In this chapter Bhagavan Krishna explains a few important technical terms to Arjuna; this chapter also explains the path taken by the bhaktas after their life time.
Arjuna asks Bhagavan Sri Krishna the meaning for
Brahman
Adhyatma
Adhidaiva
Adhiyagna
Adhibhuta
The answer given by Bhagavan Krishna was
- Brahman
Brahman is imperishable, immutable, eternal, self-existent, self-luminous, unchanging, all-pervading and Supreme. It is the source, root and womb of everything. In It all beings that are manifest live, move and have their being. It is paramam (supreme) and Akshara (indestructible). It is neither red nor white; it is not shadow, not darkness; not air, not either; without any sense organs or without mind or breath. It has nothing within or nothing outside. It cannot destroy anything nor can it be destroyed by anything. Brahman is the Akshara, the imperishable, the Supreme being.
- Adhyatma
Brahman dwelling in each individual body as the innermost Self is called Adhyatma. Adhyatma or Atma is not different from Brahman; the difference is in the way we perceive it. Atma has the same nature of Brahman. Only thing is it is the individual aspect.
- Adhidaiva
Adhidaiva is the witness consciousness. The in dweller by which all the other faculties perform is Adhidaiva. The presiding deities of the sense organs, the mind, the intellect are also said as devatas. In a nutshell, it is the soul or Jiva (which is a combination of chit) is Adhidaiva.
- Adhiyagna
Adhiyagna is the Consciousness; the presiding deity of sacrifice.
Lord Vishnu identifies Himself with all sacrificial acts. ‘Yajna is verily Vishnu’, says Taittiriya Samhita. Lord Krishna says, ‘I am the presiding deity in all acts of sacrifice in the body like the act of perception, feeling or thought’. Therefore, That Consciousness, which is in the form of Vishnu is the Adhiyagna.
- Adhibhuta
Adhibhuta is the knowledge of the elements which is of perishable nature; the changing Universe of the five elements with all its objects; all the material objects; everything that has birth; the changing world of names and forms is Adhibhuta.
Next Bhagavan Sri Krishna explains about the transmigration of the soul. He says that, whoever remembers Me alone at the time of leaving the body will attain Me and there is no doubt in it. To remember Bhagavan at the final moment one has to practice thinking about Him all the life. Otherwise, our miseries, worries will dominate at the final moment.
If we do not think of Bhagavan at the final moment, then we cannot attain Bhagavan; instead, we take birth according to the final thought of our life. The dominating thought in our life occupies the final moment. Therefore, one must practice the thought of Bhagavan all the time.
One must do any action thinking that Bhagavan has directed me to complete it successfully. Mind must be always engaged with the Brahmakara vritti, if the mind is always engaged in the Brahmakara Vritti, or saguna upasana or Nirguna uasana.- then at the end moment this thought which we have practised all life will come to the mind automatically.
Withdrawing the senses and the mind inward, focusing on Bhagavan if one utters omkara then he will attain the Supreme goal. Bhagavan says that, once when he attains Me there is no return for him to this world; which implies that there is no rebirth for him. Bhagavan says that all the worlds including the world of Brahma are subject to return again but the one who attain Me do not return again.
A day time of Brahma is thousand yugas and the night time of Brahma is thousand yugas. Both day and night make one day of Brahma. At the end of each day time of Brahma (i.e thousand yugas) there will be pralaya. When the day time of Brahma begins there will be creation again. During the pralaya everything remains in the avyakta (seed form) and when the day time of Brahma begins it will manifest again. Bhagavan is beyond the manifest and the unmanifest and one who attain Him will not take rebirth. This is a being’s highest abode.
Bhagavan says that, one who departs in the day time, in the bright fortnight, in the northern solstice, will be led to Brahma loka. This path leads to salvation. A person of that spiritual caliber will leave the body at that time.
A person who departs in the night time, in the dark fortnight, in the southern solstice, will be led to pithir loka and will take rebirth according to his karma. These are the overall general rules. There exist many sub-rules for a person to attain salvation.
Bhagavan Krishna says that a yogi must withdraw his senses inward and always concentrate on Me then he will attain Me.
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