Reflections of Anand Om Sankaran

Srimad Bhagavat Gita commentary chapter 18 verse 78

2021-07-18T07:21:00.002-05:00

Chapter 18 verse 78

“Wherever there is Shree Krishna, the Lord of all Yoga, and wherever there is Arjuna, the supreme archer, there will also certainly be unending opulence, victory, prosperity, and righteousness. Of this, I am certain.”

This is the final sloka of the Bhagavat Gita in which a definitive conclusion is made by Sanjaya, the narrator about the outcome of the war and side of the victors. Considering that the kaurava army was far more powerful and larger than the pandava army and that the prediction was made to the emperor on the side of Kauravas, it was indeed a bold prediction by Sanjaya. However Sanjaya was driven by his conviction that where there is God and His devotee, that side cannot lose. The side of God is the side of virtue, truth, both material and spiritual opulence and hence victory has to happen. Likewise in life, as devotees of the Supreme Lord, we need to be on His side by leading a virtuous, truthful and good spirited life and be constantly on the path of spiritual bliss. I am extremely humbled by the opportunity to reflect on the great teaching of Bhagavat Gita over the last 18 months. All praise be to the Supreme Bhagawan!!! “Kaayena Vaacha Manasa Indriyehi va, buddhi atmanava prakruthe svabhavath karomi yadyath sakalam parasmy narayana ithi samarpayami- All my actions performed by body, speech, mind, senses, intellect and soul-soul and my inherent vasanas are surrendered in the Divine feet of the Supreme Lord Narayana and let Him Bless us with His GRACE”.

Srimad Bhagavat Gita commentary chapter 18 verse 77

2021-07-17T08:33:00.004-05:00

Chapter 18 verse 77

“And remembering that most astonishing and wonderful cosmic form of Lord Krishna, great is my astonishment, and I am thrilled with joy over and over again.”

Nothing which happens in life is an accident. Bhagawan Sri Krishna afforded the cosmic vision of Himself to Arjuna since he asked in a devoted fashion and had the merits gathered from all his previous lives and sincerity. Sanjaya, being the narrator of this Bhagavat Gita to Dhritharastra benefited from this cosmic vision as well. Sincere efforts from our end afford Divine Grace. That’s what Sanjaya received in this case and he is still reveling in that boundless joy of having that cosmic vision.

Srimad Bhagavat Gita commentary chapter 18 verse 76

2021-07-16T05:36:00.004-05:00

Chapter 18 verse 76

“As I repeatedly recall this astonishing and wonderful dialogue between the Supreme Lord Shree Krishna and Arjuna, O King, I rejoice again and again.”

Sanjaya is excitedly telling King Dhritharastra that he is blissful to have heard the dialogue between Bhagawan and Arjuna and would love to hear it again and again for validation and pure joy. This is the nature of focused action whether spiritual or otherwise. Focused efforts lead to good results and in the path of spirituality; one has to focus their material instruments on the spiritual realm and away from the material realm. Even though this is hard, by God’s Grace and human effort it is not impossible.

Srimad Bhagavat Gita commentary chapter 18 verse 75

2021-07-15T05:55:00.004-05:00

Chapter 18 verse 75

“By the grace of Veda Vyasa, I have heard this supreme and most secret Yoga from the Lord of Yoga, Shree Krishna himself.”

Veda Vyasa was the Guru of Sanjaya and had blessed him with remote viewing and clairvoyance abilities. He could listen and observe the conversation between Bhagawan Sree Krishna and Arjuna in the battlefield while being present with Dhridirastra in the hastinapura palace. Sanjaya feels immensely blessed to have heard this great spiritual discourse from the Lord of Lords Himself. We call Mahabharata as itihaasa or history or “what happened” since it was written as it happened. Veda Vyasa with his remote viewing and clairvoyance abilities could observe all occurrences in all places and has given us a priceless gem of an epic including the priceless Bhagavat Gita. It is also by God’s Grace that we get to reflect on this immense and profound spiritual knowledge.

Srimad Bhagavat Gita commentary chapter 18 verse 74

2021-07-14T05:41:00.003-05:00

Chapter 18 verse 74

“Sanjaya said: Thus, have I heard this wonderful conversation between Shree Krishna, the son of Vasudeva, and Arjuna, the noble-hearted son of Pritha. So thrilling is the message that my hair is standing on end.”

