BHAGAVAD GITA - CHAPTER 18 - PART-3 - SL.51 TO 78 - MOKSHA SANYASA YOGA

 

BHAGAVAD GITA

CHAPTER 18

PART-3-SL.51 TO 78

MOKSHA SANYASA  YOGA

 

 

51. He who possesses well Purified Buddhi (Intellect), controls himself with great courage. He also renounces interest in sensual objects of sound, sight and the dualities of Love and hate (Raga- dvesha)

52. He - (i) lives alone, (ii) eats less, (iii) controls his speech, physical body and mind (thought, word and deed), (iv) remains in meditation always (v) remains without likes and dislikes with strong detachment.

53.He has given up (i) All Ego (ahankara) (ii) Interest in Physical strength (Balam), (iii) Self elation and importance (Darpam) (iv) Desires (Kaamam) ,(v) anger (Krodham), and (vi) Owning or taking away from nature or others (Sangraha).

But, having given up all self interest (Mamakaara), he becomes fit for attaining to Brahman.

54. One who has attained oneness (feeling) with Brahman - is always with a happy mind. He never feels sorrow. he has no desires. He looks at all beings with the same mindset and equality feeling. He attains the best of my devotion.

My Comments :

What is this oneness feeling? It is what the Upanishads say as - Aham Brahma asmi. I am the Brahman. The Brahman is in me. I am in the Brahman. I am therefore the Brahman. This Upanishadic statement is often used as the best tool for Yoga and Meditation.

All previous slokas describe his way of life. He is beyond the Three Gunas of sathva, rajas and Tamas. He needs nothing in this world.

55. Through Bhakti, the Yogi knows who I am, my real  greatness and Power very clearly and very truly. After knowing my true nature, he becomes one with me.

My Comments :

Bhakti is nothing but knowing the Lord and surrendering the Egoistic self to the Lord. Surrender makes you know that the Lord is the Almighty himself.

56. Whoever has surrendered to me, even if he is doing all karmas always, he will attain to the imperishable and permanent seat in me because of my blessings.

57. Therefore, wholeheartedly, keep all your Karmas in me. Devote to me always. Adopt Buddhi Yoga and keep your mind always in me.

58. If you keep your heart in me, You will go beyond all Obstacles with my blessings. But, if you become ego-filled and do not listen to me, you will perish.

My Comments :

If you surrender to me, all obstacles will vanish and You win.

If you act according to your Ego, You perish - says the Lord. Perishing really means -you will be always in the birth-death-suffering wheel of life.

59.You are thinking because of your Ego to keep away from the battle. But this futile effort of you will go and your true nature will finally use you.

My Comments :

What is Ego? It is the feeling that - I am the Doer. That is keeping Arjuna's mind away from the battle. But, some other forces are always acting. Arjuna's innate nature is - in favour of battle. Temporary delusion is acting now. Finally, the innate nature will win. That is what the Lord says.

60. Because of delusion, you are refusing  to do the battle. But, your nature will bind you to your natural karma and you will anyway do it.

My Comments :

Prakriti creates Moha or delusion. Moha creates confusion. So, Arjuna's refusal to do battle arises from this confusion, which is what, the Lord is pointing out. But, ultimately, Arjuna's inner nature will come out and take over.

61. Arjuna ! Eeswara is sitting in the Hearts of all beings. He is moving all of them with his Maaya Sakthi,  as if they are riding on a machine.(The Machine here is their physical body and mind).

My Comments :

Lord is everywhere. His Maaya Shakthi is also everywhere. All of our actions are influenced by his Maaya Shakthi.

62.Arjuna,In every Possible way, surrender to the  Eeswara. By his blessings and Grace, you will achieve Great peace and an eternal place (which is, Moksha) in him.

My Comments :

Who is this Easwara? He is - None other than Krishna himself. Arjuna knows it by now.

63. I have told all this Jnanam which is more mysterious than all other secrets. Examine this within you in detail and fully - and do how so ever you feel fit.

