BHAGAVAD GITA - CHAPTER 8 - AKSHARA PARA BRAHMA YOGA BLOGPOST DT 05 12 2020

 

BHAGAVAD GITA

CHAPTER 8

AKSHARA PARA BRAHMA  YOGA

 

Bhagavad Gita is Lord Krishna's advice to the Confused Arjuna on the Battle field of Kurukshetra. Each chapter of Bhagavad Gita is designated as a YOGA.

Here is a summary of Chapter.8. Akshara Pra Brahma Yoga. There are totally 28 Slokas in it and I have given here a faithful description of what each Sloka says. Overall, it is a description of  how births and re-births happen and how to attain Moksha which ends the cycle of re-births.

Now, the sloka-wise description :

1. After listening to Lord Krishna's exposition of Maya and how to come out of it in Ch.7.Jnana Vijnana Yoga, Arjuna asks some very relevant questions in this chapter.

He asks : Krishna, You have used certain terms which I don't really understand. What is Brahma? What is Adhyathma? What is Karma? What is Adhibhutham? what is Adhidaivam? Please explain to me.

Surely, these are all questions which any serious student must ask his teacher. Arjuna wants to understand Yoga completely and clearly. So, he has asked all these questions to Lord Krishna.

2. Arjuna is continuing with his questions further in Sloka.2.

Krishna, What is meant by Adhi Yajna? Where does Adhiyajna reside in this body? How do great, self controlled Yogis know You, even at the time of their death?

3. After listening to these questions, Lord Krishna starts explaining these concepts.

Brahmam is the highest and the best, beyond all beings; and he is permanent.

Adhyathma means Jeevathma, that which resides in this body. It is your own self, your Swabhaava.

Karma is that which causes births and deaths  according to individual  natures.

4. O Arjuna,

Adhibhootham is that which goes on getting destroyed. All that, which is in the cycle of births and deaths come under Adhibhootham.

Adhidaivatham is the Purusha, the constant and permanent.

Adhi Yajna is none other than myself, residing in the human body.

5. The one who, at the  time of death, thinks of me only, and leaves the dying body, he attains to me without an iota of doubt.

6. Arjuna, whoever, at the time of death, thinks of whatever thought and image, he immerses in that thought and image and finally attains to such image and thought in the next birth.

7. Therefore, at all times, keep me in your thoughts and perform your battles; If you surrender your Mind and intellect totally to me and do your battles, without any doubt, you will attain to me.

Here, the lord is giving two injunctions :1. Surrender to me. 2. Perform your battles. Both are necessary.

8. O Arjuna, The one who practices Yoga, not allowing his mind to stray into any other matters, such person surely attains to the greatest and the best, that is me.

9. The omniscient, the permanent one, the one who directs everything, the one who is subtler than the smallest atom, the one who is the lord of the entire universe, whose image can never even be imagined in thoughts, the one who is brighter than the sun and who is entirely free of darkness.(who drives away darkness)...

Here Lord is describing the supreme Paramathma

10. At the time leaving the body, with a steady, unwavering mind, with total devotion, with the strength of one's yogic practice, keeping the life between the two brows, whoever thinks of that Purusha (described in previous sloka) that person certainly attains to the greatest and the best, that is me.

11. The wise men (who mastered the Vedas) praise that as indestructible, or Akshara (one without destruction or end); that place which the Yathis (or Yogis), who have given up their likes and dislikes dualities, who are remaining in Brahmacharya, and who seek and strive to attain, that place(or goal), I am describing to you in detail.

12. Having controlled all his Indriyas(Both Jnanendriyas and karmendriyas),, keeping the Manas (or Mind) totally in one's heart, keeping the prana (or life) in the top of the head (in Sahasraara chakra),  keeping the self (here, the mind and intellect) totally in Yoga.....

13. The one syllable "OM" is itself the Para Brahman. Whoever, goes on reciting OM always, keeps me in mind always and leaves the body, he attains to the best of all states after death.

14.O Arjuna, with a focused mind, always, every day, whoever thinks of me, to that Yogi, I am very easy to attain.

15. Those who have attained to the best state of Moksha, such great beings will certainly never get into the rebirths cycle, which are full of sorrow and are impermanent.

16. O Arjuna, all worlds even including Brahmaloka, are all leading once again to rebirths. Only those who attain to me, will not have rebirths.

17. Those wise men know well that 1000 yogas are equal to one day time and another 1000 yugas are equal to one night for God Brahma.

