Chapter 14: Guna Trya Vibhag Yoga; The Three Modes of Material Nature

Shri Yashoda-nandan sharanam!

Maa Bhagavad Gita sharanam!

Verse 14.5: Dear Arjuna, prakriti (material nature) consists of three gunas (modes/qualities) - sattva, rajas, and tamas (goodness, passion, and ignorance). The eternal living entity jiva atma (soul) is bound to his body, mind and senses by these three gunas.

Verse 14.6: Sattva - the mode of goodness is pure, illuminating, and frees from sin. This guna binds the jiva atma to knowledge and happiness.

Verse 14.7: Rajas - the mode of passion is born of desires, lust, and longings. This guna binds the jiva atma to actions and their rewards/fruits.

Verse 14.8: Tamas - the mode of ignorance, which is due to lack of knowledge. This guna binds the jiva atma to foolishness, laziness, and sleep. 

Verse 14.9: O Arjuna, sattva binds one to happiness, rajas binds to actions with the desire of rewards/fruits, and tamas covers the knowledge and binds to laziness.

Verse 14.11: When sattva is predominant, one's body, senses, mind, and intellect are illuminated by knowledge/wisdom.

Verse 14.12: When rajas is predominant, greed, actions with the desire of rewards/fruits, intense endeavor, and uncontrollable longings develop.

Verse 14.13: When tamas is predominant, dullness of one's body, senses, mind, and intellect, lack of enthusiasm in performing one's duties, illusion, and laziness develop.

Verse 14.16: The phala (result) of sattva is peace and happiness, misery is the phala of rajas, and ignorance is the phala of tamas.

Verse 14.17: Wisdom develops from sattva, greed develops from rajas; ignorance, laziness, and illusion develop from tamas.

Verse 14.19: When one sees the three gunas (modes of material nature) as the doer and understands that the Supreme Lord is beyond the gunas, he attains his divine spiritual nature of sat-chit-ananda (divine truth-consciousness-happiness).

Verse 14.20: When one rises above the three gunas, which were the cause of his birth, he can become free from birth, death, old age, and their miseries, and attain divine peace and happiness.

Verse 14.21: Arjuna asks, Dear Govind, what are the signs of one who has risen above the three gunas? What is his conduct? How does he rise above the gunas?

Verse 14.22,23,24&25: Dear Arjuna, he who does not hate, illumination, attachment, and illusion when they are present, or long for them when they disappear; he who sits like a witness and is not disturbed by the gunas, and understands that it is the gunas that are active; he who is established in self, regards happiness and pain, lump of earth and gold, with an equal eye; he who possesses wisdom, accepts pleasant and unpleasant, praise and blame, in the same spirit; he who is equipoised in honor and dishonor, who treats alike both friend and enemy, and has renounced the sense of doer, such a person is said to have risen above the three gunas.

Verse 14.26: One who worships Me through exclusive bhakti yoga (devotional service), rises above the three gunas, and attains his pure divine nature of sat-chit-ananda (divine truth-consciousness-happiness).

Maa Bhagavad Gita sharanam!

Shri Hari ॐ sharanam!

Chapter 13: Kshetra Kshetrajna Vibhag Yoga; Material Nature, The Enjoyer, and Consciousness

Shri Jagannath sharanam!

Maa Bhagavad Gita sharanam!

Verse 13.1: Arjuna says, dear Krishna, I wish to know about prakriti (material nature), purusha (enjoyer - soul), kshetra (the field), kshetrajna (knower of the field), jnana (knowledge), and jneya (object of knowledge).

Verse 13.2: Shri Krishna says, dear Arjuna, the body is kshetra (the field) and one who knows this body is called ksetrajna (the knower of the field).

Verse 13.6&7: The five elements (earth, water, fire, air, and ether), ego, intellect, mind, the five sense organs of perception, the five sense organs of action, the five objects of senses (sound, touch, color, taste and smell), desire, hatred, pleasure, pain, the physical body, life symptoms, convictions - in a summary all these are considered to be the kshetra (field of activities) and its interactions. 

