Gita 8.1 & 8.2 :
अर्जुन उवाच |
किं तद्ब्रह्म किमध्यात्मं किं कर्म पुरुषोत्तम |
अधिभूतं च किं प्रोक्तमधिदैवं किमुच्यते || 1||
अधियज्ञ: कथं कोऽत्र देहेऽस्मिन्मधुसूदन |
प्रयाणकाले च कथं ज्ञेयोऽसि नियतात्मभि: || 2||
arjuna uvācha
kiṁ tad brahma kim adhyātmaṁ kiṁ karma puruṣhottama
adhibhūtaṁ cha kiṁ proktam adhidaivaṁ kim uchyate
adhiyajñaḥ kathaṁ ko ’tra dehe ’smin madhusūdana
prayāṇa-kāle cha kathaṁ jñeyo ’si niyatātmabhiḥ
Toward the conclusion of the seventh chapter, Shree Krishna had introduced several key terms, including Brahman, Adhibhuta, Adhyatma, Adhidaiva, and Adhiyajna. He also stated that enlightened souls maintain full consciousness of Him, even at the moment of death. Intrigued by this, Arjuna expresses his curiosity and poses seven questions to Shree Krishna in these two verses, seeking further understanding of these concepts.
- Inquiry about Brahman: Arjuna asks Krishna to explain Brahman, the Absolute Reality, which represents the ultimate, unchangeable principle in the universe.
- Understanding Adhyatma: He seeks clarification on the concept of Adhyatma, referring to the individual soul or the spiritual essence within living beings.
- Definition of Karma: Arjuna questions what constitutes Karma, or actions, and how it relates to one's life and spiritual progress.
- Concept of Adhibhuta: He asks about Adhibhuta, which pertains to the physical elements or the material nature encompassing all beings.
- Understanding Adhidaiva: Arjuna wants to know who is referred to as Adhidaiva, the divine aspect of the governing deity associated with the cosmos.
- Inquiry about Adhiyajna: He queries regarding Adhiyajna—the supreme sacrifice or the divine being that presides over all rituals and offerings within the body.
- Role of Adhiyajna: Arjuna asks how the Adhiyajna functions or manifests within the body and what that means for understanding the divine principle.
- Knowing Krishna at Death: Finally, he seeks guidance on how a person of steadfast mind can know Krishna (the Supreme Being) at the moment of death.
Gita 8.3 :
श्रीभगवानुवाच |
अक्षरं ब्रह्म परमं स्वभावोऽध्यात्ममुच्यते |
भूतभावोद्भवकरो विसर्ग: कर्मसञ्ज्ञित: || 3||
śhrī bhagavān uvācha
akṣharaṁ brahma paramaṁ svabhāvo ’dhyātmam uchyate
bhūta-bhāvodbhava-karo visargaḥ karma-sanjñitaḥ
God and Brahman: The Vedas refer to God by various names, with Brahman being one of them. Shree Krishna tells Arjuna that the Supreme Entity is known as Brahman, which transcends the material realm.
Characteristics of Brahman: Brahman is described as aksharam (indestructible) because it remains unaffected by the changing universe. The Brihadaranyak Upanishad (3.8.8) reinforces this by stating that Brahman is eternal and possesses qualities beyond those of illusion (maya) and individual souls.
Meaning of Adhyatma: In Sanskrit, adhyatma can mean the science of the soul or the path to spirituality. In this context, Shree Krishna uses the term to refer to one's own self, encompassing body, mind, and intellect.
Karma Explained: Karmas are the actions performed by individuals, which shape their unique experiences and conditions in different lifetimes. These karmas contribute to the soul's continual cycle of samsara (material existence).
Gita 8.4 :
अधिभूतं क्षरो भाव: पुरुषश्चाधिदैवतम् |
अधियज्ञोऽहमेवात्र देहे देहभृतां वर || 4||
adhibhūtaṁ kṣharo bhāvaḥ puruṣhaśh chādhidaivatam
adhiyajño ’ham evātra dehe deha-bhṛitāṁ vara
Adhibhuta: The universe represents the physical manifestations of the five elements: earth, water, fire, air, and space, creating an ever-changing reality known as Adhibhuta.
Divine Sovereignty: While celestial gods (devatas) oversee various aspects of the universe, God maintains sovereignty over them.
Virāṭ Purusha: God is referred to as Virāṭ Purusha, the complete cosmic personality encompassing all material creation.
Adhidaiva: As the Supreme Soul or Paramatma, God resides in the hearts of all living beings throughout the universe.
Role in Actions: He is the dispenser of rewards for all actions and the divine overseer of all yajnas (sacrifices).
Adhiyajna: Thus, God is also called Adhiyajna, the God of all sacrifices, emphasizing that all yajnas should be performed for the satisfaction of this Supreme Divine Personality.
Gita 8.5 :
अन्तकाले च मामेव स्मरन्मुक्त्वा कलेवरम् |
य: प्रयाति स मद्भावं याति नास्त्यत्र संशय: || 5||
anta-kāle cha mām eva smaran muktvā kalevaram
yaḥ prayāti sa mad-bhāvaṁ yāti nāstyatra sanśhayaḥ
Shree Krishna asserts that anyone who remembers Him at the time of death attains Him and develops a god-like character, referred to as mad bhāvaṁ. He emphasizes that individuals can achieve the goal of God-realization by consciously focusing on the transcendent Names, Forms, Virtues, Pastimes, and Abodes of God, even during their final moments. Ultimately, it is the state of a person's consciousness and their object of absorption at the time of death that determines their next birth.
