Those who are free from conceit,
Victorious over the vice of attachment,
Continually thinking of their higher self,
Free from desire for self gratification,
Free from duality of happiness and sorrow,
– such steady people attain my eternal abode (Verse 5)
The Mystery of the Soul
Souls within bodies are part of my eternal self. However, under influence of material nature, they are constantly wrestling with mind and senses (of the body they are in) (Verse 7)
Just as wind blows fragrance from one place to another, the soul takes along its attachment of senses and mind when it departs one body and moves on to another (Verse 8)
For the Soul enjoys sense objects desired by eyes, ears, tongue, nose, skin and mind (Verse 9)
The ignorant do not realize that soul resides in the body or that it departs from the body or that it is enjoying sense objects (under the spell of modes of nature). The wise, to the contrary, are in knowledge (Verse 10)
Those who make effort, realize that soul exists within the body. But those who lack understanding, are unable to recognize this even though they strive (Verse 11)
The Perishable, the Imperishable and the Supreme Soul
Neither sun nor moon nor fire light up my abode, from which there is no return once reached (Verse 6)
Brilliance of the sun that lights up the world, glow of the moon, and blaze of the fire, all arise from Me (Verse 12)
I pervade earth and sustain all living beings with my energy (Verse 13)
There are two kinds of beings in this world – the perishable and the imperishable. All beings in material world are perishable. All beings in my supreme abode are imperishable (Verse 16)
Besides them, there is Supreme Divine Personality which is the indestructible Supreme Soul. It permeates all three worlds and controls it (VERSE 17)
I am beyond the perishable matter and the imperishable soul (VERSE 18)
Those who know with conviction that I am the Supreme Divine Personality, are in complete knowledge. They worship Me whole heartedly (Verse 19)
I have shared this highest knowledge with you. Understanding it will make you wise and accomplish all there is (Verse 20)
Total Verses in this Chapter: 20
Words of Import:
I, me, Absolute Truth, Supreme Being, Supreme Soul, God, Divine, Brahman,Universal Consciousness, Shri Krishna – are all used interchangeably.
YAGNA
has a symbolic as well as a literal meaning. Literally it means a ritual where offerings are made to fire, hymns are chanted and deities are invoked for fulfillment of personal or community desires; or to thank God or to seek God’s blessings. Symbolically, Yagna signifies that we have to do our part (offering/action) in other to obtain something (blessing or fulfillment), with the latter not being guaranteed.
YOGA
The word “Yog” is derived from a Sanskrit word “Yuj” which means to join. In Hindu scriptures, yoga means joining or uniting the soul within the individual with that of the universal soul (God). The common usage of yoga as physical exercise is just a subset of the practice of Yoga, which includes disciplines of meditation and mode of conduct among others. It is believed that practice of all these disciplines make a person ready for unification with the Supreme Being.
DHARMA
refers to our duty as it does to the intent behind our actions. According to Hinduism, every living being has their own personal dharma which may or may not be the same as of others. This dharma is based on one’s situation or circumstance in life.
KARMA
is action as well as the result of the action. Its meaning depends on its context.
MOKSHA
is liberation from the cycle of life and death.
ReferenceS:
“Bhagavad Gita As It Is” by Swami Prabhupada
A Mothers Chronicle 