A just culmination of the dialogue between Bhagawan and Arjuna happened in the last sloka with Arjuna declaring that he will follow and execute Bhagawan’s advise. Having witnessed and heard the entire conversation, Sanjana who was granted special powers of remote viewing and sensing by Veda Vyasa is filled with deep devotion for Bhagawan and is also very impressed with Arjuna that he is following Bhagawan’s advice. Sanjana is a blessed soul in that when presented with great knowledge, he is soaking up on the same and his heart is swayed by his devotion towards Supreme.

Srimad Bhagavat Gita commentary chapter 18 verse 73

2021-07-13T05:40:00.003-05:00

Chapter 18 verse 73

“Arjuna Said: O infallible one, by your grace my illusion has been dispelled, and I am situated in knowledge. I am now free from doubts, and I shall act according to your instructions.”

It is only by the God’s Grace that Arjuna’s delusion has been quashed. He has been given the wisdom to differentiate between real and unreal, pair of opposites in terms of all material clinging. Arjuna does not have any doubts about what he is supposed to do and he declares that he will do as per what Bhagawan Sri Krishna wanted him to do earlier in the Bhagavat Gita-that is to fight the kaurava army to the best of his ability. Arjuna declares “I will do your biding-Karishye Vachanam Tava”. It is time for all of us to utter the same mantra-I will do God’s biding. May He light our path of virtue and goodness and keep us out of harm’s way.

Srimad Bhagavat Gita commentary chapter 18 verse 72

2021-07-12T05:51:00.002-05:00

Chapter 18 verse 72

“O Arjuna, have you heard me with a concentrated mind? Have your ignorance and delusion been destroyed?”

The Bhagavat Gita started with Arjuna’s vishaadha-his delusion and depression in chapter 1. After nearly 700 slokas explaining the deep secrets of life, Bhagawan wants to know from Arjuna if he has understood what has been instructed to him. Any great teacher is always looking for validation from the student if they have understood what has been taught. Bhagawan fully knows that Arjuna has understood the teaching at least to the extent which needs to be understood for completing the task at hand. Spiritual teachings cannot be understood only theoretically. We need to have experiential understanding of the spiritual knowledge and that’s what all our multiple lives prepare us for.

Srimad Bhagavat Gita commentary chapter 18 verse 71

2021-07-11T08:01:00.002-05:00

Chapter 18 verse 71

“Even those who only listen to this knowledge with faith and without envy will be liberated from sins and attain the auspicious abodes where the pious dwell.”

Spiritual enlightenment is a process over multiple life times. Arjuna gained this knowledge from Bhagawan due to his efforts from multiple lives and his current life of a devout kshatriya. The path is long but not impossible. A traveler can start the journey irrespective of where they are at a particular point in life. The requirements are just two fold-a guide or a map to the path and the intention to travel on the path. Anyone who has the right intention and listens to this Bhagavat Gita with faith and sincerity with no malice or ill will in their hearts, should be able to benefit immensely from the teaching irrespective of whether they are ready for this intellectually or not. Over time, everyone is supposed to get to this path and reach the destination. There are no exceptions and inhibitions. None is superior or inferior for the Divine Lord in this Universe. Everyone is on their own path and at their own pace. Intention to reach the GOAL is the key ingredient necessary for the journey to culminate where it needs to reach.

Srimad Bhagavat Gita commentary chapter 18 verse 70

2021-07-10T06:46:00.004-05:00

Chapter 18 verse 70

“And I proclaim that those who study this sacred dialogue of ours will worship me (with their intellect) through the sacrifice of knowledge; such is my view.”

What is the indication or qualification of a realized person or wise person? It is their humility which is ample evidence of their wisdom and real knowledge. Bhagawan, the Lord of the Universe exhibits humility in ample loads by saying that it would be great for people who want to learn ultimate spiritual knowledge to peruse this dialogue between Bhagawan and Arjuna in his humble opinion. In order to gain from this Bhagavat Gita however, the person who listens to or reads it needs to surrender their intellect to Him and let be filled with His wisdom, devotion and Grace.

Srimad Bhagavat Gita commentary chapter 18 verse 69

2021-07-09T06:17:00.000-05:00

Chapter 18 verse 69

“No human being does more loving service to me than they; nor shall there ever be anyone on this earth more dear to me.”