Gita 8.6 :
यं यं वापि स्मरन्भावं त्यजत्यन्ते कलेवरम् |
तं तमेवैति कौन्तेय सदा तद्भावभावित: || 6||
yaṁ yaṁ vāpi smaran bhāvaṁ tyajatyante kalevaram
taṁ tam evaiti kaunteya sadā tad-bhāva-bhāvitaḥ
Shree Krishna explains that the dominant thoughts in a person's mind at the moment of death determine their next birth, but emphasizes that God-realization cannot be achieved solely by meditating on God at that time. Just as careful planning is necessary for travel, preparation for a spiritually focused death must occur throughout life. For instance, a pet parrot may learn to say certain phrases, but under stress, it will revert to its natural screech. Similarly, the thoughts formed through lifelong habits and associations will influence a person's final thoughts at death. Thus, consistent contemplation and meditation during life shape the mental channels that will naturally flow at the end.
The Puranas tell the story of King Bharat, who renounced his kingdom for a life of asceticism but became attached to a fawn he rescued after witnessing its mother flee from a tiger. His affection for the fawn consumed his thoughts, leading him to call out to it even at the moment of death. Consequently, he was reborn as a deer. Despite his animal form, Bharat retained awareness of his past mistakes and lived near the ashrams of saints. Upon his death, he regained human birth and successfully completed his spiritual practice, ultimately achieving God-realization and becoming known as the great sage Jadabharat.
Death is inherently painful, making it difficult for the mind to focus on God during that time, as stated in the Skand Puran. To ensure we think of God at death, our inner nature must be aligned with Him, which is shaped by our continuous thoughts and contemplations. Thus, we should practice remembering God at all moments in life to cultivate a God-conscious inner nature. This advice is echoed by Shree Krishna to Arjun in the next verse.
Gita 8.7 :
तस्मात्सर्वेषु कालेषु मामनुस्मर युध्य च |
मय्यर्पितमनोबुद्धिर्मामेवैष्यस्यसंशयम् || 7||
tasmāt sarveṣhu kāleṣhu mām anusmara yudhya cha
mayyarpita-mano-buddhir mām evaiṣhyasyasanśhayam
The essence of the Bhagavad Gita lies in the teaching that promotes a divine life through karma yoga, applicable to everyone, regardless of their profession. Shree Krishna advises Arjun, a warrior, to fulfil his duty while keeping his mind attached to God, even in battle.
This message resonates with all individuals, including farmers, doctors, and students, urging them not to neglect their worldly responsibilities in pursuit of spirituality, nor to dismiss spiritual practice due to their material engagements. Shree Krishna's teachings encourage the concurrent pursuit of both material and spiritual goals. In karma yoga, while the body engages in worldly duties, the mind remains focused on God. Such action, devoid of attachment, transcends the Law of Karma, freeing one from karmic reactions and maintaining a guiltless engagement with the world.
A man was taken to court for the accidental death of a pedestrian. When the judge asked if he had killed the pedestrian, he admitted to it but explained that it was an accident with no intent to harm. He described how he was driving correctly, obeying traffic signals, and that the pedestrian suddenly appeared in front of his car despite his efforts to brake. The judge, recognizing that there was no intent to kill and that it was indeed an accident, decided to acquit him of any punishment. This case highlights that, even in the material world, individuals are not held liable for unintentional actions.
In the Mahabharata war, Arjun fulfilled his duties as a warrior, fighting bravely without attachment to worldly gains. He adhered to Shree Krishna's guidance and maintained a constant connection to God. Consequently, at the end of the war, Shree Krishna declared that Arjun had not accumulated any bad karma. According to the Law of Karma, when one performs their duties selflessly and with their mind focused on God, the results of those actions effectively become zero. Just as multiplying any number by zero yields zero, so do selfless actions devoid of attachment result in no negative karma.
This passage outlines the conditions for practicing karma yoga as defined by Shree Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita. It emphasizes that while performing worldly duties, one must keep the mind constantly focused on God. When we forget God, our minds become susceptible to negative influences like desire and anger. Some people mistakenly identify themselves as karma yogis by merely balancing their daily responsibilities with brief moments of meditation on God. However, true karma yoga requires two key conditions: first, the mind must remain fixed on God while performing any task, and second, the remembrance of God should be continuous throughout the day, not just occasional.
Gita 8.8 :
अभ्यासयोगयुक्तेन चेतसा नान्यगामिना |
परमं पुरुषं दिव्यं याति पार्थानुचिन्तयन् || 8||
abhyāsa-yoga-yuktena chetasā nānya-gāminā
paramaṁ puruṣhaṁ divyaṁ yāti pārthānuchintayan
In this verse, Shree Krishna emphasizes the importance of abhyāsa, or continuous practice, urging us to develop the habit of meditating on God throughout our daily lives, rather than at set times. The focus of our minds, rather than our physical actions, shapes our future. By connecting our thoughts to God while fulfilling worldly responsibilities, we purify our minds. Continuous devotion and surrender lead to a mind absorbed in God-consciousness, granting divine grace that frees us from the illusions of maya. Such individuals attain God-realization during their lifetime, experiencing divine bliss, knowledge, and love, and upon death, their souls ascend to the Divine Abode of God.
Summary: JKYog India Online Class- Bhagavad Gita [English]- 30.11.2024
