DEVOTION TO GOD MANIFEST (FROM BHAGAVADGITA)
The Gita, along with the Upanishads and the Brahma Sutras, embodies the flights of spiritual thought and
philosophy of the seers of ancient India. It
contains the essence of the
practical philosophy of the Upanashads in language more easily comprehended
than that used in the latter. It is wrong to call it the scriptural text of
the Hindus only. The message of the Gita is
relevant for all times and for all
humanity. Sage Vedavyasa has embedded this treasure in
the heart of Mahabharata, the geat epic poem written by him. It has been appreciated and acclaimed by the
great thinkers and philosophers of the World and translated into the major
world languages. It is strange that this
great sermon was delivered by Lord Krishna to Arjuna in the most unusual of
settings, the battlefield of Kurukshetra
where the Pandava and Kaurava armies were facing each other and Arjuna’s
chariot, with Krishna as the charioteer, was stationed right in the middle of
the two armies.
philosophy of the seers of ancient India. It
contains the essence of the
practical philosophy of the Upanashads in language more easily comprehended
than that used in the latter. It is wrong to call it the scriptural text of
the Hindus only. The message of the Gita is
relevant for all times and for all
humanity. Sage Vedavyasa has embedded this treasure in
the heart of Mahabharata, the geat epic poem written by him. It has been appreciated and acclaimed by the
great thinkers and philosophers of the World and translated into the major
world languages. It is strange that this
great sermon was delivered by Lord Krishna to Arjuna in the most unusual of
settings, the battlefield of Kurukshetra
where the Pandava and Kaurava armies were facing each other and Arjuna’s
chariot, with Krishna as the charioteer, was stationed right in the middle of
the two armies.
In the following verses from the Gita, the Lord explains that it is
very difficult for the human mind to dwell on the Attributeless, Unmanifest God (Nirguna
Brahman) whereas it is comparatively easy to concentrate one’s mind on the
Manifest God.
very difficult for the human mind to dwell on the Attributeless, Unmanifest God (Nirguna
Brahman) whereas it is comparatively easy to concentrate one’s mind on the
Manifest God.
भगवानुवाच –
मय्यावेश्य मनो ये मां नित्ययुक्ता उपासते
श्रद्धया परयोपेतास्ते मे युक्ततमा मताः [१२.२]
ये त्वक्षरमनिर्देश्यमव्यक्तं पर्युपासते
सर्वत्रगमचिन्त्यं च कूतस्थमचलं ध्रुवम् [१२.३]
संनियम्येन्द्रियग्रामं सर्वत्र
समबुद्धयः
समबुद्धयः
ते प्राप्नुवन्ति मामेव
सर्वभूतहिते रताः [१२.४]
सर्वभूतहिते रताः [१२.४]
क्लेशोऽधिकतरस्तेषामव्यक्तासक्तचेतसाम्
अव्यक्ता हि गतिर्दुःखं देहवद्भिरवाप्यते [१२.५]
ये तु सर्वाणि
कर्माणि
मयि संन्यस्य मत्पराः
कर्माणि
मयि संन्यस्य मत्पराः
अनन्येनैव योगेन मां ध्यायन्त उपासते [१२.६]
तेषामहं समुद्धर्ता मृत्युसंसारसागरात्
भवामि नचिरात्पार्थ मय्यावेशितचेतसाम् [१२.७]
मय्येव मन आधस्व
महि बुद्धिं निवेशय
महि बुद्धिं निवेशय
निवसिष्यसि मय्येव अतः ऊर्ध्वं
न संशयः
[१२.८]
न संशयः
[१२.८]
Those whose minds are fixed on me in steadfast love, worshipping me
with absolute faith, I consider them to have the greater understanding of
yoga(12.2).
with absolute faith, I consider them to have the greater understanding of
yoga(12.2).
Those who worship God the
unmanifest which is immutable, indefinable, all-pervading, beyond the reach of
thought, constant, immovable and changeless, by controlling their senses and
the mind and seeing the same divinity in all creatures and working for their
benefit, will certainly reach Me(12.3,
12.4).
unmanifest which is immutable, indefinable, all-pervading, beyond the reach of
thought, constant, immovable and changeless, by controlling their senses and
the mind and seeing the same divinity in all creatures and working for their
benefit, will certainly reach Me(12.3,
12.4).
Those who are thus devoted
to the Unmanifest have to struggle hard.
The Unmanifest can be realised by embodied souls only with great
difficulty (12.5).
to the Unmanifest have to struggle hard.
The Unmanifest can be realised by embodied souls only with great
difficulty (12.5).
I, God manifest, quickly
rescue from this mortal world of births
and deaths, those who offer me every
action in complete surrender, for whom
I am the only goal, who worship me and meditate
upon me with single-minded devotion and
whose minds are always absorbed in me. (12.6,12.7)
rescue from this mortal world of births
and deaths, those who offer me every
action in complete surrender, for whom
I am the only goal, who worship me and meditate
upon me with single-minded devotion and
whose minds are always absorbed in me. (12.6,12.7)
Be absorbed in me and lodge your mind in me. Thus
shall you dwell in me here and hereafter,
do not doubt it, O Arjuna(12.8)
shall you dwell in me here and hereafter,
do not doubt it, O Arjuna(12.8)