18. All beings which emerge (or born) from invisibility (Avyaktha) state  to visible (Vyaktha) state, in various shapes, at the time of the start of the Day time of God Brahma; they again merge back into  the invisibility state or become Avyaktha at the start of the Night time of God Brahma.

19. Arjuna, These beings are under the nature's control and not under their own control. They are born at the start of the day time of God Brahma and merge back into avyaktha  state at the start of the Night time of God Brahma.

20. There is another Avyakta which is the Most ancient and constant (permanent), more Avyakta than that which becomes vyakta during God Brahma's day time start, that which remains un-destroyed even after all beings get destroyed. That avyakta state is unique and always constant (permanent).

21.He, who is avyaktha and un-destroyed always, he is praised (by the Yogis) as the greatest attainment for all.

By attaining which, beings do not come back into re-births, that state is the greatest attainment or Moksha.

22. Arjuna, All beingsand entire Universe reside within that Avyakta entity or Paramathma.

That Avyakta entity is also spread through the Universe.

He (that Paramathma)  can be attained through complete, focused devotion only.

23. O Arjuna, I am now describing to you that time in which Yogis attain a state of Moksha , from which they do not come back into the re-births cycle and that time in which the beings leave their bodies but come back through re-births.

24. Fire (agni), light(Jyothi), day time (Ahah), that 15 days in which moon is on ascent in the month (Suklapaksha), that 6 months which are called Uttarayana - in that period, those who have realised Brahman, die and attain to Brahman.

Uttarayana is the 6 months period which is called summer Solstice. It begins from the day of Makar Sankranti which is considered as a symbol of positivity. In this period Sun travels from Capricorn to Cancer that is from South to North.

Yogis prefer to leave their physical bodies during Uttarayana, Suklapaksha, day time and travel into Moksha through a Jyotirmaya path, escorted by their favourite Gods.

25. On the contrary, Yogis, who leave their bodies in  winter solstice or Dakshinayana,(when sun travels from north to south) in Krishna paksha (when Moon is in downward path, ending in new moon day), and night time, they go (to heavens) through a moon linked light(Jyothi) and are eventually reborn again on earth.

It is believed, such Yogis are taken by their favourite Gods to Heaven and such other upper lokas , stay  their till they extinguish the fruit of their Good deeds (Punya) and then come back to earth and take birth again.

26. The two paths of light and dark (Sukla and krishna) are  believed to be permanent paths for Yogis of this world.

But, in one way only, Yogis attain Moksha without rebirth. In another way, they have to come back and be re-born again.

27. O Arjuna, The Yogi who has understood both these paths well, does not get into any illusions (and attractions) of this earth. Therefore Arjuna, start practicing Yoga.

28.The Yogi (having understood the two paths), goes beyond the Punyaphalam that he can get from - the Vedas, the Yajnas, the tapas(or ascetic practices), through being generous (Dhaanas) etc.

He fixes his goal as the first path of Moksha (from which there is no re-birth).

Conclusion : 

This is the eight chapter called Akshara Para Brahma Yogah - in the Yoga sasthra, which is a Part of Brahma Vidya, in the Upanishad of Bhagavad Gita. It is a part of the Dialogue between Lord Sri Krishna and Arjuna

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BHAGAVAD GITA - CHAPTER 7 - JNANA VIJNANA YOGA -SUMMARY IN ENGLISH- WHAT IS MAYA AND PRAKRITI

 

BHAGAVAD GITA

CHAPTER 7

JNANA VIJNANA  YOGA

 

Bhagavad Gita is Lord Krishna's own advice to the Confused Arjuna. Each chapter in it is designated as a YOGA. Here is a summary of Chapter.7. Jnana Vijnana Yoga. There are totally 30 Slokas in it and I have given here a faithful description of what each Sloka says. Overall, it is a description of what Prakriti or Maya is, how it envelops all beings and how to come out of it with the Lord's blessings.

Now, the slokawise description :

 

1. Lord Krishna says : O Arjuna, Be devoted to me; Have full focus on me; Be always immersed in Yoga; Surrender to me totally: Remain doubtless: Listen to me, and   know me fully the way (I am going to describe herein), in which you can really know me.

2. By knowing that, nothing else really remains to be known.

That wisdom, that knowledge, in totality, I will tell you.

3. Only one in thousand people actually try to know me. Among them also, a very rare person only truly learns my real nature.