Verse 13.8,9,10,11&12: Humility, freedom from hypocrisy, non-violence, tolerance, simplicity, approaching a spiritual teacher, internal and external purity, steadiness of mind, control of body, mind and senses, dispassion towards the objects of senses, absence of self-admiration, pondering again and again on the pain and impermanence of birth, death, old age and disease, absence of ownership for son, wife, home etc., even-mindedness in pleasant and unpleasant events, constant and unalloyed devotion to Me, aspiring to live in solitude, detachment from worldly people, accepting the importance of self-realization, and search for Absolute Truth - all these I declare to be jnana (knowledge/wisdom), and what is contrary to this is ignorance.

Verse 13.21&22: Prakriti (material nature) is said to be the cause of all material cause and effects, whereas purusha (enjoyer - soul) is responsible for the experience of joys and sorrows in the material world. The purusha in association with prakriti experiences the three gunas - three qualities of material nature, i.e. sattva, rajas, and tamas (goodness, passion, and ignorance). It is the attachment with these gunas that is responsible for the birth of the soul in good and bad wombs.

Verse 13.25: Some perceive the Supreme within their heart through meditation and devotion (dhyana & bhakti yoga), others through the cultivation of wisdom (jnana yoga), and still others by working without desire for rewards/fruits (karma yoga). 

Verse 13.28: One who sees the Supersoul and individual soul in all bodies, and who understands that the soul and Supersoul within the destructible bodies are indestructible and eternal, actually sees.

Verse 13.29: One who sees the Supersoul equally present in every living being, uplifts himself to his divine nature of sat-chit-ananda (truth-consciousness-happiness).

Verse 13.30: One who sees that all actions are performed by prakriti (material nature) and the self is non-doer, actually sees.

Verse 13.34: O Arjuna, as the sun illuminates the world, so the one jiva atma (soul) illuminates the kshetra (body) with consciousness.

Maa Bhagavad Gita sharanam!

Shri Hari ॐ sharanam!

Chapter 12: Bhakti Yoga; The Yoga of Devotion

Maa Radha Shyamasundar sharanam!

Maa Bhagavad Gita sharanam!

Verse 12.1: Arjuna asks, who is considered to be best? Those who are engaged in Your bhakti (devotional service), or those who worship the impersonal Brahman?

Verse 12.2: Shri Krishna says, I consider them to be the best who meditate on My personal form and are always engaged in worshipping Me with divine faith.

Verse 12.3,4&5: Those who fully controlling their senses, equal-minded towards all, and devoted to the welfare of all living beings, worship the all-pervading, unchanging, eternal impersonal Brahman, they too come to Me. However, for them whose minds are attached to the impersonal feature of the Supreme, making spiritual progress is difficult.

Verse 12.6&7: On the other hand, those who exclusively depend upon Me, surrendering all their actions to Me, meditating on Me with single-minded devotion, their mind is fixed on Me, to them I speedily deliver from the ocean of birth and death.

Verse 12.8: Fix your mind on Me, engage your intellect on Me, and you will come to live with Me, without a doubt.

Verse 12.9: O Arjuna, if you can not steadily fix your mind on Me, then seek Me with the practice of devotional service and sincere desire.

Verse 12.10: If you can not practice bhakti yoga (devotional service), then just try to work for Me. By working for Me you will attain perfection.

Verse 12.11: If you are unable to work for Me with right mind and intellect, then give-up the desire for rewards/fruits of your actions.

Verse 12.12: Knowledge is better than miss-judged action, meditation on God is superior to knowledge, and renunciation of the rewards/fruits of actions is even superior to meditation, as divine peace and happiness are immediately attained by such renunciation.