How does one repay the debt of receiving this timeless and priceless spiritual knowledge? The only way to repay that debt to the Divine is to impart this profound knowledge to the thirstiest, curious and deserving seeker. Bhagawan is very clear not the provide this knowledge to someone who doesn’t seek it. Bhagawan waited for Arjuna to ask Him for that knowledge exclusively before he provided it to Him. As well, Arjuna has been over multiple lives preparing himself for this knowledge and as well by his strong focus on his kshatriya dharma and devotion towards Bhagawan Sri Krishna.

Srimad Bhagavat Gita commentary chapter 18 verse 68

2021-07-08T05:50:00.002-05:00

Chapter 18 verse 68

“Those, who teach this most confidential knowledge amongst my devotees, perform the greatest act of love. They will come to me without doubt.”

In the previous verse, Bhagawan instructed who shouldn’t receive this spiritual knowledge and will not be ready for it. In this verse, Bhagawan points out that on the flip side however it is the best form of devotion towards the Supreme to impart this knowledge among the faithful, devotees and believers. He says it is the greatest act of love. In this kali yuga, it is said that just by singing the praise of the Lord is good enough for salvation. Even though, Bhagawan uttered these words at the fag end of dwarapa yuga, He must have had the foresight of what is expected to come in kali yuga. People who preach this knowledge to the deserving end up propagating this knowledge and hence does God’s work of spreading love and happiness in the world. No wonder, they will reach His abode eventually.

Srimad Bhagavat Gita commentary chapter 18 verse 67

2021-07-07T06:00:00.003-05:00

Chapter 18 verse 67

“This instruction should never be explained to those who are not austere or to those who are not devoted. It should also not be spoken to those who are averse to listening (to spiritual topics), and especially not to those who are envious of me.”

The concept of “karma sanyasa or renunciation of all actions or unaction” is only understood by specific persons and the previous verse instruction is not be accorded to all and sundry and that’s why Bhagawan waited so long to give this to Arjuna. What does it take to be ready for karma sanyasa? The person has to be austere, truly devoted to the Supreme, deeply interested in listening to spiritual topics and have complete faith in instructor (in this case the Supreme Lord but one can substitute it with one’s spiritual Guru). This is why in sanatana dharma, it is stated that Guru can provide the instruction when to take sanyasa or karma sanyasa. A true Guru would be able to assess the person’s suitability and readiness.

Srimad Bhagavat Gita commentary chapter 18 verse 66

2021-07-06T05:43:00.004-05:00

Chapter 18 verse 66

“Abandon all varieties of dharmas and simply surrender unto me alone. I shall liberate you from all sinful reactions; do not fear.”

Bhagawan is asking for “karma sanyasa” in this verse. This is the renunciation of all material duties in deference to service of the Divine. Total surrender is the key. This is even above “karma yoga” where there is still association with the material instruments of body, mind, intellect and ego which doing one’s assigned work without expecting a particular result of the action. Karma Sanyasa surrenders all actions to reach the state of “unaction” not “inaction”. Bhagawan is not asking Arjuna to not perform but do everything for Him and so don’t even worry about doing. Why did Bhagawan wait till now to give this direct instruction?

Srimad Bhagavat Gita commentary chapter 18 verse 65

2021-07-05T06:38:00.005-05:00

Chapter 18 verse 65

“Always think of me, be devoted to me, worship me, and offer obeisance to me. Doing so, you will certainly come to me. This is my pledge to you, for you are very dear to me.”

What is the primer for the most confidential knowledge which will unlock eternal bliss? Bhagawan states that complete surrender to Him-devotion, worship, obeisance and trust in Him would create the conditions to receive the ultimate knowledge for blissful existence. He pledges that such person will only reach Him and that’s the mother of all guarantees. What is that ultimate knowledge though?

Srimad Bhagavat Gita commentary chapter 18 verse 64

2021-07-04T06:24:00.001-05:00

Chapter 18 verse 64

“Hear again my supreme instruction, the most confidential of all knowledge. I am revealing this for your benefit because you are very dear to me.”

