THE SIXTH CHAPTER
Lord Krishna says, "O Arjuna, one who abandons the desire for the fruits of actions and operates from a place of knowledge is deemed a Sanyasi and a Yogi. Without the light of knowledge, one is neither. O Arjuna, Sannyasa, which is renunciation, is also known as yoga. It signifies forsaking the pursuit of rewards and seeking union with Me. Therefore, he who relinquishes such desires to solely worship Me is both a Sanyasi and a Yogi, while he who clings to desire cannot be called a Sanyasi.
O Arjuna, a sage seeking enlightenment should first perform virtuous acts—embrace the teachings of divine wisdom, honor Me, support the virtuous, revere places touched by My divine acts, and upon gaining knowledge, restrain the mind and senses from worldly pleasures to meditate on My image within their heart.
When one’s senses are free from attachment to others and their actions are devoid of sensual desires, that individual becomes a Yogi. As all mental constructs dissolve, one attains the yogic state. Thus, a person can be their own best friend or worst enemy. Those who surrender their senses to worldly joys are their own foes, while those who master their senses and focus solely on attaining My bliss become their own allies.
The one who has mastered their mind, who remains tranquil in joy and sorrow, honor and disgrace, is steadfast. God resides within them—content with the Guru’s teachings, free from lust and anger, indifferent to greed, treating mud, stone, and gold equally.
O Arjuna! Consider this: one who regards friends and foes, saints and sinners, kinfolk and strangers with equanimity—without malice or jealousy—possesses pure knowledge.
Hear further how such a yogi conducts themselves: mastering mind and intellect to keep desires at bay; dwelling in solitude amidst nature; focusing solely on Me without distractions from deities or worldly elements; selecting a pure place for meditation; sitting on a simple seat; maintaining an upright posture without fidgeting; half-closing the eyes in contemplation; remaining calm, fearless, free from lust and anger; subduing the mind—such a person can truly worship Me and attain My eternal bliss.
O Arjuna! A man given to excessive eating or fasting, too much sleep or wakefulness cannot worship Me."
"One who consumes food at appropriate times and harms no creature, who treads gently upon the earth, does not sit excessively nor wander aimlessly, and performs actions with dignity—such a yogi earns my favor and sees all sorrows vanish. O Arjuna, when his mind is focused and devoted to me, devoid of other desires, he achieves the yogic state. Just as a lamp in a windless space flickers not and shines steadily, so does a yogi, withdrawing his mind from worldly distractions and meditating on me in solitude, behold my radiant form. When that serene yogi’s mind, free from worldly desires through meditation on me, perceives my divine image with the power of knowledge, he finds contentment within.
O Arjuna, the supreme, indestructible bliss that lies beyond sensory perception is attained through knowledge. Recognized by my devotee, it ensures they never stray from the path of devotion. Attaining such bliss, my devotee no longer ponders the pleasures offered by any deity, considering them transient and insignificant.
O Arjuna, whose mind is subdued and steadfast in devotion to me, finds all sorrows eradicated; this state is called yoga. Such yoga is accessible only to those with pure souls. O Partha, my devotees should dispel mental resolutions and shun false desires. Gradually restrain the senses from all directions with courage and a still mind; then focus your thoughts on me alone. The mind is restless; when bewildered, it cannot stay still. Therefore, redirect it towards me whenever it wanders.
He whose mind and heart are tranquil, whose sins are absolved, whose soul has become one with the divine essence and seeks the highest spiritual pleasures—such a yogi, having subdued the mind and devoted himself to me, sees all sins washed away and effortlessly attains my eternal happiness.
Thus, one who perceives me in everything from illusion to grass and sees all beings within me is never far from me, nor am I far from him. The person who worships me with certainty, recognizing me as omnipresent, omniscient, omnipotent—the Lord of all—remains spiritually content and resides in my divine essence even while in his mortal body.
O Arjuna! He who regards all beings as kin, who perceives himself and others in joy or sorrow without causing harm through such knowledge, who wishes well for everyone—is indeed the finest yogi."
Arjuna then asked Lord Krishna: “O Slayer of Madhu! You speak of equanimity towards all as part of this yoga which seems difficult to maintain over time. I doubt its stability because the mind is incredibly fickle. O Lord of the Universe! The mind is strong-willed and stubborn; it challenges even the wise and is as hard to control as the wind.”
In response to Arjun’s query, Lord Krishna said: “O Arjuna! Indeed, the mind is restless and exceedingly difficult to restrain. What you say is true; however, O son of Kunti! Recognizing the world’s impermanence and fostering devotion to me can gradually still the mind from worldly distractions; thus one who fails to control his mind cannot find me. He who restrains his mind and earnestly seeks me will surely attain me through eternal wisdom.”
Arjuna then further inquired: “O Joyous Lord! What becomes of a man who devotes himself to you but strays from the path of devotion for some reason? If he does not return to that path yet holds complete faith in you as the Lord of all—if he dies in such a state—what happens to him?”
"O Lord! One who forsakes the worship of deities such as Brahma, Vishnu, Shankara, Indra, Chandra, Surya, and instead devotes himself to you, yet fails to realize selfless devotion—what becomes of such a devotee? Just as clouds in the rainy season are scattered and dissipated by the wind, leaving neither rain nor a trace of water in the sky, does such a person not perish midway? Having abandoned worship of the deities yields no fruit from them, and incomplete devotion to you grants nothing; what fate awaits such a helpless individual?
O Shyamsundar! Only you can dispel this doubt of mine, for you are all-knowing and divine; there is none other than you to resolve this uncertainty."
Lord Krishna then replied: "O Arjuna! Such a devotee does not perish in this world or the next, for one engaged in virtuous deeds never descends into hell. Recognizing me as the Supreme Being, imperishable, the bestower of salvation, and the vanquisher of evil—those who have uttered my name even briefly are also blessed by me.
O Arjuna! A soul whose devotion remains incomplete at death enjoys bliss for an extended period in the realms of higher deities and is subsequently reborn into a wealthy and prosperous family. O Partha! Upon rebirth, the dormant devotional qualities from his previous life reawaken; the seed of devotion sprouts anew, and the pure intellect from before is restored. Gaining knowledge once more, he strives for union with me. The yogi resumes his past spiritual practices naturally and those who seek my knowledge also attain Apara Vidya. Beyond that lies my Nirguna Gyan Paravidya, leading to my ecstatic state.
The diligent yogi, purified from sins through many lifetimes filled with knowledge and devotion, ultimately achieves my transcendence. Yet, one who understands the Nirguna scriptures, reveres them deeply, dedicates his heart to me, worships me, and remembers my name is superior among all yogis. Know this to be true, O Arjuna! You too should become such a yogi who worships me."
ITI SHRIMADBHAGWADGEETASUPANISHATSHU BRAHMAVIDYAYAM YOGSHASTRE SHRIKRISHNAARJUN SAMVADE AATMSAIYAM YOGONAM SHASHTHOADHYAYAH ॥6॥
|| SHRIKRISHAN ARPAN MASTU ||