My Comments :

Choice is yours. Do whatever you want to do now, says the Lord. Let us see what Arjuna decides.

64.Again, listen to my words which are most secret and most sacred. I am telling you, only that which will do you the greatest good,  because you are so very dear to me.

My Comments :

When Krishna offered a choice of 10,000 active warriors on one side and himself not touching any weapon - Arjuna still chose the Lord. He never entertained any choice in his mind. Duryodhan was happy to have the 10,000 warriors on his side. that shows clearly that - Lord is dear to him and he is dear to the Lord.

65. Keep your heart always on me. Become my  great devotee. Pray to me always. Prostrate before me with Namashkar. You will attain to me. Because you are so very dear to me, I am telling you this truth(Pratijaane) - on Oath.

My Comments :

Lord Krishna has exhibited this self awareness and self confidence - at each step of his life. He is the Almighty himself. Not his representative. Not his son. He is himself the Almighty. Remember - all this happened 5,500 years ago. Physically, he is no more with us. But, his teachings are with us.

66. Give up all (other) Dharmas and just surrender  only to me. I will liberate you from all Sins. Do not be sorrowful.

My Comments :

This sloka is very popular. Sarva Dharman Parityajya, maamekam saranam vraja!

How do you give up all Dharmas and surrender to the Lord? Surrender to the Lord means - Do what the Lord says in Gita. You don't need to read and understand all other religious Texts. And, some of them may be conflicting with each other.  They were all written by some sages. This was given by the Lord himself. So, don't confuse yourself at all - on what is the ultimate Dharma.

Follow the Gita. This is the essence of all Dharmas.  This is the real surrender to the Lord.

You  find - that the Lord asks Arjuna, now you have heard me. Decide what you want to do yourself. Arjuna wisely refuses to do that. This 66th sloka is deeply stuck in the mind of Arjuna. He has already surrendered himself totally to the Lord's will.

67. All this is meant only for you. Never is this to be told to (i) someone who is not a Tapasvi (who has never done Tapas), (ii) someone who is not a devotee (Bhakta), (iii) someone who has never served me and (iv) someone who actually hates me.

My Comments :

The Next sloka and this Sloka must be read together. You must teach this Yoga Vidya to deserving persons. But, you must not teach it to undeserving persons. Make them deserving, before you teach it to them. How they can become deserving - is clearly implied here.

68. But, whoever tells this eternal and sacred secret to my devotees (Bhakthas), such a person will have deep devotion to me. He will attain to me, without any doubt.

My Comments :

This implies - You must pass on this Yoga Vidya to other devotees. Krishna asks you to do it without fail. This is your duty - once you learn it. (So, I am also doing it through this small booklet)

69. Among human beings, there is no one other than such a devotee who does more lovable and cherishable deeds for me.

Likewise, there is none else on this earth, who is more dear and likeable for me than him.

My Comments :

Devotees are dear to the Lord and their deeds are loved by him. Whatever You do as a devotee - therefore, reaches him.

70. This dialogue between you and me is for upholding of Dharma. Whoever studies this in future, he will be showing his great love and reverence to me though this Jnana Yajna. This is my considered and definite opinion.

71. A human who is disciplined, respectful, and has no jealousy - if he listens to our dialogue, he also becomes liberated and reaches and enjoys the luxuries of heaven to which, one becomes eligible by performing lots of good and generous deeds (Punya Karmas).

My Comments :

The reading, recitation and listening of Bhagavad Gita has immense benefits. These are mentioned here in the last two slokas.

One who reads, studies and follows - for him, it is Jnana Yajna. He is totally liberated. One who listens when someone else is reading - he also gets partial liberation and goes to heaven.

There is a difference between total liberation and going to heaven.

Total Liberation relieves you permanently from all suffering.

Heaven gives you immense pleasures as a reward for the good deeds you have done on earth. It is not a place where you will stay permanently.

After the fruits of your good deeds are spent in heaven, you will come back to earth as human being in a good family. Again, the birth-death cycle starts.

