencies of many births, thoroughly purged of sin, forthwith reaches the supreme state
6.46Yogi is superior to ascetics, superior to even knowers of vedas. superior to those who act with motive. therefore become yogi
6.47 Of allthe yogis he who devoutly worships me withg his mind focussed on me is considered by Me to be best yogi
PURPORT:
First five shlokas 40-44:
This is the one work done(seeking liberation), effects of which will never be lost. That's the assurance. Yogabrishta is one who died earlier to succeeding in Yoga.
If he dies before achieving control over senses, he will be born to wealthy but culturally, morally good parents.
All of us belong to this category. all satsanghis anywhere belong to this category. However our satsanghis in particular are fortunate to have gone through scriptures which give full knowledge of liberation. A large number of satsanghs and spiritual aspirants do not even get to know these scriptures. Most of these satsanghs remain at an elementary level. They are not permitted to take up advanced scriptures which wipe out all doubts.
In fact, the 6th chapter of Gita is understood with clarity and thoroughness only after one has gone through texts like Panchadasi, Viveka chudamani, Yoga vaasishta.
If he dies after achieving sense control, he will be born to yogis, which is rare. For one who achieves sense control is very near the Realization. rarely such a person dies without realizing the goal.
In both cases at a proper time after fulfilling left over desires of the previous lives, he is automatically drawn towards God Realization and will attempt with greater efforts towards the goal.
That's what has happened to us all satsanghis. Drawn at proper time; some young, some old.
Once we know, in our past lives we were sanyasis, Mahatmas of an earlier age, our attachment to this life falls.
desires can be seen through. and one can come out of the ties to this life and world.
CHAPTER 06
6. 1. Without expecting fruit of actions one who does work, he is a sanyasi and a (karma)yogi, not the one who has given up his sacred fire or all activities
6. 2. What is called sanyasa is also (karma)Yoga. One who have not given up the thoughts of the world can never be a yogi
PURPORT:
Our normal concept of a yogi or sanyasi is either from his ochre robes or his heading a math or Ashram. Gita makes it clear. Sanyasa and yoga are in mind and not in garments or posture or stature. Corollary is this is also applicable to all who is anyone, in spiritual field
6. 3 To a contemplative, who wants to climb the steps of (karma)yoga, (disinterested)action is the step. When he has reached the height of Yoga, absence of thoughts of the world is said to the way to blessedness.
6. 4 When one is unattached to sense objects and also to actions, and had renounced thoughts of the world, he has reached the heights of Yoga
6. 5 One should lift oneself by one's own efforts and should not degrade oneself. For one's own self is one's friend and one's own self is one's enemy.
6. 6 One becomes one's friend, when by whom the lower self (mind senses and body) is conquered. When it is not conquered, it behaves like its enemy.
PURPORT:
Disinterested action is first step towards Karmayoga. absence of thoughts of the world is sign of success in Yoga and ceases to have Any attachment to objects of senses. None can eat, live, or die for us. Same way.I have to liberate myself. If I don't, I become my own enemy.
6. 7 Lord is firmly in the heart of one who is self controlled, serene, and is above pairs of opposites, like heat and cold, and praise and insult
6. 8 He is realized Yogi who is content with Knowledge and its application, who has conquered his senses, for whom gold, earth and stone are same.
6. 9 He stands supreme who has equal vision towards well wishers, neutrals, mediators, friends, foes, relatives and objects of hatred, the saints, and the sinners.
PURPORT:
NATURE OF A YOGI
Lord is the one obsession, self controlled, above pairs of opposites, has Knowledge and its day today living, equal eye to all people and things
6. 10 Living in alone, in seclusion, controlled his mind and body, desire-less, without possession, yogi should engage his mind in meditation.
6. 11 Sit in clean spot, neither too high nor too low, on a cloth spread on kusha grass,
6. 12 concentrate controlling functions of mind and senses,
6. 13 holding the back, head neck straight and steady and gazing tip of the nose
6. 14 Remaining calm, fearless, in continence, retraining mind and fixed on me, sit absorbed in me.
6. 15 Thus constantly applying his mind in me, Yogi of disciplined mind attains everlasting peace of supreme bliss and will abide in me.
6. 16 yoga is not for one who is not moderate in eating and sleeping.
6. 17 Yoga is only for one who is regulated in eating and recreation
6. 18 when the mind gets focused on God alone.
PURPORT:
HOW TO MEDITATE
The above nine shlokas give the basics of meditation. Since we do not go to forest, kusha grass etc is not necessary, nor it is necessary measure exact quantity of food. Excess food makes one sleepy. Anything that does not take away your mind from the Lord or brings attachment to you, is fine.
Important thing is the state of mind. Are you still hooked on to your assets, possessions, family? do you still have desires? Is your contentment and peace based on your wealth, name, fame, admiration of your relatives, then meditation does not take place on God.
6. 19 The disciplined mind of the Yogi practicing meditation on God is like a lamp in a windless place which does not flicker.
6. 20 The mind now becomes still, in which realizing God intuitively, the soul(jiva) rejoices in God only
6. 21 inexplicable bliss, beyond the ken of intellect, fixed in which moves not from it on any account
6. 22 Having got this, does not reckon any gain as high, and will not be moved by highest sorrow
PURPORT:
INITIAL ASPECTS(PHYSICAL) OF MEDITATION
The above 4 shlokas
6. 23 That state is to be known which is free from sorrow, and resolutely practiced
6. 24 Renouncing all desires arising from thoughts of the world, restraining all senses by mind
6. 25 by and by, practice attain tranquillity. fix the mind on God through reason controlled by steadfastness, and should not think of anything else
6. 26 Drawing back the restless mind from all the objects it runs after, repeatedly fix it on God
6. 27 Yogi whose mind is serene, who is sinless and whose passion(rajas) is subdued, who is identified with Brahman, happiness comes as a matter of course.