Verse 12.13&14: One who is non-envious, friendly, and compassionate towards all living beings; free from the feelings of 'I' and 'mine', ever-contented, has firm resolve, and has offered his mind and intellect to Me - such a devotee of Mine is very dear to Me.

Verse 12.15: One who does not put others in difficulty and in-turn who is not disturbed by anyone; who is equipoised in happiness and distress, fear and anxiety, is very dear to Me.

Verse 12.16: One who has no material desires, is internally and externally pure, is wise and impartial, and who renounces the sense of doer in his actions - such a devotee of Mine is very dear to Me.

Verse 12.17: One who neither rejoices nor grieves, nor hates, nor desires, and who renounces both auspicious and inauspicious - such a devotee of Mine is very dear to Me.

Verse 12.18&19: One who is equal to friends and enemies, equipoised in honor and dishonor, heat and cold, happiness and pain, fame and blame; free from material desires, satisfied with whatever he gets, not attached to his place of residence, fixed in wisdom, and engaged in devotional service - such a devotee of Mine is very dear to Me.

Verse 12.20: Those who follow this imperishable path of devotional service and engage themselves with divine faith, making My service as their supreme goal, are very very dear to Me.

Maa Bhagavad Gita sharanam!

Shri Giridhar Gopal sharanam!

Chapter 11: Vishva-rupa Darshan Yoga; Vision of The Universal Form

Shri Krishna Yogeshvar sharanam!

Maa Bhagavad Gita sharanam!

Verse 11.3&4: Arjuna says, O greatest of all personalities, O Parmeshvar (Supreme Lord), O Purushottam (Supreme Being), I desire to see Your Divine Cosmic form.

O Yogeshvar (the Lord of Yoga), if you think I am worthy of seeing Your eternal Cosmic form, please reveal it to Me.

Verse 11.5,6&8: Shri Krishna says, my dear Arjuna, behold my Divine Cosmic form of hundreds and thousands of colors and shapes. 

Behold in Me, Arjuna, the twelve sons of Aditi, the eight Vasus, the eleven Rudras (gods of destruction), the two Ashwinikumaras (physician-gods), the forty-nine Maruts (wind-gods), and witness many more wonderful forms never seen before.

You cannot see Me with these human eyes of yours, therefore I give you divine eyes with which you can behold My Supreme opulence.

Verse 11.9,10,11&12: Sanjay (charioteer of Dhritarashtra who is narrating Bhagavad Gita to him) says, O King, having spoken thus, Shri Yogeshvar Hari revealed His Divine Cosmic form to Arjuna.

Arjuna saw the Divine form possessing many mouths and eyes, presenting many a wonderful sight, decked with many divine ornaments, wielding many divine weapons, wearing divine garlands, anointed with divine sandal-pastes, full of all wonders and having faces on all sides.

If thousands of suns were to rise at once in the sky, even that would hardly approach the splendor of the Divine Cosmic form of Shri Krishna.

Verse 11.15: Arjuna says, Lord, I behold within your Divine form all gods and other living entities, Lord Brahma sitting on the lotus flower, Lord Shiva, all rishis (sages), and divine serpents.

Verse 11.18: You are the Supreme worthy of being known, You are the ultimate shelter for all in this universe, You are the protector of the eternal dharma (right path), I consider You to be the eternal Supreme being.

Verse 11.22: The eleven Rudras, twelve Adityas, eight Vasus, Sadhyas, Visvedevas, two Ashwinikumaras, forty-nine Maruts, as well as multitudes of Gandharvas, Yakshas, Asuras, and Siddhas, all behold you in amazement.

Verse 11.32&33: Shri Krishna says, I am the mighty Kala (eternal time), destroyer of the worlds, and I am out to destroy these warriors. Even without you, all these warriors arrayed in enemies camp shall die. Therefore, Arjuna, arise and win glory by conquering your foes. These warriors are already slain by Me, you be only an instrument.

