SrI: SrImathE SatakOpAya nama: SrImathE rAmAnujAya nama: SrImath varavaramunayE nama:
Essence of SrI bhagavath gIthA
In the sixteenth SlOkam of gIthArtha sangraham, ALavandhAr explains the summary of twelfth chapter saying “In the twelfth chapter, greatness of bhakthi yOgam towards bhagavAn in comparison to Athma upAsanam (engaging in pursuing one’s own AthmA), explanation for the means to develop such bhakthi, engaging in self-realization for one who is not capable of engaging in such bhakthi, the types of qualities which are required to engage in karma yOgam, etc., and bhagavAn having great affection towards his devotees are spoken”.
Important SlOkams/Verses
arjuna uvAcha
Evam sathathayukthA yE bhakthAs thvAm paryupAsathE |
yE chApyaksharam avyaktham thEshAm kE yOgaviththamA: ||
arjuna asked – Who among the two types of people will attain their goal quickly- a) those devotees who perfectly worship you desiring to be together with you always as explained in previous SlOkam and b) those who worship the jIvAthmA (self) which is inconceivable by the sensory organs?
SrI bhagavAn uvAcha
mayyAveSya manO yE mAm nithyayukthA upAsathE |
SradhdhayA parayOpEthAs thE mE yukthathamA mathA: ||
bhagavAn spoke – Those who worship me (as the goal) placing their heart in me with great faith and desiring to be with me always, are considered by me as the best yOgis.
In the 3rd and 4th SlOkam, krishNa says that even those who focus on the self with complete dedication, attain liberation [that is, kaivalya mOksham].
In the 5th SlOkam, he says that the pursuit of kaivalya mOksham is more difficult than the pursuit of bhagavAn.
In the 6th and 7th SlOkam, he says that he will be the good saviour, quickly, for those who are fully focussed on him.
mayyEva mana Adhathsva mayi budhdhim nivESaya |
nivasishyasi mayyEva atha Urdhvam na samSaya: ||
Place your heart/mind in me only, have firm faith in me (as the ultimate goal); on accepting/following this principle, there is no doubt that you will live in me.
Note: In four SlOkams starting with this one, he explains how to develop attachment towards him.
atha chiththam samAdhAthum na SaknOshi mayi sthiram |
abhyAsayOgEna thathO mAm ichchApthuṁ dhananjaya ||
Oh arjuna! If you are unable to place your mind firmly, due to that reason, by training your thoughts (in me who is having auspicious qualities) with great devotion (the heart/mind will become fixed in me), you will desire to attain me.
abhyAsE’pyasamarthO’si mathkarmaparamO bhava |
madhartham api karmANi kurvan sidhdhim avApsyasi ||
If you lack the ability to train your mind in me, engage with great devotion in my deeds; by engaging in my deeds in this manner you will reach me (soon through abhyAsa yOga (constant practice) by developing firm attachment in your heart towards me).
athaithadhapyaSakthO’si karthum madhyOgam ASritha: |
sarvakarmapalathyAgam thatha: kuru yathAthmavAn ||
Now, if you are unable to perform this activity (which is the beginning stage of bhakthi yOgam) of pursuing bhakthi yOgam towards me, then, having a controlled mind, give up the fruits of all activities (as part of being engaged in gyAna yOgam which will instill parabhakthi (full attachment to bhagavAn)).
SrEyO hi gyAnam abhyAsAj gyAnAdh dhyAnaṁ viSishyathE |
dhyAnAth karmapalathyAgas thyAgAch chAnthir anantharam ||
Better than devotion towards bhagavAn (without true love) is the knowledge which facilitates direct vision (which is the means for such devotional practice); better than the (incomplete) self-realisation is the meditation upon the self (which is means for self-realisation); better than the (incomplete) meditation is the karma (activities) performed giving up the fruit (which is the means for such meditation); engaging in karma yOga giving up the fruit leads to peace of mind.
From the 13th to 19th SlOkam, krishNa explains the nature of those karma yOga nishtas (practitioners) who are dear to him.
yE thu dharmyAmrutham idham yathOktham paryupAsathE |
SradhdadhAnA mathparamA bhakthAs thE’thīva mE priyA: ||
Those who practice well this bhakthi yOgam which is the prApakam (means) and prApyam (goal) as explained in the second SlOkam of this chapter, being faithful, desiring to be united with me always, are very dear to me.
adiyen sarathy ramanuja dasan
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