THE LORD, HIS DEVOTEES AND DEVOTION (FROM BHAGAVADGITA)

THE LORD, HIS DEVOTEES AND DEVOTION (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.
In the following verses from the Gita the Lord speaks about
Himself, his devotees and devotion per se
भोक्तारं यज्ञतपसां सर्वलोकमहेश्वरम्
सुहृदं सर्वभूतानां ज्ञात्वा मां शान्तिमृच्छति [५.२९]
One who knows Me as the acceptor of sacrifices (yagna) and austerities
(tapas) (of devotees), as the Supreme Lord of all the worlds and as the friend
and well-wisher of all beings, attains to supreme Peace.  
यो मां पश्यति सर्वत्र सर्वं च
मयि पश्यति
तस्याहं न प्रणश्यामि स च मे
न प्रणश्यति [६.३०]
सर्वभूतस्थितं यो मां
भजत्येकत्वमास्थितः
सर्वथा वर्तमानोऽपि स
योगि मयि वर्तते [६.३१]
One who sees Me everywhere (that is in all things, animate or
inanimate) and sees everything in Me 
never loses sight of me.  I too
never lose sight of him (6.30).  The yogi
who devoutly worships me equally in all beings abides in Me whatever may be his
mode of life(6.31)
चतुर्विधा भजन्ते मां
जनाः सुकृतिनोऽर्जुन
आर्तो जिज्ञासुरर्थार्थी ज्ञानी च
भरतर्षभ [७.१६]
तेषां ज्ञानी नित्ययुक्तः एकभक्तिर्विशिष्यते
प्रियो हे ज्ञानिनोऽत्यर्थमहं स च मम
प्रियः [७.१७]
O Arjuna! four types of people, who have earned punya (merit by doing good deeds)
worship Me.  Those who are afflicted,
those who are seekers of the Truth, those who are after wealth and the gnani, the realised soul (7.16).  Of the four, the gnani remains ever united with me in single-minded devotion.  He is dear to Me and I am very dear to
him(7.17)
यो यो यां
यां तनुं भक्तः श्रद्धयाऽर्चितुमिच्छति
तस्य तस्याचलां श्रद्धां तामेव विदधाम्यहम्  [७.२१]
Whichever deity a devotee wants to worship with reverence and faith,
that very faith of his I make unwavering and strong.
स तया श्रद्धया युक्तस्तस्याराधनमीहते
लभते च ततः
कामान्मयैव विहितान् हि तान् [७.२२]
Endowed with the faith I give him, he worships that deity and gets all
that he prays for.  In reality I am the
one who grants the wishes of the devotee (though his prayers are addressed to
his favourite deity).    
येऽप्यन्यदेवताभक्ता यजन्ते श्रद्धयान्विताः
तेऽपि मामेव कौन्तेय
भजन्त्यविधिपूर्वकम् ॥७.२३॥
Those
who worship the other gods with faith and devotion, in reality,  worship only me though not in a proper manner.
अहं हि सर्वयज्ञानां
भोक्ता च प्रभुरेव च।
न तु मामिजानन्ति
तत्त्वेनातश्च्यवन्ति ते ॥७.२४॥
I
am the Lord and the one who accepts all sacrifices.  Since they do not understand my real nature,
they deviate from the right path.
नाहं प्रकाशः सर्वस्य योगमायासमावृतः
मूढोऽयं नाभिजानाति लोको
मामजमव्ययम् [७.२५]
I do not manifest myself to one and all, covered as I am, by my yogamaya.  Ignorant men, deluded as they are by my
Maya,  do not know Me who is unborn and
unchanging
वेदाहं समतीतानि वर्तमानानि चार्जुन
भविष्याणि च भूतानि मां तु वेद
न कश्चन [७.२६]
 O Arjuna! I know all beings  past, 
present and those yet to come. 
But no one knows me ).     
अनन्यचेताः सततं यो
मां स्मरति नित्यशः
तस्याहं सुलभः पार्थ नित्ययुक्तस्य योगिनः [८.१४]
I am easily accessible to the Yogi who is ever remembering me, without
break, with an undistracted mind and always remains absorbed in me. 
मामुपेत्य पुनर्जन्म दुःखालयमशाश्वतम्
नाप्नुवन्ति महात्मानः संसिद्धिं परमां गताः [८.१५]
These great souls, having reached me, 
never again take birth which is the source of all sorrow and which is
fleeting.  They have attained the highest
goal of life.
अवजानन्ति मां मूढा