Verse 11.38&39: Arjuna says, you are the primal deity, the most ancient personality. You are the ultimate shelter for all in this universe, You are both the knower and the knowable, and You pervade the entire universe. You are Vayu (wind-god), Yama (god of death), Agni (fire-god), Varun (god of water), moon-god, Brahma (the Lord of material creation), and the father of Brahma himself. I offer my respectful obeisance to You a thousand times, and again, and yet again!

Verse 11.51: Arjuna says, Govind, seeing again this gentle most beautiful human form of Yours I have regained my composure and my peaceful self again.

Verse 11.53&54: Shri Krishna says, neither by the study of Vedas, nor by penance, nor by charity, nor by worship can My Divine form be seen. Dear Arjuna, only by single-minded devotion can I be understood, and My Divine personality is seen. Only by this way you can enter into the wisdom of understanding Me.

Verse 11.55: O Pandava, he who performs all his duties for Me, depends on Me, is devoted to Me, has no material desires, and is free from malice and envy towards all living beings, reaches My Divine world.

Maa Bhagavad Gita sharanam!

Shri Hari ॐ sharanam!

Chapter 10: Vibhuti Yoga; Glories of The Absolute

Maa Radha Maadhava sharanam!    

Maa Bhagavad Gita sharanam!

Chatuh Shaloka Gita: Summary of Shrimad Bhagavad Gita in Four Key Verses; Chapter 10 Verses 8, 9, 10 & 11

Verse 10.8: Shri Krishna says, I am the source of the Divine and material worlds. Everything emanates from Me. The wise who know this engage in My devotional service and worship Me with all their hearts.

Verse 10.9: The thoughts of those who are devoted to Me, dwell in Me, their lives are surrendered to Me, they derive great happiness and satisfaction in helping one another and conversing about Me.

Verse 10.10: To those who are constantly devoted to Me and lovingly worship Me, I give the understanding by which they can come to Me.

Verse 10.11: Out of compassion for them, I dwelling in their hearts destroy with the shining lamp of wisdom the darkness born of ignorance.

Verse 10.12: Arjuna says, You are Param Brahma (Supreme Personality and Truth), Supreme shelter, and the best purifier. You are the eternal Divine Purusha (person), the unborn, and the greatest.

Verse 10.17: O Yogeshvar, O Bhagawan, how shall I know You and how shall I think of You. In what forms should I remember You and meditate upon You.

Verse 10.21: Shri Krishna says, of the twelve sons of Aditi, I am Vishnu; of lights, I am the radiant Sun god, I am the glow of Maruts (the forty-nine wind gods) and the Moon.

Verse 10.23: Among the eleven Rudras, I am Shiva. Among the Yakshas and Rakshasas, I am the lord of wealth Kubera. Among the eight Vasus, I am the Fire-god, and among the mountain peaks, I am Meru.

Verse 10.25: Among the great sages I am Bhrigu, among sounds I am the Divine ॐ [OM or A-U-M], of yagya  (sacrifices) I am Japa yagya (chanting of holy names and mantras), and among the immovable, I am the Himalayas.

Verse 10.31: Among purifiers, I am the wind, among warriors I am Shri Ram, and among the rivers, I am Jhanavi (Ganges).

Verse 10.37: Among the Vrishnis I am Vasudeva Krishna, Arjuna among the sons of Pandu, Vyasa among the sages, and the sage Shukracharya among the wise.

Verse 10.42: O Arjuna, what will you gain by knowing My glory in detail? It is suffice to know that I pervade and hold the entire Universe by a fraction of My power.

Maa Bhagavad Gita sharanam!

Shri Hari ॐ sharanam!

Chapter 9: Raja Vidya & Raja Ghuya Yoga; The King of Wisdom and The Most Confidential Knowledge

Shri Govind Gopal sharanam!

Maa Bhagavad Gita sharanam!