4. My nature or Prakriti, is differentiated into eight individual parts -

The Pancha Bhutas consisting of earth, water, fire, air and aakasa (emptiness surrounding all of these), and

Manas (Mind), Buddhi(intellect) and Ahankara (Egoism)

5. Apart from this lower Prakriti or lower Nature, there is a higher Prakriti or nature which actually gives shape to the lower prakriti and runs it. Lower Nature is called Aparaa Prakriti and Higher Nature is  called Paraa Prakriti

6. O Arjuna, Know that all beings are born by the combination of this Aparaa Prakriti and Para Prakriti (lower and higher parts of Nature). But, I am the cause of the birth and death (creation and destruction) of everything in the entire Universe.

7. O Arjuna, there is nothing in the Universe, which is superior to me. All things are joined in me - like pearls and diamonds which get joined tightly together by a thread into a single garland.

8. I am the liquid content (Rasa) in water. I am the light (Prabha) in the Sun and the Moon. I am the OM in the Vedaas. I am the sound (Sabda) in all Universe. I am the manliness (Paurusham) in all humans.

9. I am the most sacred smell in the earth. I am the brightness in the fire. I am the life in all living beings. I am the Tapas-sakthi (or Power of focus) in all sages.

10. O Arjuna, Know that I am the root cause (seed) of all beings. I am the intellect in all wise people. I am the brightness (bravery) in all bright (brave)persons.

11.O Arjuna, I am the strength in all strong persons, such strength being devoid of desires and the dualities of likes (and dislikes). But I am in them all - as that desire which is compliant with and not against Dharma or righteousness.

12. The three Gunas (or characteristics) of Sathva, Rajas and Thamas occur everywhere, at all times because of me. But, Know that I am beyond the three Gunas and I am not in them.

13.  This world (with all beings) is completely dominated and influenced by the three Gunas of Sathva, Rajas and Thamas. Therefore, they are not able to know me who is beyond the three Gunas.

14. My(Godly) creation of the three Gunas together,  form my Maya (Illusion) which is very difficult to go beyond. Only those who surrender to me totally, can go beyond them.

15. Fools, scoundrels(Bad fellows), people who have lost their intellect(or wisdom), Cruel people, wild people, those who indulge in sinful acts - they do not surrender to me.

16. Four types of people pray to me (and surrender) : People who are in deep sorrow ( or those who are filled with Bhakti), People who seek wisdom, People who seek wealth and People who are already wise (wise people) - such people pray deeply to me.

17. Among them also, Those who are focused always on me, with focused devotion and great wisdom - they are the best. For them,  I am very dear and they are very dear to me.

18. All the four types of people are good. But, amongst them, the wise Bhakta actually becomes my embodiment. He fully focuses his mind and intellect on me and attains to the best of life (that is, attains to me).

19. After a great number of births and deaths, such a wise person comes to know that everything is actually Me (Lord Krishna) and he is totally devoted to me. Such a person is very rare and difficult to find.

20. Because, they (the Others) are governed by the characteristics of their own three Gunas (Prakriti), their three Gunas take away their wisdom; therefore, according to their own Gunas(Natures), they worship all sorts of other lower deities.

21. Whoever desires to devote to whichever Image of God, in him, I create  devotion and attention towards those images of Gods.

22. Such Bhakta or Devotee, with his devotion and attention, will pray to such God (whom he has chosen to devote) and through such God, he will fulfill his desires.

23. Those devotees who pray to such lower gods will get impermanent fruits. But, my devotees attain myself(who is endless and permanent).

24.Fools lacking intellect think that I who am unknowable to the five indriyas, is a visible entity who is getting into frequent problems. But, I am the permanent, the greatest, the one beyond the mundane universe.

25. Because of my Yogic illusion (yoga maya), I am invisible and unknowable to all in this world.

Therefore, filled with my Yoga maya, the unwise people of this world cannot know me as the permanent one, the one without any end.

26. I know all beings who lived in the past, who are living in the present and those who are going to live in the future. But, none of them Know me.

27. All beings, right from birth, are getting into endless  illusions because of the Likes and dislikes and the resultant love-hate dualities in them.

28. Those people who perform Punya karmas (righteous, compassionate deeds), they come out of these Likes and dislikes and Love-hate dualities with firm conviction in me and they become my devotees.

29. Those who surrender and devote to me, they try to come out of the birth-death cycle, they get to know the Para-brahman (the omnipotent,omnipresent,omniscient Brahman), the all pervading Pratyagathma and the entire Karma cycle.

30. Those who realize me as Adhibhuta (beyond all beings), Adhidaiva (Beyond all lower Gods) and Adhi Yajna (Beyond all Karmas), they will always know me even after death, being firmly fixed in Yoga.

Conclusion : This is Jnana Vijnana Yoga Chapter of the Yoga sastra which is part of the Brahma Vidya in Bhagavad Gita Upanishad.