Is Arjuna more ready to receive and gain wisdom from the Bhagawan’s and Guru’s instructions than when the Bhagavat Gita teaching began? One would assume that is the case. The Guru, who is nothing but a reflection of the immutable self and the spiritual energy of the universe, determines if the disciple is ready to receive the knowledge which is being imparted. Guru also takes responsibility for the spiritual uplift of the disciple. In this verse, Bhagawan also adds that in addition to his concern about Arjuna’s spiritual readiness, He is ready to impart the most confidential of all knowledge since He is also his dearest friend in this lifetime. God is our dearest friend whether we realize or know it. Let us treat Divinity as our dearest friend and confide to rid ourselves of all sorrow.

Srimad Bhagavat Gita commentary chapter 18 verse 63

2021-07-03T07:20:00.004-05:00

Chapter 18 verse 63

“Thus, I have explained to you this knowledge that is more secret than all secrets. Ponder over it deeply, and then do as you wish.”

The laws of karma dictates that an individual is the sum total of their past karma, inherent vasanas, present action and a dollop of God’s grace which orchestrates all of this play of the character in the material world. Arjuna life does not have boundless possibilities. However he is not bereft of “free will” at the present moment partially conditioned by his past and current vasanas but he does have that choice at the present moment. Bhagawan has given him all he could in terms of advice and now implores on his to make a choice at the present moment. What choice will he make? What choices are we making at every moment of our lives? We should know that every moment is afforded to us by the grace of God and almighty and we shouldn’t be throwing it away.

Srimad Bhagavat Gita commentary chapter 18 verse 62

2021-07-02T06:13:00.002-05:00

Chapter 18 verse 62

“Surrender exclusively unto him with your whole being, O Bharata. By his grace, you will attain perfect peace and the eternal abode.”

Surrendering to the Divine is the key. In Karma Yoga, we surrender our actions as an offering to Divine. In jnana yoga, we realize that God is everything and everywhere and He is the orchestrator of everything in the universe. In ashtanga yoga, one realizes that all material instruments should be in union with the spiritual energy of the Universe and the Supreme Divinity. Finally in Bhakti yoga, one surrenders wholeheartedly to the Divine. How are the paths different? There are no 4 different paths. They are all the same and their objective is the same. Surrender to the Supreme Being is the ultimate GOAL. This is what Bhagawan is communicating in this verse.

Srimad Bhagavat Gita commentary chapter 18 verse 61

2021-07-01T06:00:00.004-05:00

Chapter 18 verse 61

“The Supreme Lord dwells in the hearts of all living beings, O Arjuna. According to their karmas, he directs the wanderings of the souls, who are seated on a machine made of the material energy.

To shake/wake up persons who are in deep slumber, sometimes extreme actions are required. Bhagawan is adopting such straight talk with Arjuna to goad him out of his deep ignorance or delusion of whether to fight his battle or not. He reminds Arjuna that all souls are being directed to their prarabdha karma by Ishwara shakti and that is what is managing and orchestrating the material world or prakriti. Bhagawan calls each of our instruments-body, mind, intellect and ego as the machine made of material energy which is managed by God’s spiritual energy or Daivatvam.

Srimad Bhagavat Gita commentary chapter 18 verse 60

2021-06-30T06:13:00.002-05:00

Chapter 18 verse 60

“O Arjuna, that action which out of delusion you do not wish to do, you will be driven to do it by your own inclination, born of your own material nature.”

This is a profound statement of Bhagawan. Based on the inherent tendencies of the current life and previous lives, Arjuna has been born and living as a kshatriya whose role is to fight for the justice and to uphold dharma for his kingdom. In this way, he would also be exhausting his inherent vasanas of aggression and passion in this lifetime itself if possible. Ignorant of this large scheme for his life, Arjuna is pushing back on fighting the kurushetra war. Bhagawan here points out that if he doesn’t listen to his ageless advice, he will anyways be forced to act per his nature. It is better to act with will rather than be forced to act.

Srimad Bhagavat Gita commentary chapter 18 verse 59

2021-06-29T06:22:00.004-05:00

Chapter 18 verse 59

“If, motivated by pride, you think, “I shall not fight,” your decision will be in vain. Your own material (Kshatriya) nature will compel you to fight.”

The intellect and ego can play tricks to try and control the mind and body against our true nature and confuse ourselves. However the material nature of our self and inherent vasanas dictates how we eventually behave majority of the time. In this particular case, Arjuna has shown indication that he doesn’t want to fight his own kith and kin just for the sake of the kingdom. Bhagawan implores him to fight since the alternative approach cannot last long with all his inherent tendencies for aggression and passion. It is better to exhaust one’s tendencies or vasanas within the construct of “dharma” than to be someone or something else in this life.