मानुषीं तनुमाश्रितम्
परं भावमजानन्तो मम
भूतमहेश्वरम् [९.११]
Fools do not give me due recognition when I take on a human-like body
because they know nothing of My majesty as the Supreme Lord of all beings.
महात्मानस्तु मां पार्थ् दैवीं प्रकृतिमाश्रिताः
भजन्त्यनन्यमनसो ज्ञात्वा भूतादिमव्ययं
[९.१३]
Noble souls of divine nature, knowing Me as the origin of all beings,
ever remember me with single-minded devotion
.
सततं कीर्तयन्तो मां
यतन्तश्च दृढव्रताः
नमस्यन्तश्च मां नित्यं नित्ययुक्ता उपासते [९.१४]
Ever remaining one with Me, they adore me by singing my praises,
exerting themselves, remaining steadfast on their vows and offering salutations
to me day in and day out   
अनन्याश्चिनतयन्तो मां ये
जनाः पर्युपासते
तेषां नित्याभियुक्तानां योगक्षेमं वहाम्यहम्  [९.२२]
Those who worship me and meditate upon me with an undistracted mind,
devoting every moment to me, to them I supply all their needs and guard their
possessions from loss (by theft or other means.
पत्रं पुष्पं पलं
तोयं यो मे
भक्त्या प्रयच्छति
तदहं भक्त्युपहृतमश्नामि प्रयतात्मनः [९.२६]
Whoever gives me an offering in true devotion be it a leaf, a flower, a
fruit or just water I accept it, it being a gift of love, his heart’s
dedication
यत्करोषि यदश्नासि यज्जुहोषि
ददासि यत्
यत्तपस्यसि कौन्तेय तत्कुरुष्व
मदर्पणम् [९.२७]
शुभाशुभफलैरेवं मोक्ष्यसे कर्मबन्धनैः
संन्यासयोगयुक्तात्मा विमुक्तो
मामुपैष्यसि ॥९.२८॥
Whatever
you do, eat, offer into the sacrificial fire, give in gifts or whatever   penance you do, O son of Kunti!, surrender
everything  to me.  By this means you will be rid of all fruits,
whether good or bad.  Rooted in the
discipline of  detachment  (renunciation) you will be liberated from the
bondage resulting from action and you will reach Me. 
समोऽहं सर्वभूतेषु न
मे द्वेष्योऽस्ति न प्रियः
ये भजन्ति तु मां
भक्त्या मयि ते
तेषु चाप्यहम्  [९.२९]
I am equal in all beings; none I love and none I hate. Nevertheless, my
devotees abide in me always and so do I in them
अपि चेत्सुदुराचारो भजते मामनन्यभाक्
साधुरेव स मन्तव्यः सम्यग्व्यवसितो हि सः [९.३०]
Even if a man of mean and despicable conduct has single-minded devotion
to me, he is not to be considered a sinner but as one who has chosen the right
path with determination.
क्षिप्रं भवति धर्मात्मा शश्वच्छान्तिं निगच्छाति
कौन्तेय प्रतिजानीहि न
मे भक्तः प्रणश्यति
[९.३१]
He will soon become a person of great virtue and will attain eternal
peace.  O 
son of Kunti! Of this be certain; one who loves me shall not perish
मां हि पार्थ व्यपाश्रित्य येऽपि स्युः पापयोनयः
स्त्रियो वैश्यास्तथा शूद्रास्तेऽपि यान्ति परां गतिम् [९.३२]
Even those belonging to the lower castes, women, vaishyas and Sudras can
reach the highest spiritual realization if they take refuge in me
मन्मना भव मद्भक्तो मद्याजी मां नमस्कुरु
मामेवैष्यसि युक्त्वैवमात्मानं मत्परायणः [९.४]
Fill your heart and mind with me, adore me, make all your acts an
offering to me, bow down to me in self surrender. If you set your heart upon me
thus, and take me for your ideal above all others, you will come into my Being 




Sri P R Ramamurthy Ji was the author of this website. When he started this website in 2009, he was in his eighties. He was able to publish such a great number of posts in limited time of 4 years. We appreciate his enthusiasm for Sanskrit Literature. Authors story in his own words : http://ramamurthypr1931.blogspot.com/

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