6. 28 Yogi without sins, uniting his self always with God, easily enjoys the eternal bliss of oneness with Brahman
PURPORT:
MEDITATION ENDING IN LIBERATION
The above 6 shlokas give the aspects:
Realized state is free from sorrow
It needs to be practised (resolutely even after realization, so you get established never to fall)
Renouncing desires which arise from the thoughts of the world
Restraining senses by mind
Practice tranquillity,
fix the mind on God by using reason controlled by steadfastness
should not think of anything else
Draw back the mind which runs after all objects, & repeatedly fix on the Lord
When your mind is serene, (now)sinless, passion is subdued, identified with Brahman, Happiness comes soon
You enjoy now eternal bliss
6. 29 Himself in all beings, and all in himself, yogi sees unity everywhere,
6. 30 He who sees Me present in all beings and all beings existing in me, never loses me, nor I him.
6. 31One who worships me as one residing in all beings, that yogi will ever abide in me
6. 32 One who looks on all as one, on the analogy of his self and looks joys and sorrows of all with a similar vision, that Yogi is deemed highest of all.
PURPORT:
SEEING UNITY ALL AROUND
The result of realization is one sees oneself in all beings
He sees all in himself
He never loses Me nor I lose him
He sees Me as residing in all and worships me thus.(does not hurt, hate anyone)
Looks on all as one as if his own self
their sorrows and joys he sees as his similar to his own(compassion to lowly, distressed, poor, distraught)
6.33 Arjuna says, mind being restless, can't see stability in this Yoga
6.34 Mind is unsteady, turbulent,tenacious,powerful, difficult to control as wind
6.35 Lord says, 'True, difficult yes, but can be controlled by practice and dispassion( total lack of interest in the World)
6.36 'Difficult, for one who has not subdued his mind. One who has subdued his mind and striving ceaselessly, it is easily attained.
PURPORT:
PRACTICE AND VAIRAGYA(DISPASSION)
In ordinary life too, nothing worthwhile can be achieved without goal, focus(controlled mind towards goal) and sustained efforts, never giving up
Whether it is masters, proessional course, a PhD, International fame, in music, sports, being an author, actor, acquiring enormous wealth, the formula for success is ame as above. The only difference is what we achieve in all these spheres is perishable and is partly useful only when done with an unselfish motive. but God realization is the noblest, highest, crowing glory of Life for it is the acquiring Kingdom of God Himself. It is the end and highest goal of life, although not known to vast majority who are wallowing like worms in worldly pleasures and acquisitions which perish soon, giving pain.
6.37 Arjuna asks," what happens to him who has nopt subdued his passions, and thus gets diverted from yoga and fails to each perfection?"
6.38 "Strayed from the path of God realization, without anything to stand upon, is he not lost"
6.39 " None can remove this doubt of mine, other than you o Lord"
PURPORT: A GENUINE DOUBT
6.40 Lord says, "No fall for him who strives for self redemption; he will never meets evil end"
6.41 One who has fallen from yoga, obtains the higher worlds, to which only men of meritorious deeds alone are entitled; Having resided there for many years, will be born in the house of pious and welathy men.
6.42 Or (if he has developed dispassion he is born to the family of enlightened yogis. but such a birth in this world is very difficult to obtain
6.43 There he automatically regains the spiritual insights of previous birth and thru that he strives, harder, for perfection (God realization)
6.44 The other (one born in wealthy family) though under the sway of his senses, feels drawn towards God by the force of habit acquired in previous birth
6.45 Yogi who takes up diligently the practice attains perfection in this very life, with the help of latencies of many births, thoroughly purged of sin, forthwith reaches the supreme state
6.46Yogi is superior to ascetics, superior to even knowers of vedas. superior to those who act with motive. therefore become yogi
6.47 Of allthe yogis he who devoutly worships me withg his mind focussed on me is considered by Me to be best yogi
PURPORT:
First five shlokas 40-44:
This is the one work done(seeking liberation), effects of which will never be lost. That's the assurance. Yogabrishta is one who died earlier to succeeding in Yoga.
If he dies before achieving control over senses, he will be born to wealthy but culturally, morally good parents.
All of us belong to this category. all satsanghis anywhere belong to this category. However our satsanghis in particular are fortunate to have gone through scriptures which give full knowledge of liberation. A large number of satsanghs and spiritual aspirants do not even get to know these scriptures. Most of these satsanghs remain at an elementary level. They are not permitted to take up advanced scriptures which wipe out all doubts.
In fact, the 6th chapter of Gita is understood with clarity and thoroughness only after one has gone through texts like Panchadasi, Viveka chudamani, Yoga vaasishta.
If he dies after achieving sense control, he will be born to yogis, which is rare. For one who achieves sense control is very near the Realization. rarely such a person dies without realizing the goal.
In both cases at a proper time after fulfilling left over desires of the previous lives, he is automatically drawn towards God Realization and will attempt with greater efforts towards the goal.
That's what has happened to us all satsanghis. Drawn at proper time; some young, some old.
Once we know, in our past lives we were sanyasis, Mahatmas of an earlier age, our attachment to this life falls.
desires can be seen through. and one can come out of the ties to this life and world.
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