In this chapter Bhagavan Krishna explains about Jnana (knowledge) and Vijnana (practical Knowledge). Only a guru of such stature can talk about vijnana. Bhagavan Krishna says that only a few strive for Knowledge and among them only one or two attain me. So rare and precious is this knowledge.
Bhagavan Krishna says that I have divided my nature into eightfold as – Earth, water, fire, air, ether, mind, intellect and egoism. They are said as inferior nature or apara Prakriti. However, a being is higher than this. He is para (supreme). He is the life element by which the world is upheld. All forms are the combination of these two – para and apara prakriti.
Bhagavan is the source as well as the destroyer of this creation. Bhagavan says that there is no one higher than Me and all in this creation are strung to Me as gems in a mala (chain). He is the effulgence of the sun, the sound in the ether, the luminosity of fire, the sapidity of water and the fragrance of the earth. He says that I am the seed of all beings and the Intelligence of the Intelligent.
It is from Bhagavan the prakriti emerges and it is in Him it merges. In the middle He sustains it. We see the difference in Prakriti (nature) and believe that Bhagavan is different from prakriti. He cannot be different from anything in this creation. This creation is a part and parcel of Him.
Unless one takes refuge in Bhagavan it is difficult to understand the Unity in diversity. This creation is the combination of the three gunas of Prakriti. It deludes everyone. To ward of delusion, one has to worship Bhagavan.
Bhagavan says that there are three types of Bhaktas.
1 Some bhaktas worship Me when they are in distress.
- Some worship Me to seek knowledge.
- Some worship Me to satisfy the desires.
- The wise men worship Me for no reason – they love Me
Bhagavan says that the wise men are dearer to Me because they do not expect anything from Me. They worship Me for the sake of worshiping Me. Their bhakti is steadfast without any expectation. They worship Me as their Self and so I am not different from them. In the end they will attain Me. Those wise bhaktas realize that all this is Vasudeva (the innermost Self). Bhagavan Himself says that such bhktas are very hard to find.
Bhagavan says that some bhaktas who are desire oriented worship me in another form as Ishta Devata. However, I will satisfy their desires through that form. Whatever faith a bhakta has I will bless them through that faith. Bhagavan says that the fruit they get by such bhakti is only worldly desire satisfaction; in spite of striving hard they will not understand my true nature. Their effort is diverted to worldly desires. They will not know My higher nature, which is unmanifest. It is pure undivided Consciousness. They are caught in Maya and deluded by the dualities of the world. But the wise men know my nature and worship Me as their Self, and so they are dearer to Me says Bhagavan Krishna. However, those who take refuge in Me, in the end I will reveal my higher nature to them says Bhagavan Krishna in this chapter.
0 Comments