72. O Arjuna !  You have heard all this dialogue with great focus of mind. So, has your ignorance caused by your delusions (and likes and dislikes) disappeared now?

My Comments :

We are all like Arjuna in our lives. Have our illusions and delusions disappeared, and has clarity of purpose dawned in us - after listening to this Krishna-Arjuna dialogue?

If not, read again. and again. All answers to life's mysteries are available in this great dialogue.

73. Now, Arjuna replies :

O Krishna ! By your grace, my delusions (Moha) have disappeared. I have regained the steadiness (of my mind). All my doubts have disappeared and gone. I will do whatever you order.

My Comments :

Arjuna has selected Krishna as his Charioteer. At every stage of the war, it is this charioteer, who protected Arjuna, from all dangers.

Arjuna says - I will follow your orders. Whatever you say - that will be my duty, my Dharma. Sarva Dharman Parityajya, maamekam Saranam Vraja - you said already. I adhere to that.

Nothing prevents you and me, from making Lord Krishna our charioteer, in respect of our lives. Like Arjuna, let us also follow the dictates of Lord Krishna, for all success in our lives.

74. Now, at the end, Sanjaya, who has heard all this through his distant vision and hearing says as follows :

In this way, I have heard this wonderful dialogue between the Great Lord, Sri Krishna and Arjuna, which is making my body hairs to stand straight on ends with extreme happiness.

75. Vyasa, the great sage, has given me this faculty of distant hearing. With the help of this skill, I have heard this supreme and sacred Yoga, which is a top secret,  straight from Krishna himself, who is the Lord of Yoga (Yogeswara).

My Comments :

Krishna (or Vishnu) is usually addressed as Yogeswara, the Lord of Yoga.

Siva is usually addressed as Yogeeswara, the Lord of Yogis.

Brahma is addressed as Yoga Brahma.

The great Trinity are always immersed in Yoga and are considered as the most ancient masters of Yoga. Their powers of Governance of the Universe are attributed to the Power of Yoga.

All are addressed as Eeswara. Their functions, namely, Creation, Sustenance and dissolution, are different. Their names are different.

Therefore, you may look at them as three different deities. But, they are in fact, a single entity.

Sage Sankaracharya says - Yeko devah, Kesavova, Sivova. Sivaya Vishnu Roopaya, Vishnu roopaya Namah Sivah.  They are one and the same - Sankaracharya has declared.

Yoga is born along with them. Which means, Yoga existed always. Bhagavad Gita is the complete Yoga Sastra - told to Arjuna, although, in brief.

It is a complete Yoga Sastra - a treatise in itself,  reiterated for our benefit by Lord Krishna, 5500 years ago, at the fag end of Dwapara Yuga.

76. Sanjay is now addressing King Dhritarashtra as follows :

I am becoming so happy, by again and again recollecting this wonderful dialogue between Lord Krishna and Arjuna. This itself is a sacred Punya deed for me.

77. O King ! I am again and again recollecting with pleasantness and surprise, the great and wonderful form of Lord Krishna. Thereby, I am feeling extremely happy.

78. Where Lord Krishna, the Master of Yoga is, and where Partha, the Gandeeva Bow wielding Archer is,   there, the Goddess Lakshmi resides; victory becomes certain; fame becomes certain; and there, righteousness  resides. This is my definite opinion-says Sanjaya.

My Comments :

Let us be the Arjunas of our life. We must wield the Bows of our life. We must do the actual fighting. But, we must make Lord Krishna as the Charioteer and follow his dictates. Our victory is certain.

Conclusion : Here ends the Eighteenth and the last chapter named Moksha Sanyasa Yogah - in the Yoga Sasthra, which is a Part of the Brahma Vidya, in the Upanishad of Bhagavad Gita.

It is a part of the Dialogue between Lord Sri Krishna and Arjuna.

You have read the entire Bhagavad Gita now. Re-read it a few times. Some say - you must read a part of it daily.  And, live by its principles. You will achieve Joy, success and liberation from all sorrows.

May Lord Krishna bless you always.