Verse 9.1: Dear Arjuna, because you are never envious of Me and anyone else, I shall impart to you the most confidential wisdom, knowing which you will be relieved of the miseries of the material world.

Verse 9.3: O Arjuna, those who do not have faith in this dharma (right path), fail to reach My Divine world, and continue to have repeated birth and death in this material world.

Verse 9.8: The material world is created again and again for all jiva atmas (souls) as a teaching ground, to take repeated birth influenced by their own nature, desires, and karma, till they attain their pure divine nature and the Divine world.

Verse 9.13&14: O Arjuna, great souls who take shelter of their pure divine nature of sat-chit-anand (divine truth-consciousness-happiness) and dharma (right path), knowing Me as eternal and imperishable, worship Me constantly with a strong resolve. They always sing My Names and glories (kirtana), offer obeisance to Me, and worship Me with single-minded devotion.

Verse 9.17: I am the father of this creation, the mother, the grandfather and the sustainer. I am the one worth knowing, the purifier, and the Divine syllable ॐ (OM or A-U-M). I am the Riga, Sama, and Yagur Vedas.

Verse 9.18: I am the supreme goal, the sustainer, the witness, the shelter, the well-wisher, and the dearest friend seeking no return. I am the origin, the resting-place, and the imperishable eternal seed.

Verse 9.22: For those who love Me dearly, constantly think of Me, and worship Me with no desires for self, I provide full shelter and personally attend to their needs.

Verse 9.26: If one offers Me with love and devotion a leaf, a flower, a fruit or water, I will lovingly accept it.

Verse 9.27&28: O Arjuna, whatever you do, whatever you eat, whatever gift you give, and whatever penance you perform, do it as an offering to Me. By doing so your mind will be established in renunciation and you will be freed from the bondage of your karmas and their good and bad results. Eventually, you will attain your pure divine nature (sat-chit-anand: truth-consciousness-happiness nature) and the Divine world.

Verse 9.29: I am equal to all, I envy no one, nor am I partial to anyone. But whoever renders service to Me with love and devotion is My dear friend, and I too love him.

Verse 9.34: Engage your mind in always thinking of Me, become devoted to Me, worship Me, and offer obeisance to Me. Thus being always absorbed in My thoughts, you will attain My Divine world.

Maa Bhagavad Gita sharanam!

Shri Krishna Yogeshvar sharanam!

Chapter 8: Akshara Brahma Yoga; The Yoga of Eternal Supreme Truth

Shri Parthasarthi sharanam!

Maa Bhagavad Gita sharanam!

Verse 8.5: Shri Krishna says, whoever at the end of his life leaves his body remembering Me, at once attains My Divine world. Of this, there is no doubt.

Verse 8.6: O Arjuna, a person attains whatever he is remembering at the time of leaving his body. At this time, one will have the thoughts in which he has been most absorbed during his life.

Verse 8.7: Therefore Arjuna, think of Me at all times while performing your duties. With your mind, intellect and duties dedicated to Me, you will attain My Divine world without a doubt.

Verse 8.8: One who has disciplined his mind and intellect by effort, practice, yoga, and meditation, in always remembering the Divine form of Param Purusha (Supreme Being - God), attains the Divine world.

Verse 8.14: O Arjuna, one who always remembers Me with an undivided mind, to that yogi who is ever absorbed in My thoughts, I am easily attainable.

Verse 8.15: Great jiva atmas (souls) who have attained pure divine love for Me, come back to my Divine world and are not subject to rebirth in this transient material world of sorrow.

Verse 8.16: All jiva atmas (souls) residing in the heavenly planets or earthly planets are subject to repeated birth and death. However, for one who has attained My pure divine love, there is no rebirth.

Verse 8.21: The world which is eternal and imperishable, which is the supreme destination, and having attained which one never returns to the material world, that is My Divine world.

Maa Bhagavad Gita Sharanam!

Hari ॐ Sharanam!