Srimad Bhagavat Gita commentary chapter 18 verse 58

2021-06-28T06:20:00.005-05:00

Chapter 18 verse 58

“If you remember me always, by my grace you will overcome all obstacles and difficulties. But if, due to pride, you do not listen to my advice, you will perish.”

What will perish if Bhagawan’s advice is not followed? By His Grace, surrendering to the divine, one is able to overcome all obstacles and difficulties. However if due to ego, pride of self one doesn’t follow His advice, then the person associates themselves with the body, mind, intellect and ego and those instruments will perish over time. The person who surrenders to the Divine and gets His Grace even when they die, their soul becomes one with God. As well, their state of being will be such that they don’t attach themselves to the material instruments and hence don’t feel ever let down by the Supreme Divine.

Srimad Bhagavat Gita commentary chapter 18 verse 57

2021-06-27T06:15:00.001-05:00

Chapter 18 verse 57

“Dedicate your every activity to me, making me your supreme goal. Taking shelter of the Yoga of the intellect, keep your consciousness absorbed in me always.”

Among the instruments of the material world-body, mind, Intellect and ego- intellect reigns supreme and dictates what the mind, body and ego gets attached with. Therefore surrendering the intellect in unison with Supreme Divine is a great way to attain eternal bliss and peace. Dedicating every activity of the intellect to Him and make Him the supreme goal is a great way to attain peace and tranquility. This is easier said than done when we start associating our superiority with our intellect and this becomes major cause of our life sized ego.

Srimad Bhagavat Gita commentary chapter 18 verse 56

2021-06-26T05:38:00.002-05:00

Chapter 18 verse 56

“My devotees, though performing all kinds of actions, take full refuge in me. By my grace, they attain the eternal and imperishable abode.”

The bhaktas of Supreme Divine do not shirk action or responsibility but perform those actions by surrendering both the action and the fruit of the action to the Supreme Divine. Therefore by His grace, they don’t have any effect of their actions on their soul and thus their purified soul attains eternal abode sooner than later.

Srimad Bhagavat Gita commentary chapter 18 verse 55

2021-06-25T05:34:00.000-05:00

Chapter 18 verse 55

“Only by loving devotion to me does one come to know who I am in truth. Then, having come to know me, my devotee enters into full consciousness of me.”

It is said that Sage Veda Vyasa was morose with a deep void after compiling and editing the Vedas, Brahmasutras, mahabharatam and sage Narada implored him to immerse in the act of deep devotion to the Divine and write the Srimad Bhagavatam. As stated in the previous verse, Adi Shankara eventually resorted to surrender to the Divine and Bhakti in his final years after being an epitome of karma yoga and jnana yoga. Bhagawan in this verse states that without that loving devotion to Him, the personal form of the Divine is not revealed and a void is left in the devotee and that supreme bliss is missed. This is not an either or situation but when one realizes thyself, all paths lead only to Him and Him alone. You can replace the Him with Her if your personal form of the Divine is a female. However, Supreme cannot be caged in a form or formless, He or She, Human or any other creation or even limited to one Universe or multi-verses. It is limitless, bottomless ocean of love for everything and everyone in whole wide Universe.

Srimad Bhagavat Gita commentary chapter 18 verse 54

2021-06-24T06:09:00.004-05:00

Chapter 18 verse 54

“One situated in the transcendental Brahman realization becomes mentally serene, neither grieving nor desiring. Being equitably disposed toward all living beings, such a yogi attains supreme devotion unto me.”

Bhagawan briefly describes the state of the realized person as someone who has conquered their body, mind, intellect and ego. They display equanimity among opposite emotions or situations- grief & joy, pleasure and pain, good and evil etc as well as show equipoise amongst all beings. This state of the yogi naturally makes them attracted to God and Divine and sparks devotion of the highest kind in them. Adi Sankaracharya famously said this in many works of his later years especially Bhaja Govindham that the knowledge of the self is only obtained through surrender to the Divine and as well that would be the final surrender to rid ourselves of any semblance of ego left in us. When we reach that self realized state, we are a perfect union of karma yogi, ashtanga yogi, jnana yogi and bhakti yogi. This is utopia for the human soul.