CLEAR GUIDE TO THE STUDY OF BHAGAVAD GITA-1

NATIVE  CHARM

CLEAR GUIDE TO THE STUDY OF BHAGAVAD GITA- 1.

A  beautiful edition from Sri Narasingha Chaitanya Ashram.

Bhagavad  Gita is the most important scripture for devout Hindus today.  For this very reason, all types of people are writing all types of commentaries on it.

Bhagavad Gita is the word of God. If anyone thinks he can add anything to it, he is only deluding himself..

Bhagavan has spoken in plain words. Wherever He has used a word which may appear technical ( eg. Yoga, Yajna etc) He has himself explained it. Arjuna asked for definite instruction ( yat sreya: syaan nischitam bruhi 2.7.) Will Bhagavan confuse him with technical complexities?  He spoke straight, because Arjuna was  endowed with divine nature , besides being trained and educated in the traditional way.( Daiva sampat- as Bhagavan himself assures him later: sampadam daiveem abhijaatosi 16.5). We find it difficult to follow, because we have none of the merits that Arjuna possessed. Yet, like  milk which the cow yields for its calf but it also feeds others, what Bhagavan taught Arjuna can also be accessed by us provided we have shraddha, and faith in Bhagavan. We struggle because we lack both the moral discipline required and the traditional learning. But Bhagavan can make us understand: mookham karoti vaachaalam, pangum langayate girim! (Naarayananae namakkae parai taruvan,

நாராயணனே நமக்கே பறை தருவான்

 as Andal says.

If we study (and not just read) the Gita, and note down the direct references to Bhakti and Bhagavan , we will find that of the 700 slokas, no less than 126 contain such references. The number of slokas is as under:

Spoken by Dritarashtra               1
Spoken by Sanjaya                     41
Spoken by Arjuna                       89
Spoken by Bhagavan              569

So, we realise that Bhagavan spoke the largest number of slokas on this one subject of Bhakti and devotion to Bhagavan. They now lie scattered in the Gita in the different chapters,but the present arrangement of the chapters and slokas is a later development. 

I will show below where these 126 slokas occur.

CHAPTER 2.

 2.17 : Avinashi tu tad viddhi
 yena saravamidam tatam.

Understand that That which pervades all this (world) is indestructible. 

The whole universe is pervaded by Ishvara- Isavaasyamidam sarvam.

2.61.

Taani sarvaani samyamya
Yukta aasita mat para.

Man controlling all his senses must meditate , taking Me as the Supreme refuge. (mat para ).

The expression "yukta aasita mat para" is repeated at 6.14. In 12.6 too, Bhagavan refers to Himself as 'mat paraa'.


CHAPTER 3.

3.30. Mayi sarvaani karmaani
Sanyasyaadh aatma chaetasa

With mind concentrated on the Self ( or the Paramatma who is the antaryami), renounce ( dedicate) all karmas to Me.

In 3,31 ,Bhagavan asserts that those who follow this instruction  of His (Ye Mae matam idam) with faith and dedication will be freed (muchyante) from all Karmas.

!n 3,32, Bhagavan states that those who do not follow this instruction of His ( na anutishtanti Mae matam) are absolute idiots (sarva jnana vimudhaan, achetasa:) and will get destroyed -go to dogs! (nashtaan).

CHAPTER 4.

4.5 & 4.6. Here, Bhagavan explains his Permanence. Though He is Unborn (ajopi), He is the Lord of everything (Bhutaanaam Ishwara:) and He controls the Prakriti (prakritim swaam adhithaaya).

4.7 & 4.8

Here Bhagavan reveals the secret of Avatara.

Yadha yadha hi dharmasya 
glanir bhavati bharata
Abhyttaanam adharmasya 
tadaatmaanam srujaamyaham.

Paritranaya sadhunaam
vinashaaya cha dushkrutaam
Dharma samsthaapanaarthaya
sambhavaami Yugae yugae.

4.9

Here, Bhagavan reveals that those who understand that His (the Avatara's ) birth and activities are divine ( janma karma cha Mae divyam) are not born again.( punar janma na aeti.) But they reach Bhagavan ( Maam aeti)

I challenge anyone to show me where Bhgavan has given this kind of assurance in the entire Gita, except in connection with devotion.

4.10

Here, Bhagavan reveals that those who have taken refuge in Him and worshipped Him (man mayaa maam upaasritaa) have attained His swaroopa ( Mad bhaavam aagathaa:)

4.11

Here, Bhagavan assures that in whichever way devotees worship Him,  He approaches them in the same manner.


NOTE: 

These important assurances about personal devotion to Bhagavan  are given here in this fourth chapter. But it is named  "Jnana karma sanyasa Yogam"!

That is why I urge friends to disregard the chapter headings and arrangement of the slokas, but to group them under the connected ideas.

CHAPTER 5.

This chapter deals with karma yoga and karma sanyasa. But at the end Bhagavan says:

5.29  Whatever may be the yajna, tapas etc, one should realise that it is Bhagavan who accepts all that (bhoktaaram), that He is the Lord of the whole universe (sarvaloka maheshwaram). One who knows this about Bhagavan ( Maam jnaatva) attains peace (shantim ruchchati). 

So, it is Bhagavan who grants this, not the yajnas and tapas by themselves!

CHAPTER 6.


This chapter is titled "Dhyana Yoga" but see what it contains!

6.14 Here, Bhagavan repeats as in 2.61 that one should rest in him as the Supreme. (yukta aasita mat para) and occupy one's mind with  Him  (mat chitta)

6.30   To one who looks upon the whole world as pervaded by Bhagavan, and considers the worlds to be centered in/on Bhagavan, Bhagavan will not become unseen ( na pranasyami) Nor will Bhagavan fail to see him! (sa cha Mae na pranasyati).

6.31  One who worships Me as pervading the universe,  whatever may be his mode of life,  he is only abiding in Me (Mayi vartatae).

6.47 Even among all yogis, he who devotes himself to Bhagavan (Maam bhajatae), with mind completely fixed on Bhagavan as the antaraatma,  (mat gataena)that yogi is considered by Bhagavan as the best ( Mae yukta tamo mata:)

It is not true yoga which leaves out Bhagavan!

CHAPTER 7.

This is titled "Jnana Vijnaana Yogam". But here Bhagavan teaches that He is to be understood in the manifestation of the whole universe, in two aspects- as higher and lower prakriti. This chapter may also be considered a part of Vibhuti Yoga. The following slokas contain direct references to Bhagavan:

7.1,3,4,5,6,7, 13,14,15, 16,18,19, 24,25,29,30.

Here Bhagavan gives many important insights.

The whole universe is strung in Bhagavan, as jewels are strung on a thread. 7.7

The world is pervaded by maya of the three gunas. So, the world does not realise Bhagavan. Only those who take refuge in Bhagavan (surrender to Him) can cross this maya.(Maam aeva ae prapatyantae, maayaa maetaam taranti tae) 7.13.14

The word "prapatyante" is to be noted here. Only those who surrender to Bhagavan (prapatti) can cross maya!


4 types of devotees worship Bhagavan.All are good (sukritina:) But the devotee who is a jnani is dear to Bhagavan. 7.16,17

It is only at the end of many births that one realises that it is all Vasudeva.Such a great person is rare. 7.19


This foolish world does not realise the true greatness of the Avatara. 7.25

Those who strive for freedom from old age and death, taking refuge in Bhagavan (Maam aasritya), they know Brahman and karma in its entirety. 7.29

Thus, real jnana is knowledge of Bhagavan. And it is Bhagavan who confers this jnana!

All pictures from ISKCON.  Gratefully acknowledged.